green guarantee: The Centre will extend its rural job guarantee schemes to plantations. State governments have been asked to deploy "tree guards" to protect "avenue plantations" on rural roads prescribed to be taken up under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana. The plantation costs will be covered by funds generated for the job schemes. Avenue plantation on both sides of rural roads are expected to create substantial wage employment opportunities and enhance livelihood support for the rural poor.
chikungunya deaths: Ninety deaths from chikungunya have been reported in Kerala, but, the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) refutes this. According to it, 43,128 people are affected by the disease, and 33 have died. But the NVBDCP does not provide figures for number of samples tested. According to Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss the deaths were due to post-treatment complications. This, after the standard treatment protocol consisting of paracetamol and diclofenac. Countrywide, 1,320,096 cases have been reported as of October 8, 2006.
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