Whenever you go on a long-distance flight remember that your life may be threatened not only by a terrorist attack but also because of a health condition becoming increasingly common as the number of passengers increases. This is deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Venous blood normally flows up from our legs through the veins which carry it back to the heart. Blood has to be in constant motion to prevent it from getting clotted or clumped. If one is sitting cramped for a long time as can happen in a long-distance journey, clots can form at various points in the leg as blood flow gets sluggish in the absence of regular movement of the legs. There are valves every 4 – 6 inches up the leg veins. A small blood clot can form behind one of the valves. The clot itself causes stasis of blood, discomfort and pain in the leg and calf and swelling at the ankles.

The clot can produce a life-threatening complication – pulmonary embolism – in up to 25-30 per cent cases. In this condition, a large piece of clot breaks off and travels to the lung. The blood supply to the lungs gets suddenly choked and the patient may collapse or become severely blue and have difficulty in breathing. In some cases death can occur if appropriate medical care is not immediately available or if the clot is very large.

In a plane the only therapy available is the administration of oxygen, which may not be enough. The proper treatment comprises the administration of blood thinners to dissolve the clot. This can be only done in a hospital. At times emergency open-heart surgery may be required to remove the clot. This is a high-risk procedure. Rarely in the presence of a hole in the heart the clot may land up in other organs like the brain where it can produce a stroke.

People facing the maximum risk of developing deep vein thrombosis:

• Those with an inherited predisposition to blood clots
• Those who have suffered previous incidents of thrombosis
• ?Those who have close family members with a history of the disease
• Elderly people, particularly those aged 75 years and above
• Those who have suffered from cancer or are suffering from cancer
• Women taking contraceptive pills
• Women who are pregnant or have recently given birth
• People sitting in front of a computer for hours together. The risk increases in those who come home and sit for hours in front of a TV.
• Healthy passengers are also at some risk if they remain immobile during the flight. In fact, this happened recently to Australian athletes who were flying long distance to a sports meet. In a study, it was found that one in 10 passengers over the age of 50 and taking flights of eight hours or longer developed early signs of DVT.

This potentially fatal complication can be prevented by the following:

1. Make sure that you have enough space to move your legs – store all cabin luggage in the overhead compartment

2. Drink lots of water

3. Avoid alcohol and tea or coffee

4. Straighten and move your legs intermittently

5. Move around the cabin every half an hour (avoid getting in the way of the cabin crew). Do not get excessively worried about not disturbing your fellow passengers.

6. Support stockings may be worn on long flights

7. For e-thrombosis prevention – it is advisable to take micro-breaks from the computer. Drink lots of water, stretch and walk or at least clench and unclench the calf muscles.

8. A tablet of aspirin before takeoff can reduce clot formation

9. In a person with a proven predisposition, an injection of anticoagulant within 12 hours of flying would be helpful. Measures 8 and 9 should be taken only after medical consultation. The first 5 steps are really very simple and can easily avert a potential disaster.

So, on your next trip make sure that you get a medical check-up done and follow the simple steps to avoid a health-related crisis.

The writer is Head, Cardio-Vascular & Thoracic Surgery, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. Email: drhsbedi@hotmail.com


Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100324/health.htm#1

Click on the above image to access an enlarged view.

• THE FINANCE MINISTER SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE LAYS EMPHASIS ON CONSOLIDATED GROWTH, IMPROVING INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT, INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY IN BUDGET 2010-11.
• THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET ESTIMATES IS RS.11,08,749 CRORE , AN INCREASE OF 8.6 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR.
• THE PLAN AND NON-PLAN EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED AT RS.3,73,092 CRORE AND RS.7,35,657 CRORE RESPECTIVELY, AN INCREASE OF 15 PERCENT IN PLAN EXPENDITURE AND 6 PER CENT IN NON-PLAN EXPENDITURE OVER THE BE OF PREVIOUS YEAR.
• FISCAL DEFICIT AT 5.5 PER CENT OF GDP WORKS OUT TO BE RS. 3,81,408 CRORE.
• ROLLING TARGETS FOR FISCAL DEFICIT PEGGED AT 4.8 PER CENT AND 4.1 PER CENT FOR 2011-12 AND 2012-13.
• NET MARKET BORROWING WOULD BE OF THE ORDER OF RS. 3,45,010 CRORE LEAVING ENOUGH SPACE TO MEET CREDIT NEEDS OF PRIVATE SECTOR.
• AGAINST A FISCAL DEFICIT OF 7.8 PER CENT IN 2008-09 , INCLUSIVE OF OIL AND FERTILIZER BONDS, THE COMPARABLE FISCAL DEFICIT IS 6.9 PER CENT AS PER RE 2009-10.
• GROSS TAX RECEIPTS ESTIMATED AT RS.7,46,651 CRORE AND NON-TAX RECEIPT ESTIMATED AT RS. 1,48,118 CRORE.
• STATUS PAPER GIVING ROAD MAP FOR CURTAILING THE OVERALL PUBLIC DEBT TO BE BROUGHT OUT WITHIN 6 MONTHS.
• ABOUT RS. 25,000 CRORES TO BE RAISED THROUGH DISINVESTMET PROGRAMME
  
