Centre releases 890.32 cr for states to fight COVID-19

The union government released Rs. 890.32 cr as the second installment of the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package to 22 States and Union Territories (UTs) on Thursday, an official statement said.

These include Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim. The amount of the financial assistance is based on the COVID-19 case load in these States/UTs, the release stated.

As part of the 'Whole of Government' approach where the Centre is leading the COVID-19 response and management, and supporting the States and UTs through technical and financial resources, the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The first installment of Rs. 3000 cr was released in April 2020 to all States and UTs.

The financial aid as part of the second installment will be used for strengthening of public health facilities infrastructure for testing including procurement and installation equipment, strengthening of public health facilities infrastructure for treatment and development of ICU beds; installation of oxygen generators, cryogenic oxygen tanks and medical gas pipelines in public health facilities and procurement of bedside oxygen concentrators, etc.; and engagement, training, and capacity building of necessary Human Resources and incentives to healthcare workforce and volunteers, including ASHAs, on COVID duties, the release added.