Testing Kit, Ventilator and Other Equipment Should Be Made Available Through Central Government : Chief Minister
Jaipur,
April 21. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot has said that the Central Government
should centrally purchase testing kit, ventilators and other medical equipments
to fight with Covid-19 pandemic and make them available to the States. This
will help the State Governments to purchase them easily, besides there will be
no competition between the States and States will get test kit and equipments
that are as per the guidelines of ICMR.
Shri
Gehlot was discussing with the five-member team that has come from the Centre
and with the officers of the State through video conference on Tuesday. He
said, “I had requested Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in this regard during
the video conference.” He said the test results of Rapid Test Kit recently
procured from China
are not accurate, which is a subject of concern. A research team of SMS Medical
College and Rajasthan
University of Health Sciences is checking this Rapid Test Kit. Decision about
this test kit will be taken after getting the report of the research team and
guidelines from ICMR.
Centre
Should Give Package to States without Any Delay
Chief
Minister said that States have put in all their resources to stop spreading of
coronavirus infection and financial condition of maximum States is not good due
to heavy revenue deficit because of the lockdown. The Central Government in
such situation should announce a big package to help the States in form of the
grant. RBI has increased Wage and Means advance by 60% but it should be made
interest free. Apart from this, the State Governments should be granted
moratorium for three months on the forthcoming instalments of the outstanding
loan. There is also a need to increase the borrowing capacity of the States to
5% from 3%. He said the Prime Minster has been requested in this regard through
letters and during the video conference.
Needy
People Were Compensated With Rs. 2500
Shri
Gehlot said that the State Government in the initial phase of spreading of
Covid-19 infection had announced lockdown in the State from March 22 prior to
the announcement made by the Central Government. Besides this, the State
government looking to the livelihood problems of roadside vendors, rickshaw
pullers, helpless people, nomads and daily wagers had compensated by putting Rs
2,500 in the account of needy people so that their requirement is fulfilled.
Those people who did not have bank account were given cash through district
collector. The State Government had provided kits containing ration item and
food packets to the needy people.
MLA
Funds Will Be Spent On Improving Health Services
Shri
Gehlot said that instead of deferring MLA Funds, the State Government is
planning to spend the funds for the next two years on improving the health
services to fight against Covid-19. He said, “Our Government is making efforts
for the betterment of every section and taking all possible steps to help the
deprived people, but the States should be given help on behalf of the Centre
without any delay to bring back the economy on tracks.” He said while fighting
with Covid-19, the State Government is focusing on strengthening the basic infrastructure
of medical and health sector. Work is being done to increase labs, ICU beds and
number of ventilators. Spirit of mutual help has developed while fighting with
corona crisis, he added.
Centre
Should Show Sensitivity In Regard To Migrant Labourers
Chief
Minister said that due to lockdown migrants including Rajasthani labourers are
caught in various States and they should get one chance to go to their homes.
He said, “I have spoken to Union Home Minister in this regard on the phone and
he has assured to take positive steps.” Many people including migrant labourers
are caught in different parts of the country including Rajasthan. They are
disappointed and desperate and want to go to their homes once. The Central
Government should take fair decision about them with sensitivity, Shri Gehlot
said.
States
Should Be Released More Wheat of Ration
Shri
Gehlot said that godowns of Food Corporation of India are full of wheat. The
Central Government should provide wheat for such people who do not have ration
card and whose name is not in National Food Security Scheme, so that nobody has
to sleep hungry. He requested the Centre to take positive decision on the
proposal of releasing more wheat for PDS to the States looking increased demand
during the lockdown.
Chief
Minister expressed hope that the team sent by the Centre will include all these
points in its report. He said the central team in its report would include all
the efforts made by the State Government so far in curbing the spread of corona
infection and would play positive role in getting grant and other resources
from the Centre to fight this pandemic.
Shri
Sanjiv Kaushik, Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services,
Ministry of Finance, was leading the Central team along with Bindu Tewari,
Director, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harshal Salve, Community
Medicine from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), NDMA Joint
Advisor Shri SK Jena and Shri Devendra S Uikey, Deputy Secretary in Food and
Civil Supply Department were the members of the team.
Medical and Health
Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma, Chief Secretary Shri DB Gupta, Additional Chief
Secretary Home Shri Rajeeva Swarup, Additional Chief Secretary Medical and
Health Shri Rohit Kumar Singh and other officers were present during the video
conference on behalf of the State Government.
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