• TO SIMPLIFY THE FDI REGIME, FOR THE FIRST TIME BOTH OWNERSHIP & CONTROL RECOGNISED AS CENTRAL TO THE FDI POLICY.
• RS. 16,500 CRORE TO BE PROVIDED TO PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS TO ACHIEVE A MINIMUM 8 PER CENT TIER-I
• GROWTH OF 127 PER CENT RECORDED IN EXPORTS FROM SEZs TILL DECEMBER, 2009.
• A FOUR-PRONGED STRATEGY TO SPUR THE GROWTH IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR ENVISAGED. WHICH INCLUDES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, REDUCTION IN WASTAGE OF PRODUCE , CREDIT SUPPORT TO FARMERS AND THRUST TO THE FOOD PROCESSING SECTOR.
• AGRICULTURE CREDIT FLOW TARGET RAISED TO RS. 3,75,000 CRORE FROM RS.3,25,000 CRORE
• SUBVENTION FOR TIMELY REPAYMENT OF CROP LOAN INCREASED FROM 1 PER CENT TO 2 PER CENT.
• INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT GETS AN ALLOCATION OF Rs. 1,73,552 CRORE, 46 PER CENT OF TOTAL PLAN ALLOCATION , AN INCREASE OF 13 PER CENT IN ROAD TRANSPORT SECTOR.
• INDIA INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE COMPANY LIMITED’S DISBURSEMENTS TO REACH RS. 20,000 CRORE BY MARCH 2011.
• ALLOCATION FOR POWER SECTOR INCREASED BY MORE THAN DOUBLED TO RS. 5,130 CRORE.
• NEW TAX INCENTIVES ANNOUNCED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR.
• NATIONAL CLEAR ENERGY FUND FOR FUNDING RESEARCH AND INNOVATIVE PROJECTS IN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES TO BE SET UP.
• SPENDING ON SOCIAL SECTOR TO ACCOUNT FOR 37 PER CENT OF TOTAL PLAN OUTLAY AT RS.1,37,674 CRORE
• ALLOCATION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT ENHANCED TO RS.66,100 CRORES. ALLOCATION FOR NREGA STEPPED UP TO 40,100 CRORE.
• RS. 48,000 CRORE ALLOCATED FOR BHARAT NIRMAN PROGRAMME
• BACKWARD REGION GRANT FUND ALLOCATION ENHANCED TO RS. 7,300 CRORE.
• RAJIV AWAS YOJNA FOR SLUM DWELLERS AND URBAN POOR TO GET RS. 1,270 CRORE , AN INCREASE OF OVER 700 PER CENT
• NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY FUND FOR UNORGANISED SECTOR WORKERS TO BE SET UP WITH AN INITIAL AMOUNT OF RS. 1,000 CRORE.
• MAHILA KISAN SASHAKTIKARAN PARIYOJNA WITH A PROVISION OF RS.100 CRORE LAUNCHED
• 80 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE ALLOCATION FOR MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT AT RS 4,500 CRORE.
• MINORITY AFFAIRS TO GET RS.2,600 CRORE, AN INCREASE OF 50 PER CENT.
• TO REWRITE AND CLEAN UP THE FINANCIAL SECTOR LAWS, FINANCIAL SECTOR LEGISLATIVE REFORMS COMMISSION TO BE SET UP.
• UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA TO GET AN ALLOCATION OF RS. 1,900 CRORE. A TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY GROUP FOR UNIQUE PROECT TO BE SET UP.
• ALLOCATION FOR DEFENCE INCREASED TO RS.1,47,344 CRORE
• NATIONAL MISSION FOR DELIVERY OF JUSTICE AND LEGAL REGORMS TO BE SET UP TO PROVIDE TIMELY JUSTICE TO ALL.
• INCOME TAX SLABS BROADENED - 10 PER CENT ON INCOME ABOVE RS 1.6 LAKH TO 5.00 LAKH, 20 PER CENT ON INCOME ABOVE 5.OO LAKH TO 8.00 LAKH , 30 PER CENT ON ABOVE RS. 8.00 LAKH
• ADDITIONAL DEDUCTION OF RS. 20,000 FOR INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS
• SURCHARGE OF 10 PER CENT ON DOMESTIC COMPANIES REDUCED TO 7.5 PER CENT
• MAT INCREASED FROM 15 PER CENT TO 18 PER CENT
• WIGHTED DEDUCTION NON EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON IN-HOUSE R&D FROM 150 PER CENT TO 200 PER CENT
• LIMIT OF TURNOVER FOR PRESUMPTIVE TAXATION OF SMALL BUSINESS ENHANCED TO RS. 60 LAKH.
• LIMITS OF TURNOVER NEEDING AUDIT ENHANCED TO 60 LAKH FOR BUSINESSES AND RS. 15 LAKH FOR PROFESSIONS.
• PROPOSAL OF DIRECT TAX TO RESULT IN REVENUE LOSS OF RS. 26,000 CRORE WHERE AS INDIRECT TAXES TO RESULT IN A REVENUE GAIN OF RS. 46,500 CRORE.
• SERVICE TAX PROPOSALS TO RESULT IN NET REVENUE GAIN OF RS.3,000 CRORE.
• ACCREDITED NEWS AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDES NEWS FEED ONLINE EXEMPTED FROM SERVICE TAX
• SARAL –II FOR INDIVIDUALSALARY TAXPAYERS READY FOR NOTIFICATION
• SERVICE TAX RETAINED AT 10 PER CENT.
• CERTAIN NEW SERVICES TO BE BROUGHT WITHIN SERVICE TAX PURVIEW..
• MICRO-WAVE OVENS, PRE-PACKAGED IMPORTED GOODS, MOBILE PHONES, WATCHES, READYMADE GARMENTS, TOY BALOONS, LONG PEPPER, REPLACEABLE HOUSEHOLD WATER FILTER TO BE CHEAPER.
• INFOTAINMET SECTOR TO BENEFIT FROM CONCESSIONAL CUSTOM DUTY
• INDIAN RUPEE TO GET A SYMBOL, JOIN THE SELECT CLUB OF CURRENCIES
• SPECIAL DUTY CONCESSIONS TO PROMOTE CLEAN ENVIRONMENT CLEAN ENERGY CESS @ RS. 50 PER TONNE ON COAL
• RATE REDUCTION IN CENTRAL EXCISE DUTIES PARTIALLY ROLLED BACK AD VALOREM ON NON PETRO PRODUCTS & CARS INCREASED BY 2 PER CENT
• UNIFORM BASIC DUTY OF 5 PER CENT AND CVD OF 4 PER CENT ON IMPORT OF MEDICAL EQUIPMNET.
• SCIENTIFIED INPUTS FOR ORTHOPAEDIC IMPLANTS EXEMPTED FROM IMPORT DUTY
• CENTRAL EXCISE ON PETROL & DIESEL RAISED BY RS. ONE PER LITRE.
• MAJOR TAX RELIEF TO AGRICULTURE & RELATED SECTORS
• PROJECT IMPORT STATUS FOR THE SETTING UP OF COLD STORAGES
• FULL EXEMPTION FROM EXCISE DUTY TO TRAILERS & SEMI –TRAILERS.

