Author: Sharad Natani
Haryana may boast an impressive institutional delivery rate of nearly 99%, but district-level data reveals a sharp urban divide. In Gurgaon, private hospitals now handle seven out of every 10 births — a trend that is steadily shrinking the share of government maternity facilities. In 2025, 98.7% of deliveries in Haryana took place in health institutions. However, in Gurgaon alone, only 29.4% of births were recorded in government hospitals, while a striking 70.6% occurred in private facilities. Faridabad mirrors this pattern, with nearly 60% of deliveries handled by private hospitals. Urban Affordability, Private Preference Health officials attribute the trend to…
IMT Manesar is rapidly transforming from an industrial powerhouse into one of Gurugram’s most promising low-rise residential corridors, driven by expanding infrastructure, strong job creation and rising end-user demand. Spread across 1,750 acres and home to over 400 industrial units—including major names in manufacturing and logistics—the area supports more than one lakh jobs. This strong employment base is steadily fueling housing demand, particularly among professionals seeking to live closer to their workplaces. Infrastructure Boost Strengthens Appeal Strategically located near NH-8, the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway and Dwarka Expressway, IMT Manesar benefits from seamless regional connectivity. The proposed Gurugram–Manesar metro corridor is…
In an unusual yet powerful protest, residents of Gurugram gathered along the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) and symbolically played Holi with dust to highlight the alarming levels of pollution caused by ongoing construction and poor road maintenance. Holding handfuls of soil and tossing it into the air, locals sought to draw attention to what they described as unchecked dust pollution affecting daily life and public health. The protest was aimed at urging authorities to strictly enforce construction norms and implement stronger dust-control measures. Rising Health Concerns Residents said continuous construction activity, broken road stretches and inadequate sprinkling of water have…
The Haryana school education department has directed Haryana Agro Industries Corporation Limited (HAICL) to urgently replace allegedly contaminated and substandard food items supplied to government schools under the PM POSHAN scheme. The action follows complaints from multiple districts, including Ambala, Fatehabad, Hisar, Kaithal and Yamunanagar, where school authorities reported poor-quality dry rations such as jaggery (gur) and pulses. In some cases, supplies were allegedly fungus-infested and unfit for consumption. Video Sparks Concern The issue drew wider attention after a video surfaced on social media showing allegedly substandard rajma being cooked for mid-day meals. Officials said the complaints highlighted possible lapses…
Residents of Indirapuram in Ghaziabad have raised alarm over tobacco shops allegedly operating within 100 metres of schools, calling it a serious violation of public health laws and a threat to children’s well-being. In Gyan Khand, locals claim at least three tobacco kiosks are functioning close to a private school, despite clear legal prohibitions. Similar concerns have surfaced in neighbouring areas like Vasundhara and Vaishali, intensifying pressure on authorities to act. Law Clearly Prohibits Sales Near Schools Under Section 6(b) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards (approximately 91…
An unexpected power outage left several elderly residents living alone in a Noida neighbourhood without electricity for hours, sparking confusion and concern over the functioning of the prepaid meter system. Residents said the electricity supply initially switched to inverter backup for nearly four to five hours before they realised it was not a routine power cut. Many in the locality are senior citizens, widows or individuals without immediate family support, making the outage particularly distressing. Residents Rush to Power House On Saturday, a group of residents visited the Sector 29 power house seeking clarity on the sudden disruption and a…