National Family Health Survey highlights gaps between urban and rural Indian women across indicators
Surprise, rural women outscore urban counterparts on empowerment scale; activists claim the data to be superficial
HEALTH
LEAD STORY
HEALTH
LEAD STORY
Women’s empowerment and rising cost contribute to smaller families in rural Bengal; declining IMR helps
- by Jayanta Basu
- September 17, 2026
The trend often varies in extremely poor families due to lack of women’s education, worsened by largely absent government
HEALTH
LEAD STORY
Indians among the most vulnerable globally to sleep-loss linked to climate change
- by The Plurals News Network
- July 18, 2026
Sleep deprivation due to climate change related temperature rise has doubled in the last 50 years in 5major global cities; a major health concern
HEALTH
LEAD STORY
Nearly two-thirds school-going children in India complained of dehydration during 2026 summer: Report
- by The Plurals News Network
- July 13, 2026
Rising heat has led to 7 out of 10 students missing school and routine activities; extreme tiredness, dizziness and sleeplessness reported
HEALTH
Covering SB 64
LEAD STORY
Health should be central to COP31 negotiation, demand 74 global outfits at Bonn climate talks
- by Jayanta Basu
- June 9, 2026
Turkey presidency on concerns, changes negotiation draft to include health as an important agenda
HEALTH
LEAD STORY
Enhanced health budget ignores crying need of public healthcare, say experts
- by Jayanta Basu and Chandrima S. Bhattacharya
- February 4, 2026
Budget boosts biopharma but continued underinvestment creates public health crises
HEALTH
LEAD STORY
Nipah infection in West Bengal may have spread from Bangladesh or a patient who died later
- by Jayanta Basu
- January 16, 2026
After nearly two decades, the Nipah virus has resurfaced in West Bengal, infecting two nurses currently under stable condition. Health officials are investigating two possible origins: consumption of raw date palm sap in a village near the Bangladesh border, or transmission from a deceased patient. While contact tracing is underway and the State and Central
HEALTH
LEAD STORY
More than 120 persons ‘murdered’ by blasts at Bengal’s firework units in 17 years
- by Jayanta Basu
- January 13, 2026
Despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s promise to set up safe manufacturing clusters following the Egra tragedy, illegal firework units in West Bengal continue to claim lives. With 15 blasts killing 37 people between 2023 and 2026, environmental activist Biswajit Mukherjee slams the administration’s inaction, alleging a nexus between officials and criminals while judicial remedies stall
PHOTO GALLERY
HEALTH
A marathon to raise funds to develop a diagnostic center for poor people
- by Jayanta Basu
- January 6, 2026
Over 5,300 runners participated in a charity marathon organized by the Tridhara club in South Kolkata on January 4. The event, aimed at raising funds for a new low-cost diagnostic center for the underprivileged, was attended by celebrities, police officials, and the inspirational amputee athlete Uday Kumar.
HEALTH
Protests across country on Sunday to protect stray dogs from mass removal and proposed shelter
- by The Plurals News Network
- January 3, 2026
Kolkata responds with “No dog, no vote”; appeal for evidence-based, human policy