Maharashtra focuses on 'golden hour' response for industrial injuries, plans transplant treatments

The Maharashtra government has directed officials to prepare urgent measures to ensure quicker medical response and hand transplant surgeries for industrial workers who suffer serious workplace accidentsMaharashtra Labour Minister Akash Fundkar said the aim is to help injured workers especially those who lose limbs while working in factories and industrial companies return to normal life through timely treatment and advanced surgeryThe proposal will initially be implemented as a pilot project in industrial establishments in PuneThe decision was discussed at a meeting held at Nariman Bhavan in Mumbai where senior officials from the Labour Department and urban development authorities were presentImportance of the golden hour in treatmentOfficials highlighted that the first few hours after an accident are critical for successful reconstructive or transplant surgeryThe minister said that updated information about specialist doctors for hand transplant procedures must be made available in all factories and industrial unitsThis would ensure that emergency treatment can be started without delayHelpline for emergency supportThe government has also proposed setting up a dedicated helpline number for industrial workersThis helpline will help workers and management get immediate medical guidance and connect with appropriate hospitals and specialists in case of serious accidentsThe state government believe this system will reduce delays in emergency response and improve survival and recovery ratesThe plan also includes improving coordination between industrial units and medical experts to ensure rapid transport of injured workers to specialised hospitalsThe Labour Department will prepare guidelines for companies to follow during emergencies involving severe injuriesMaharashtra approves Rs 89731 crore investment planMeanwhile the state on Tuesday approvedspecial incentives for five large and ultralarge industrial projects worth a combined Rs 89731 crore aiming to strengthen investment employment generation and industrial infrastructure in the state an officials statement said on TuesdayChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the decision after a meeting of the Industries Department Cabinet SubCommittee held in MumbaiThe projects are expected to generate around 20000 direct and indirect jobs across MaharashtraThe approved projects include sectors such as coal gasification and downstream derivatives solar cell modules ingots wafers and panels electric steel PET tyre cord and synthetic graphite anode materialsOfficials said the investment will help expand Maharashtrarsquos presence in advanced manufacturing and futurefocused industriesThe projects have been cleared under the statersquos industrial policy which offers incentives through the Group Incentive Scheme to attract largescale investmentA special committee headed by the Chief Minister has been formed to approve incentives for mega and ultramega projects ensuring faster industrial development and job creationThe government said the projects will benefit regions including Vidarbha Marathwada and Nashik helping balance industrial development across the stateApart from direct employment the projects are expected to create indirect jobs in supporting industries logistics and supply chains