The Union Cabinet today approved over 4000 crore rupees action plan for the prevention and control of Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome. The proposal of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the implementation of the intervention activities recommended by the Group of Ministers for prevention and control of Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome will be implemented in 60 priority districts for a period of 5 years begining this year.

The package will be implemented by the Ministries of Health & Family Welfare, Drinking Water & Sanitation, Social Justice & Empowerment, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation and Women & Child Development. An official statement said, focussed interventions will be done in five States namely Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The major activities include public health interventions, expansion of Japanese Encephalitis vaccination, medical and social rehabilitation, and improved provisions of drinking water and sanitation in rural and urban areas and improved nutrition.

Our correspondent reports, Prime Minister Manmohan had constituted a Group of Ministers to evolve a multi-pronged strategy to address the problems relating to Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome.