Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson have adopted an ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’ to elevate bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’. The Roadmap will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years in the areas of people to people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health.
In a Virtual Summit held yesterday, the two leaders discussed the Covid19 situation and ongoing cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, including the successful partnership on vaccines. Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Johnson for the prompt medical assistance provided by the UK in the wake of the severe second wave of Covid19 in India. Prime Minister Johnson appreciated India’s role in extending assistance to the UK and other countries over the last year, including by way of supply of pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
The two Prime Ministers launched an ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ to unleash the trade potential by setting an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030. As part of the ETP, India and the UK agreed on a roadmap to negotiate a comprehensive and balanced FTA, including consideration of an Interim Trade Agreement for delivering early gains. The enhanced trade partnership will generate several thousands of direct and indirect jobs in both the countries.
A new India-UK ‘Global Innovation Partnership’ was announced at the Virtual Summit that aims to support the transfer of inclusive Indian innovations to select developing countries, starting with Africa. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on new and emerging technologies, including Digital and ICT products, and work on supply chain resilience. They also agreed to strengthen defence and security ties, including in the maritime, counter-terrorism and cyberspace domains.
Both Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and G7. They reiterated commitment to climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and agreed to closely engage in the run up to CoP26 hosted by the UK later this year.
India and the UK also launched a comprehensive partnership on migration and mobility that will facilitate greater opportunities for the mobility of students and professionals between the two countries.
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Garden City
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning in which self-contained communities are surrounded by “greenbelts”, containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and agriculture. The idea was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom and aims to capture the primary benefits of a countryside environment and a city environment while avoiding the disadvantages presented by both.
Inspired by the utopian novel “Looking Backward” and Henry George’s work “Progress and Poverty”, Howard published the book “To-morrow: a Peaceful Path to Real Reform” in 1898 (which was reissued in 1902 as “Garden Cities of To-morrow”). His idealized garden city would house 32,000 people on a site of 6,000 acres, planned on a concentric pattern with open spaces, public parks and six radial boulevards, 120 ft (37 m) wide, extending from the centre. The garden city would be self-sufficient and when it reached full population, another garden city would be developed nearby. Howard envisaged a cluster of several garden cities as satellites of a central city of 58,000 people, linked by road and rail.
Howard believed that all people agreed the overcrowding and deterioration of cities was one of the troubling issues of their time. It is important to understand the context to which Howard’s work was a reaction. London (and other cities) in the 19th century were in the throws of industrialization, and the cities were exerting massive forces on the labour markets of the time.
Massive immigration from the countryside to the cities was taking place with London. This situation was unsustainable and political commentators of all parties sought “how best to provide the proper antidote against the greatest danger of modern existence”. To Howard the cure was simple – to reintegrate people with the countryside.
Concept of Three magnets
He had no training in urban planning or design but excelled in creating places which he called “magnets” where people would want to come to reside and work. His garden cities were planned, contained communities surrounded by a green belt (parks), containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and agriculture. Garden city movement aimed at addressing the urban problems plaguing the industrial city of that time. Garden city concept was an effective response for a better quality of life in overcrowded and dirty industrial towns which had deteriorated the environment and posed serious threat to health.
Garden city movement had the “Three Magnets” to addresses the question ‘Where will the people go?’ the choices being ‘Town’, ‘Country’ or ‘Town Country’.
Concept of three magnets
Town
The pull of ‘Town Magnet’ are the opportunities for work and high wages, social opportunities, amusements and well – lit streets. It was closing out of nature, offered isolation of crowds and distance from work. But it came at a cost of foul air, costly drainage, murky sky and slums. Town life has good and bad characteristics. Positive and negative aspects of town include;
- Social opportunity
- Closing out of nature
- Isolation of crowds
- High rents and prices
- Places of amusement
- Foul air and murky sky
- Chances of employment
- Slums and gin palaces
- High money wages
- Costly drainage
- Well-lit streets
- Palatial edifices
Country
The pull of ‘Country Magnet’ is in natural beauty, fresh air, healthfulness. It offered natural beauty, low rents, fresh air, meadow but had low wages and lack of drainage. Country has dullness, lack of society, low wages, lack of amusements and general decay. Positive and negative aspects of town include;
- Beauty of nature
- Lack of society
- Land lying idle
- Hands out of work
- Wood, meadow, forest
- Trespassers beware
- Fresh air
- Low wages
- Low rents
- Lack of drainage
- Abundance of water
- Lack of amusement
- Bright sunshine
- No public spirit
- Need for reform
- Crowded dwellings
- Deserted villages
Town- Country
It was a combination of both town and countryside with aim of providing benefits of both and offered beauty of nature, social opportunity, fields if easy access, low rent, high wages and field of enterprise. Thus the solution was found in a combination of the advantages of Town and Country – the ‘Town Country Magnet’ – it was proposed a town in the country, and having within it the amenities of natural beauty, fresh air and healthfulness. Thus advantages of the Town – Country are seed to be free from the disadvantages of either. Town-country combination has the advantages of both aspects.
- Beauty of nature
- Peace all-over the places
- Social opportunity
- Cumulative growth
- Fields and parks of easy access
- Equal chances
- Low rents- high wages
- Low rates- plenty to do
- Low prices- no sweating
- Field for enterprise- flow of capital
- Pure air and water- good drainage
- Bright homes & gardens- no smoke, no slums
- Freedom- co-operation
Principles of Garden City
- Co-operative holding of land to insure that the advantage of appreciation of land values goes to the community, not the private individuals
- Economic and social advantages of large scale planning
- Establishment of cities of limited size, but at the same time possessing a balanced agricultural industrial economy
- Urban decentralization
- Use of a surrounding green belt to serve as an agricultural recreational area
Features of Garden City
An ideal garden city is a compact town of 6000 acres, 5000 of which is permanently reserved for agriculture. It accommodates a maximum population of 32,000. There are parks and private lawn everywhere. Also the roads are wide, ranging from 120 to 420 feet for the Grand Avenue, and are radial rather than linear.
Commercial, industrial, residential, and public uses are clearly differentiated from each other spatially. Additional elements include unified land ownership –co-operatives, there was no individual ownership of land. Local community also participated in the decision making regarding development. As we can see in the diagram, there is a central park containing public buildings. It is surrounded by shopping streets which are further surrounded by dwelling units in all directions. The outer circle contains factories and industries. Rail road’s bypasses the town, meeting the town at tangent.
After a city reaches its target population, new interconnected nodes can be developed. A Garden city is built up and its population has reached 32,000. It will grow by establishing another city some little distance beyond its own zone of ‘country’, so that the new town may have a zone of country of its own.
Sir Ebenezer Howard’s Garden city
Circular city growing in a radial manner or pattern
- Divided into six equal wards, by six main Boulevards that radiated from the central park/garden
- Civic institutions (Town Hall, Library, Hospital, Theatre, Museum etc. ) are placed around the central garden
- The central park enclosed by a crystal palace acts as an arcade for indoor shops and winter gardens
- The streets for houses are formed by a series of concentric ringed tree lined avenues
- Distance between each ring vary between 3-5km
- A 420 feet wide, 3 mile long, Grand avenue which run in the center of concentric rings , houses the schools and churches and acts as a continuous public park
- The municipal railway was placed in another ring closer to the industrial ring, so that the pressure of excess transport on the city streets is reduced and the city is connected to the rest of the nation.
Main components of Howard’s Garden city movement
1) Planned Dispersal
The organized outward migration of industries and people to towns of sufficient size to provide the services, variety of occupations and level of culture needed by a balanced cross – section of modern society.
2) Limit of Town Size
The growth of towns to be limited, in order that their inhabitants may live near work, shops, social centers and each other and also near open country.
3) Amenities
The internal texture of towns to be open enough to permit of houses with private gardens, adequate space for schools and other functional purposes, and pleasant parks and parkways.
4) Town and Country Relationship
The town area to be defined and a large area around it reserved permanently for agriculture; thus enabling the farm people to be assured of a nearby market and cultural center, and the town people to have the benefit of a country situation.
5) Planning Control
Pre – planning of the whole town framework, including the road – scheme and functional zoning; the fixing of maximum densities; the control of building as to quality and design, but allowing for individual variety; skillful planting and landscape garden design.
6) Neighborhoods
The town to be divided into wards, each to some extent a developmental and social entity. Two garden cities were built using Howard’s garden city movement concept are Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City, both in Hertfordshire, England.
Letchworth Garden City
The first garden city developed in 1903 by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin was Letchworth garden city. It is 34 miles away from London. It has an area of 5000 acres with 3000 acres of green belt. It had an agricultural strip at periphery to check the invasion of urban area i.e. the sprawling. It showed Howard’s general principles, including the communal ownership of the land and the permanent green belt has been carried through. It was a town of homes and gardens with ample open spaces and a spirited community life. A great attention was paid to landscaping and planting.
- Its plan was based on population of 30000 with living area of 1250 acres and 2500 acres of rural green belt.
- Communities ranged from 12000 – 18000 people, small enough which required no vehicular transportation.
- Industries were connected to central city by rapid transportation.
- In 30 years, the city developed with 15000 population and 150 shops, industries.
Welwyn Garden City
It was the second garden city founded by Sir Ebenzer Howard and designed by Louis De Soissions in 1920 and was located 20 miles from London. It was a town visually pleasing and was efficient technically and was human in scale.
- It started with area of 2400 acres and 40000 populations.
- Had a parkway, almost a mile long central mall.
- Town laid out along tree-lined boulevards with Neo Georgian town center.
- Every road had a wide grass verge.
- In 15 years – developed with 10000 population and 50 shops, industries.
Failure of Garden Cities
Letchworth slowly attracted more residents because it was able to attract manufacturers through low taxes, low rents and more space. Despite Howard’s best efforts, the home prices in this garden city could not remain affordable for workers to live in. Although many viewed Letchworth as a success, it did not immediately inspire government investment into the next line of garden cities. In frustration, Howard bought land at Welwyn to house the second garden city in 1919. The Welwyn Garden City Corporation was formed to oversee the construction. But Welwyn did not become self-sustaining because it was only 20 miles from London. Even until the end of the 1930s, Letchworth and Welwyn remained as the only existing garden cities.
Over 1 crore 66 lakh people recovered from COVID-19 infection in country so far
The number of total active cases of COVID-19 in the country further swelled up today to comprise nearly 17 percent of the total reported cases. The Health Ministry has informed that currently over 34 lakh 47 thousand people are reported to be suffering from the viral pandemic and are either hospitalised or are under home isolation.
In the last 24 hours, the nation registered 3 lakh 57 thousand 229 new COVID cases. With this the recovery rate has further slipped to stand at 81.91 per cent.
Since yesterday over 3 lakh 20 thousand people have been discharged from Hospitals or are reported to have been completely cured. So far, over 1 crore 66 lakh people have recovered from the COVID-19 infection in the country. Ten States including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat & Kerala continue to be the major hotspots of the viral pandemic. Nearly 75 per cent of the new cases are reported from these 10 states. The Health Ministry has informed that three thousand 449 COVID related deaths were reported in the last 24 hours taking the cumulative toll to 2 lakh 22 thousand 408.
With a special focus on the 5-point principle of ‘Test, Track, Treat, Isolate & Vaccinate’, the number of cumulative COVID-19 testing reported by Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR has surpassed the figure of 29 crore 33 lakh. The apex medical research body has informed that in the past 24 hours more than 16 lakh 63 thousand samples were tested in the country. As of today, two thousand 506 laboratories are engaged in the work of testing COVID samples across the country which includes one thousand 241 government and one thousand 265 private labs.
Education Ministry asks all centrally funded institutions to postpone offline examinations scheduled in May
Union Education Ministry has written to all centrally funded institutions to postpone their offline examinations scheduled in the month of May this year in view of COVID surge. In a letter addressed to all the heads of centrally funded institutions, Secretary, Higher Education Amit Khare has urged the Institutions to postpone all offline examinations scheduled in the month of May. The Online examinations may however continue as scheduled.
The letter also stated that the decision will be reviewed in the first week of June. All Institutions have been asked to encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated and also ensure all possible help in every regard.
Centre waives off IGST on import of Corona related medical supplies
In a major relief, Centre has waived off IGST on the import of COVID related medical supplies including Remdesivir Injection/API, Medical Oxygen, O2 Concentrators, Cryogenic tanks & COVID Vaccines among others. The exemption has been granted till 30th June for free distribution of these medical supplies.
Earlier the Centre had waived the import duty & health cess on such medical supplies.
This exemption will enable import of the COVID relief supply imported free of cost for free distribution without payment of IGST. State Governments have been asked to appoint a nodal authority to facilitate the importers to avail the relief exemption.
PM Modi reviews growing need of human resources required to deal with Covid-19 crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the growing need of human resources required for dealing with the crisis of Covid-19 situation in the country.
Many important decisions have been taken during the review meeting which will significantly boost availability of medical personnel required for treatment of Covid patients.
Among the many decisions, a decision has been taken to postpone NEET-Post Graduate exam for at least four months.
This will ensure the availability of qualified doctors for Covid duties.
The exam will not be held before 31st of August of this year and students will be given at least one month of time after the announcement of the exam.
It has also been decided to allow deployment of medical interns in the Covid management duties under the supervision of their faculty.
The services of final year MBBS students can be utilized for providing services like tele-consultation and monitoring of mild COVID cases.
The services of final year post graduate students as residents may continue to be utilized.
It has further been decided that services of B.Sc. and General Nursing and Midwifery nurses may be utilized in Covid nursing duties under the supervision of Senior Doctors and Nurses.
In a major decision, it has been decided that the individuals providing services in COVID management will be given priority in forthcoming regular government recruitments after they complete a minimum of 100 days of COVID duties.
The medical students and professionals sought to be engaged in COVID related work will be suitably vaccinated.
Engaged Health professionals will be covered under the Insurance Scheme of Government.
All such professionals will be given the Prime Minister’s Distinguished COVID National Service Samman after completion of their 100 days of COVID duties.
The States and Union Territories have been requested to consider the above incentives to maximise the availability of manpower to provide relief to the Covid patients.
More than 84,000 beneficiaries from 18 to 44 age group receive first dose of Corona vaccine on first day of 3rd phase inoculation
Government has said 84 thousand 599 beneficiaries of the age group 18 to 44 years received their first dose of COVID vaccine yesterday. The Liberalised and Accelerated Phase-3 Strategy of Covid-19 Vaccination came into force yesterday. The registration for the newly eligible population groups has commenced on 28th of last month.
Union Health Ministry said, the total vaccination across the country has crossed more than 15 crore 66 lakh mark. These include over 94 lakh 28 thousand Healthcare Workers who have taken the 1st dose and more than 62 lakh Health care workers who have taken the 2nd dose. Over one crore 26 lakh Frontline Workers have taken the 1st dose and more than 68 lakh front line workers have taken the 2nd dose.
The Ministry said, the country has administered more than 16 lakh vaccine doses till 8 pm yesterday. Out of which around ten lakh beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and six lakh 58 thousand beneficiaries received 2nd dose of the vaccine.
The Central Government has advised the States and Union Territories to set up Help Desks with the aid of Volunteer Groups, NGOs, and Civil Society Organisations. The Help Desk Team set up at the hospitals can support in managing the patients being admitted in the hospital effectively and facilitate better interaction between hospital staff and patients’ attendants.
They may also help in increasing awareness about the necessary safety precautions and appropriate COVID-19 behavior amongst patients. Similarly, NGOs can also help in other activities at hospitals that facilitate the attendants’ grievance redressal and in logistic requirements such as helping with discharging, liasoning with cremation grounds and burial grounds.
The Central Government along with States and UTs through a ‘Whole of Government’ approach has embarked on a five-point strategy for prevention, containment, and management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Vaccination forms an integral component of the five-point strategy including Test, Track, Treat, and COVID Appropriate Behaviour.
Oxygen Express to deliver record 250 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen to Delhi, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh today
Railway Ministry has said that Oxygen Expresss will deliver a record 250 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen to Delhi, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh by today. Accelerating its pace of delivering liquid medical oxygen to various states, Indian Railways has delivered more than 813 tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen in 56 tankers to various states across the country.
According to Railway, 174 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen have been delivered to Maharashtra, more than 356 tonnes to Uttar Pradesh, over 134 tonnes to Madhya Pradesh, more than 79 tonnes to Haryana and 70 tonnes to Delhi. The Ministry said, 14 Oxygen expresses have already completed their journey and five more loaded Oxygen express are on the run carrying 342 tonnes of oxygen.
Delhi is set to receive its 2nd Oxygen Express with 120 tonnes of Liquid Oxygen by this evening. Telangana will also receive its first Oxygen express currently on the way from Angul carrying over 124 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen. The Ministry said, Haryana received its first and second Oxygen express yesterday carrying 79 tonnes of oxygen in five tankers.
Counting of votes begins for assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry
Counting of votes has begun for assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Counting began at 8 this morning. Assembly elections in these states and union territory were held from March 27 to April 29. Counting of votes for bypolls to four Lok Sabha and 12 Assembly seats in different states is also underway.
Trends and results will be available on the Election Commission website and will be updated every few minutes to display the current round wise trends and results of each constituency. The trends and results will also be accessible through the “Voter helpline” Mobile App.
In view of second wave of pandemic and with a view to ensure a completely COVID safe arrangements during counting, the Election Commission has rolled out strict COVID protocols for the counting day. The District Election Officer has been appointed as the Nodal Officer at each Counting Centre to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 related norms at the centre. Local Health Authorities have also been mandated to issue compliance certificate in respect of the Counting Centres.
As per the safety measures, no candidates or poll agents is being allowed inside the counting hall without undergoing RT-PCR or Rapid Antigen Test. However, those who have been administered both the doses of COVID vaccination have been allowed. The Commission has also prohibited public gathering outside the counting venue during the process of counting.
At the entry of hall, room and premises, Thermal Scanning of all persons are being carried out and sanitizer, soap and water have been made available.
No one having any symptom of COVID-19 like fever, cold are allowed to enter in the Counting Hall. Candidate will be allowed to appoint/replace the Counting Agents in case report is positive. Social distancing will be maintained inside Counting Hall. Seating arrangement of counting personnel and agents etc will be made as per COVID-19 guidelines of NDMA and SDMA. There will be sufficient number of PPE Kit for Counting Agents and Candidates. Masks, Sanitizer, Face-Shields and Gloves are being provided to every counting official and security personnel.
The Election Commission has already banned all victory processions on or after the day of counting. Not more than two people will be allowed to accompany the winning candidates to receive the certificate of election from the concerned Returning Officer.
In Kerala, the counting of votes in 140 constituencies has begun. AIR correspondent reports that postal votes courting began at 8 in the morning today and the votes in EVM’s will be counted from 8.30 am onwards. Counting is taking place in 633 halls in 114 centers across the state. In the present alarming covid scenario in the State all arrangements are done for the strict abidance to covid protocol.
All officials, media and political agents with negative RTPCR test are only allowed in the counting premises. As more number of postal votes are there this time, the final result is expected to slightly delay from last time. As just few hours are left to know who will rule Kerala for the next 5 years, all the three major front , LDF, UDF and NDA are equally exuding confidence that the mandate will be in their favour.
In Tamil Nadu, counting of votes began at eight this morning for all the 234 Assembly constituencies and the lone Loksabha seat of Kanyakumari. AIR correspondent reports that the fate of 3998 candidates sealed on the 6th of April will be decided today. Tamil Nadu despite covid situation had registered 72.81 percentage of votes. Postal ballots have been taken up for counting in the first round in all the districts. Till yesterday over five lakh 64 thousand postal votes have been registered.
A total of 16 thousand 387 people are involved in counting in 75 counting centres in the State. Security has been stepped up with one lakh police personnel on duty today. Election Comission has banned victory marches due to the pandemic situation, Political party leaders have also appealed to their party members to remain indoors and celebrate.
As election commission had allowed only covid negative persons on counting duty last minute changes had to be made by parties and officials as more than 400 persons had tested positive. CCTV cameras have been installed in all the counting centres. In each counting centre votes from four to five constituencies will be counted. 14 tables will be set up for counting votes for each constituency.
In Puducherry, counting of postal ballots is underway. AIR correspondent reports that the counting of votes, of 23 constituencies in Puducherry region is held in 3 centres here. In order to reduce the number of counting agents, the Election department has planned to count the votes in 3 batches of constituencies. i.e 8, 8 and 7 constituencies at around 10 am, 1 pm and 6 pm respectively.
Only the agents of 8 constituencies are allowed to assemble in the centre at a time. To maintain social distancing in the counting hall, the number of tables for counting in each hall is restricted to 5. Arrangements have been made strictly according to the Covid protocols. Face masks, sanitizers hand gloves and PPE KITs provided to the staffs.
All the 3 centres were sanitized yesterday. Around 1000 officials involved in the counting process and 400 policemen along with Central forces deployed here for security purpose. Apart from that a Health Officer is also available in each centre with an Ambulance for emergency medical care. The votes of 5 Constituencies in Karaikal, and each one in Mahe and Yanam are counted in the respective regions.
Over 14 crore 78 lakh doses of Corona vaccine administered in the country
The world largest Covid-19 vaccination drive is progressing smoothly in the country. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has informed on Wednesday that over 25 lakh 56 thousand doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered to the beneficiaries in the last 24 hours.
The Ministry said, over 14 crore 78 lakh people have already been inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines in the country so far. From the 1st of May, which is also the third phase of the largest vaccination drive, everyone above the age of 18 years will be eligible to take COVID vaccines.
The registration for the 3rd phase will begin from 4 PM this evening on the COWIN portal, Aarogya Setu App and UMANG App.
Railways makes 4,000 Covid Care coaches with almost 64,000 beds ready for use by States
Railways has made nearly four thousand Covid Care coaches with almost 64 thousand beds ready for use by States. Railway Ministry said, at present 169 coaches have been handed over to various states for Covid care. It has deployed Covid Care Coaches in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi to assist the states in view of rising corona cases in the country.
In Delhi, Railways has catered to the full demand of State Governments’ for 75 Covid Care coaches with a capacity of one thousand 200 beds. The Ministry said, 50 coaches are positioned at Shakurbasti and 25 Coaches at Anand Vihar stations. In Uttar Pradesh, ten coaches each are placed at Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli and Nazibabad totalling to a capacity of 800 beds.
The Ministry said, new demand for Covid coaches has come from Nagpur District. In this direction, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Divisional Railway Manager, Nagpur and Commissioner, Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The Railways are also mobilising isolation Coaches at Ajni ICD area in Maharashtra as per the State demand.
Centre provides more than 15 crore vaccines to States free of cost
Centre has provided more than 15 crore vaccines so far to States and Union Territories free of cost. Union Health Ministry said, more than one crore doses of Vaccine are still available with the States and UTs to be administered.
India had launched the world’s largest Vaccination Drive on 16th January this year. The Ministry said, more than 80 lakh doses will be received in addition by the States and UTs in the next three days.
Health Ministry said, recently some media reports quoting some government officials from Maharashtra have pointed out that the vaccines in the State are finished and adversely impacting the vaccination drive in the state.
The Ministry clarified that the total COVID vaccine doses received by Maharashtra as on yesterday are more than one crore 58 lakh. Of this, the total consumption including wastage was more than one crore 49 lakh.
It said, balance of more than nine lakh 23 thousand doses is still available with the state for administration of vaccine doses to the eligible population groups. Furthermore, three lakh doses of COVID vaccine are in the pipeline for delivery in the next three days.
PM Modi asks officials to ensure rapid upgradation of health infrastructure in country
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed officials to ensure rapid upgradation of health infrastructure in the country. Mr. Modi chaired a meeting yesterday with top officials to review the Covid-19 related situation in the country. He got an overview on the situation in the country relating to oxygen availability, medicines and health infrastructure.
The Empowered Group working on boosting Oxygen Supply briefed the Prime Minister on the efforts being made to ramp up availability and supply of oxygen in the country. They informed the Prime Minister about increasing allocation of Oxygen to states. It was discussed that the production of liquid medical oxygen in the country has increased from five thousand 700 tonnes per day in August last year to the present eight thousand 922 tonnes, as on 25th of April. The domestic production of liquid medical oxygen is expected to cross nine thousand 250 tonnes per day by the end of this month.
Prime Minister instructed the officials to work closely with state governments to start the PSA Oxygen plants at the earliest. Officers also apprised Mr. Modi that they are encouraging states to also set up PSA Oxygen plants. He was also briefed about the functioning of the Oxygen Express Railways Service as well as the domestic sorties and international sorties undertaken by Indian Air Force to transport oxygen tankers.
The Empowered Group working on Medical Infrastructure and Covid management briefed the Prime Minister on efforts being undertaken to ramp up availability of beds and ICUs. They informed the efforts being break the chain of transmission. Prime Minister stressed on the need to ensure that specific guidelines and strategies evolved regarding Covid management needs to be properly implemented by the relevant agencies in the States.
The Empowered Group working on communication informed on the efforts being undertaken to improve awareness among people on Covid-related behaviour. Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary Information and Broadcasting, Secretary Pharmaceuticals, Member NITI Aayog, DG ICMR, Secretary Biotechnology and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
Registration for Covid vaccination to all above 18 years of age begins today
The registration process for COVID vaccination to all above 18 years is starting today. They will be vaccinated in the third phase of COVID Vaccination drive starting from 1st of next month. All those eligible can register on Co-Win portal – cowin.gov.in.
In this phase, the vaccination will continue as before in Central Government vaccination centres free of cost to the eligible people including Health Care Workers, Front Line Workers and all above 45 years of age.
During this phase, vaccine manufacturers will supply 50 per cent of their monthly released doses to the Central government and they will be free to supply the remaining 50 per cent doses to States as well as in the open market..
No walk-in facility will be available for vaccination in this phase. All above 18 years will need to mandatorily register online on the Co-Win platform. The registration will be done with the help of mobile number. People will have to fill up their details and upload one photo ID proof.
After that they will have to schedule the appointment at a centre of their choice. On successful completion of booking, they will receive a confirmation message which will have to be shown at the vaccination centre. In this phase, Centre has also allowed states, private hospitals and industrial establishments to procure the vaccine doses directly from manufacturers.
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