New Delhi, 3 Feb (Nation Today) The Vice Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Arun Haldar has lauded the Union Budget 2023-24 as being inclusive and people-centric, saying, the funds have been increased for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other Community with a slogan “Sab-Ka-Sath-Sabka-Vikas”.
Welcoming the announcement made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget for a plan to launch a mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia by 2047, he said sickle cell disease is more prevalent in Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes communities.
Speaking to the reporters here on Thursday, he said, “The Hon’ble Finance Minister, Government of India has laid the Finance Budget 2023-24 in the Parliament on 01.02.2023. Inter-alia, in the Budget speech the funds has been increased for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other Community with a slogan “Sab-Ka-Sath-Sabka-Vikas”.
Inter-alia it has been stated in the Budget document that “Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of the blood, and characterized by vasoocclusive crises (VOC), risks for pneumococcal infections and organ toxicities, is associated with morbidity and premature mortality. SCD is a very serious ailment where the patient suffers inhuman pain and distress over prolonged period; in the absence of a proper treatment therapy death can also occur. The Government has made a commitment to eradicate Sickle Cell disease by 2047, according to a statement by the commission.
SCD is a universal disease and affects over 20 million people across India it is observed to be proportionately more prevalent in the Tribal belts of India. An effective treatment is available called ENDSRI made by a Japanese Doctor from USA, it is cost effective and FDA approved as well, it is perhaps the only affordable and effective treatment available in the world for the SCD, the commission statement said in the statement.
