Govt working unitedly, rapidly to deal with COVID situation: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that all arms of the government are working unitedly and rapidly to deal with the COVID-19 situation in the country and urged  Union  Ministers to stay in touch with people of their respective regions, help them and keep getting their feedback. He stressed the need to ensure that issues at the local level are promptly identified and addressed.  Modi on Friday stated this during the  Council of Ministers meeting held virtually to discuss the situation arising out of the second wave of COVID in the country. The Council of Ministers noted that the present pandemic crisis is ‘once in a century crisis’ and has thrown a big challenge for the world.
During the meeting, the Team India approach to fight COVID, based on the collective efforts of the Centre, State Governments and people of India was highlighted. The Council also reviewed all the efforts made in the last 14 months by the Central and State Governments and the people. It was also briefed about the efforts by the Central Government in coordination with the states towards building up infrastructure in the form of ramping up hospital beds, PSA oxygen facilities, resolving issues in production, storage and transport of Oxygen and tackling matters relating to the availability of essential medicines.  The support measures to the vulnerable population in the form of provision of food-grains and financial support to Jan Dhan account holders were also pointed out.
In the meeting, it was also noted that India could successfully produce two vaccines and there are many candidates at the various stages of approval and induction. More than 15 crore vaccinations have been done as on date.The Council of Ministers also stressed the importance of Covid appropriate behaviour- wearing a mask, keeping physical distance of 6 feet and washing hands frequently and reiterated that the participation of society is a key aspect to accomplish the gigantic task ahead and expressed confidence that the country will rise to the occasion and defeat the virus.