(a) whether a number of cases of dropsy have again been reported in the country
during each of the last three years and the current year so far;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise; and
(c) the action taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ABU HASEM KHAN CHOUDHURY)
(a) & (b): `Public Health` is a State subject. Therefore, data on dropsy cases, is not maintained
centrally. However, as per the available information, received from some States/UTs, details of
the dropsy cases are as under:
s. No. State Cases of dropsy 1. Chhattisgarh (1/1 /2006 to 31/5/2011) 2 cases 2. Tripura (as on 25.6.2011) No cases reported since 2006. 3. Andaman and Nicobar (as on 31/5/2011) No cases reported since 2006 4. Haryana (as on 29/06/2011) No cases reported since 2006 5. Andhra Pradesh (as on 30.4.2011) No cases reported since 2006 6. Arunachal Pradesh (as on 2.6.2011) No cases reported 7 Karnataka (as on 11.5.2011) No cases reported since 2006 8. Gujarat (as on 9.5.2011) No cases reported since 2006 9. Puducherry (as on 6.5.2011) No cases reported since 2006 10 Tamil nadu (as on 2.5.2011) No cases reported since 2005 11. Rajasthan No cases reported since 17/2/2010(c) : To curb the menace of food adulteration, regular surveillance, monitoring & sampling of food products are undertaken by State/UT Governments under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules & Regulations made thereunder. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSS\I) issues advisories also from time to time to State/UT Governments to check the adulteration in food products. FSSAI also conducts awareness workshop / training programme on Food Safety, involving Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Public Health Departments of State Governments. A national Food Safety Helpline (1800 11 21 00) has also been started for having direct interface/ communication linkages with all the stakeholders in the food chain including the regulators,, other government agencies, manufacturing associations, municipal bodies, NGOs, consumers, etc.