Consult state in fixing COVID-19 vaccine priorities: Captain Amarinder Singh to Centre
Punjab vaccination drive: During the Niti Aayog meeting, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday urged the Central Government to consult with the state before fixing priorities for the Covid-19 vaccine, as it is a matter involving the entire population.
With the portal created by the Government of India for registration of health care and frontline workers frozen, several such workers of the state willing for COVID-19 vaccine registration have been left behind, Captain Amarinder Singh pointed out.
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Even as he called upon the Centre to allow entry of such workers to improve the status of vaccination drive in Punjab.
In his circulated speech at the Niti Aayog meeting, the Chief Minister also requested the Centre to allow 100 percent use of available SDRF towards expenditure for COVID Management, instead of the present ceiling of 50 percent.
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Further, in the event of the SDRF yearly budget being exceeded due to enhanced expenditure on COVID-related matters, the State may also be allowed to utilize previous years' available funds, he suggested.
Captain Amarinder also urged the Central Government to provide immediate financial assistance of at least Rs. 300 Cr to upgrade Health Infrastructure, equipment, and other healthcare needs in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
He also sought the creation of a `Water Quality Kosh’ in every state to enable Punjab to achieve the vision of providing potable water to each rural household on a sustainable basis even in the water quality-affected habitations.
-PTC News
