PIB News Update: As part of AMRUT MAHOTSAV, a Health Awareness Camp was organized today by the Salt Commissioner’s Organisation (SCO) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India on Dandi March route at Magnad, Amod, District Bharuch, Gujarat for salt workers working in and around this Venue.
236 salt workers and their family members in the salt works around the venue, viz.,Devla, Malpur, Nada, Asara, Tankari, Jambusar, Gandhar&Dahej attended the camp. The Health check up of salt workers in the camp started at 10.30hrs and continued upto 1.30 pm. The team of doctors and specialists from Government Medical College & Hospital and Taluka Health Department, Jambusar conducted the health check up.
Paramedical staff assisted the team of doctors. Medicines prescribed by the doctors were given to the salt workers. Deputy Collector, Bharuch and Deputy Salt Commissioner (I/c), Ahmadabad were present in the camp to supervise the proceedings.
‘Amrut Mahotsav’, a series of events, is being organized by the Government of India to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Independence. The Mahotsav has been launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 12th March, 2021. Salt has played a vital role in changing the course of the history of our Nation. The workers in the salt pan continue to put in hard work for salt production and contributing to the development of India.
In the pre-independence era, Indians were forced to buy imported salt at a very high cost and were barred from producing or selling salt locally. Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi marks a very important Chapter in India’s Independence struggle. Today India is the 3rd largest Salt Producing Country in the world and exports salt worldwide. The Salt production has reached 30 million Tonnes (from less than 2 million Tonnes in pre-independence era), meeting all human and industrial requirements and then exporting surplus to the tune of 5 million Tonnes to foreign countries worldwide.
Salt, as a vehicle of nutrient supplementation (Iodine and Iron), has proven to be effective as we have enabled almost entire Population to have access to the Iodised Salt which has been effective in combating Iodine Deficiency Disorders.