Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
4. The Madras Public Health Act 1939 (Madras Act III of 1939)
As per the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Third, Fourand Fifth
Schedules) and the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994 (First Schedule)
public health is a function which has been develoved to local
governments, particularly the Village Panchayats and Municipalities.
Some of the important functions related to public health listed in the
Schedules mentioned above are given below:
(i) Collection and disposal disposal of solid waste and control of liquid
waste disposal;
In Kerala there are two Acts governing public health - The Travancore-
Cochin Public Health Act, 1955 covering the erstwhile Travancore-
Cochin areas and the Madras Public Health Act, 1939 covering the
erstwhile Madras Presidency areas. After independence major policy
changes have been brought about in the sphere of public health. There
have been rapid advancements in technology applications and certain
basic shifts in perception of governmental responsibility in public
health. With the local governments being brought to the center of
public health responsibility there is undoubtedly a need for a unified
Public Health Act. The Committee or Decentralisation of Powers
recommends that a unified Act be brought about which clearly defines
the role of various government institutions, the level of local
government control over them, the duties of medical officers, the
responsibility of various health staff, issues of preventive health care,
sanitation and hygiene including management of waste and control of
pollution. Already a Kerala Public Health Bill has been drafted. The
Committee recommends that this Bill can be used as a base an
improvements made in accordance with the changed context. An
expert committee may look into the Bill and suggest modifications
required.
6) Chapter III deals with water supply. Section 15 requires the local
authority to provide or arrange to provide water supply to the
inhabitants of the area. The Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and Kerala
Municipality Act, 1994 make the supply of drinking water, the function
of Village Panchayat and Muncipality in accordance with the
Constitution Amendments. The Committee has elsewhere suggested
amendments to the Kerala Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1986 to
provide for a clear role to local governments in providing drinking
water. However, Chapter III may be retained as such.
In the light of the recommendation for a unified Public Health Act there
is no need to amend other provisions at present.
2. The Madras Public Health Act, 1939.