Posted: Thursday , Feb 25, 2010 at 0424 hrs
Chandigarh:

Rail Budget: Duronto train between Chandigarh and Amritsar; city figures on ‘tirth train’ route

Chandigarh figured prominently in the Railway Budget presented on Wednesday. Among others was the proposal to start a Duronto Express — non-stop point-to-point train — between Chandigarh and Amritsar.

Also, Chandigarh will be on the map of the special ‘Bharat Tirth’ train — via Madurai-Varanasi-Gaya-Patna Sahib-Allahabad-Haridwar-Chandigarh-Kurukshetra-Amritsar-Delhi-Madurai — announced in the budget.

The city is also expected to be on the route of the long-distance tri-weekly express train from Una to Haridwar.

The budget also included six high speed corridors of 250 to 300 kilometre per hour — Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar is one of them.

Further, Chandigarh and Ambala Cantonment railway stations will have a secondary-level general speciality hospital and a tertiary-level multi-speciality hospital with out-patient departments (OPD) and diagnostic centre.

Source Link: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-bag-...rh/584288/

Orders regarding Post-Retirement Railway Passes

May download 1999 orders regarding: Provision of Companion in lieu of Attendant to Senior Citizen Ist Class/ 'A' Post-Retirement Pass Holders

QUESTION: What are the features of the scheme announced for the senior citizens which will give him a rate of 9 per cent on deposits? Will the income be eligible for deduction under Section 80-L of the Income-tax Act? Will there be tax deduction at source?

ANSWER: The scheme that has been notified under Sec. 15 of the Government Savings Banks Act, 1873 is described as Senior Citizens Savings Scheme Rules, 2004.

Maturity period: While maturity period will not be less than five years, it can be extended by a further period of three years by an application within one year of maturity. Even if there is no application, such extension will be presumed and deposit continued.

Rate of interest: Interest at 9 per cent is payable quarterly, but at the option of the account holder, it can be credited to the savings account of the depositor. Undrawn interest will not earn interest. Any excess deposit and deposit continued after extended period will be entitled only to savings bank rate of interest.

Application procedure: In every application for deposit account, details of the prior deposit account, if any, with account number and the amount deposited are required to be declared by way of verification. Proof of age — PAN (or application for PAN) and pay-in-slip along with deposit amount have to be furnished with every application. A certificate from the employer is necessary, where the depositor is less than 60 years, but has attained 55 years indicating the fact of retirement under voluntary retirement scheme or special voluntary retirement scheme with the details of retirement benefits given to the person. For proof of age, lot of options have been given by way of copies of school leaving certificate, driving licence, PAN card, passport, ration card, identity card issued by Election Commission and birth certificate in the Panchayat/Municipal records or issued by Registrar of Birth and Deaths. The original may have to be produced, if required.

Passbook procedure: There will be a passbook issued at the time of opening the account. Where he draws the amount, he has to present the passbook at the time of collecting interest every quarter. There is a provision for issue of duplicate passbook, where it is lost.

Withdrawal terms: Premature withdrawal of the amount is possible after one year from the date of opening of the account, which means that lock-in-period is one year. But then there will be a damage resulting in a deduction of 1.5 per cent of deposit if the withdrawal is between one and two years and 1 per cent of deposit, if it is after two years.

Benefit of Sec. 80L: As for the query, whether the amount is eligible for relief under Sec. 80-L, Sec. 80L(3) grants deduction subject to the ceiling of Rs. 12,000, inter alia, on any interest on deposits under any scheme framed by the Central Government and notified by it "in this behalf" in the official gazette. Though the scheme is framed by the Central Government as is mentioned in the preamble and notified by it in the official gazette, it is not notified `in this behalf', so that a reference to Sec. 80L as part of the scheme or independently of the scheme is necessary. A clarification from the Board, that the notification already issued should entitle the depositor to deduction under Sec. 80L should, however, be sufficient. Since it is a deposit and in par with so many other deposits like deposits with bank, National Deposit Scheme and some deposits of public financial institutions, apart from deposits in post office monthly income account etc., deduction under Sec. 80L should be available. But it is better that one awaits official confirmation, so that there is no element of doubt as regards such eligibility for the deduction.

TDS: In the context of scheme being available only for senior citizens, who are eligible for tax rebate, it is presumed that there will be no tax deduction at source in view of tax rebate available for senior citizens. Tax deduction should not be necessary. Most of the post office saving schemes, whether recurring or time deposit or monthly income, are already notified for non-deduction at source under Sec. 194A(3)(iv). Similar notification may therefore be necessary for this purpose as well.

Promise fulfilled: The scheme fulfils the promise made by the Finance Minister in the Budget Speech: "For senior citizens, I propose to introduce a new scheme called Senior Citizens Deposit Scheme offering interest of 9 per cent per annum substituting Varishta Pension Bima Yojana, which was administered by the Life Insurance Corporation of India".

S. Rajaratnam

Source Link: http://www.hindu.com/biz/2004/09/06/stor...001700.htm

Download Official Minutes of the 1st Meeting of NAC held on 12-12-2009