16-year-old saved four kids trapped in fire

Sixteen-year-old Subhash Kumar is the only candidate from the state to have been selected for the National Bravery Award-2007. A resident of Niwajpurwa village, Subhash (second from left) saved the lives of four children, including a physically challenged girl. The children were trapped in a fire that broke out in the village on April 4. Putting his own life at risk, he saved the four kids, including his two panic-stricken brothers, who had locked themselves in a hut. He jumped into the flames to save their lives, receiving burns in the process.

He even managed to save the livestock tied near his hut.

90 per cent drop in Type 1 polio cases

State receives international acclaim

After being condemned worldwide for the spread of polio virus not only in the country but also in various parts of the world, 2007 brought some positive news for Uttar Pradesh and all those associated with the polio eradication campaign here. After its success in controlling Type 1 polio virus, which is far more dangerous and spreads quickly, the state was not only praised at the national polio eradication meets but also received accolades from the international health organisations.

In 2007, just 21 cases of Type 1 virus were reported in the state, as compared to 520 cases reported in 2006. And not a single Type 1 polio case in the endemic areas near Moradabad district was reported this year. Even the total number of polio cases shrunk to around 305. The figure was 548 in 2006. During her recent visit to the state, Dr Margaret Chan, the Director General of World Health Organization, appreciated the efforts of the government that reduced the number of P1 polio cases by 90 per cent in the state. She also extended her full support to the state for complete eradication of polio.

1 crore saplings planted in a day

State on UNEP website for the feat

When the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) declared its campaign to plant 1 billion trees across the globe to make it a greener place, they had little idea that Uttar Pradesh will contribute in such a special way. The Forest department, with active participation of people, planted 10 million (1 crore) trees in one single day on July 31, 2007. One of the biggest public-private partnership initiatives in the state, the event saw people cutting across religion, caste, age and social status contributing to make the state greener. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Roopak Dey said the UNEP has recorded this feat on its site. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi planted a maulshree sapling at the Indian Telephone Industry Limited campus in Rae Bareli, while Chief Minister Mayawati planted a neem sapling at her residence.

Yet another reason to smile

Doctors’ team gets global recognition for free cleft surgeries

Returning smiles on the faces of those born with the congenital defect of cleft lip and palate is the sole mission of a team of Varanasi doctors, led by young plastic surgeon Dr Subodh Singh. This unflinching commitment towards the cause was recognised on October 27, 2007, by the Smile Train Project, a global initiative on correction of cleft lip and palate.

At an international award function in Baltimore City (USA), Dr Subodh Singh was feted with the Smile Train Hero Award for performing the highest number of free cleft surgeries on Indian children.

“Since 2004, when our hospital (G S Memorial) became a part of the Smile Train Project, we have performed 8,000 free cleft surgeries on children born with the cleft of lip and cleft of palate,” Singh said.

The Smile Train Project, which is working in 80 countries, has 116 centres in India, of which 10 are in UP.

“We at the G S Memorial Hospital in Varanasi performed at least 3,600 successful surgeries free of cost in 2007,” Singh added.

The feat not only resulted in global recognition, but also prompted reputed plastic surgeon Professor Joseph McCarthy to moot a medical exchange programme, under which American plastic surgeons will receive training in cleft surgery at the hospital.

The total number of patients awaiting corrective surgery for congenital defects in India is estimated at 9 lakh, while 35,000 fresh cases are reported every year.

Tiger population going up

Will the state make up for the big cats lost in neighbouring Rajasthan?

The year 2007 brought good news for the animal lovers in Uttar Pradesh. An effort that was started in 2006, finally bore fruits in 2007, with the number of tigers showing a rise in the Katraniaghat reserved forest sanctuary. According to a rough estimate, there are at least 50 tigers in this reserved sanctuary. The number has gone up by six in one year alone — all thanks to tiger track maintained by forest officials in the dense Katraniaghat range.

Conceptualised by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ramesh Kumar Pandey (left) last year, a tiger track ensures an undisturbed movement for the big cat. First a track was identified inside the forest where frequent movement of tigers was recorded. It was then maintained properly and human and vehicular movement was restricted on it. “Tigers unusually move on a selected path and in case someone encroaches on it they get disturbed,” said Pandey. The tiger track also helped ascertain the actual number of tigers, as forest guards were deployed for the mapping of pugmarks throughout the year.