Covid-19 Bulletin: 43 flights bring back 8,500 Indians, 642 Shramik Special trains till May 13 and 160 lakh MT foodgrains distributed in lockdown
Owing to PM Modi’s call for ‘Vocal on Local’, the MHA announced that from June 1, only indigenous products will be sold at these canteens.
New Delhi: Maintaining a steady rise, the Coronavirus cases have reached almost 75,000 in the country with over 3,500 cases in last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the testing of samples has peaked up recently, with total samples reaching almost 18.5 lakh.
In another news related to Covid-19, Finance Minister announced the details of Rs 20 lakh crore Special Package and Home Ministry brought about major change in Central Armed Police Forces canteens. Owing to PM Modi’s call for ‘Vocal on Local’, the MHA announced that from June 1, only indigenous products will be sold at these canteens.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviews preparedness for COVID-19 management in Punjab
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare held a meeting, through video conference, with Health Minister of Punjab. Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that as on 13th May 2020, a total of 74,281 cases have been reported from the country in which 24,386 persons have been cured and 2,415 deaths had occurred. In the last 24 hours, 3,525 new confirmed cases have been added. While the doubling time in the past 14 days was 11, it has improved to 12.6 in the last three days. He added that the fatality rate is 3.2% and the recovery rate is pegged at 32.8%. He also added that (as of yesterday) there are 2.75% active COVID-19 patients in ICU, 0.37% on ventilators and 1.89% on oxygen support. Cumulatively, 18,56,477 tests have been done so far for COVID-19, whereas, 94708 samples were tested yesterday. Dr Harsh Vardhan said that Punjab has done well in operationalising the Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centers. These could be further used for screening of people with diabetes, hypertension and three common cancers (oral, breast and cervix), and for extension of comprehensive primary healthcare services to the community at large.
From June 1, only swadeshi products at Central Armed Police Forces canteens
Ministry of Home Affairs has decided that all the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) canteens and stores across the country will now sell only indigenous products, from June 01, 2020. The total purchase value would be around Rs. 2800 crore. With this decision, 50 lakh family members of about 10 lakh CAPF personnel will use indigenous products.The Home Minister also appealed to the people of the country, “You should use the products made in the country as much as possible and encourage others to do the same. This is not the time to be lagging behind, but to turn the crisis into an opportunity.”
Gadkari welcomes PM Modi’s economic package for MSMEs
Minister for MSMEs and Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has welcomed the Prime Minister’s relief package worth Rs 20 lakh crore. He said, through this historical package, the Prime Minister has fulfilled the expectations and aspirations of the MSME, village and cottage industry sector.ShriGadkari said, with abundant resources, superior technology and raw materials, India can soon become self-reliant in all sectors.
8503 Indians return from abroad in 43 flights since May 7
8503 Indians have been flown back to India in 43 inbound flights operated by Air India and Air India Express under Vande Bharat Mission in 6 days beginning from 7th May 2020.Government of India started Vande Bharat Mission – one of the largest initiatives to repatriate nationals back to India, on 7th May 2020. Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express are operating a total of 64 flights (42 by Air India & 24 by AI Express) to 12 countries viz. USA, UK Bangladesh, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Philippines, UAE and Malaysia to repatriate 14,800 Indians back in the first phase.
Indian Railways operate 642 “Shramik Special” trains till May 13
As on 13th May 2020, a total of 642 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalized from various states across the country.These 642 trains were terminated in various states like Andhra Pradesh (3 Trains), Bihar (169 Trains), Chattisgarh (6 Trains), Himachal Pradesh (1 Train), Jammu & Kashmir (3 Trains), Jharkhand (40 Trains), Karnataka (1 Train), Madhya Pradesh (53 Trains), Maharashtra (3 Trains), Manipur (1 Train), Mizoram (1 Train), Odisha (38 Trains), Rajasthan(8 Trains), Tamil Nadu (1 Train), Telangana(1 Train), Tripura (1 Train), Uttar Pradesh (301 Trains), Uttarakhand (4 Trains), West Bengal(7 Trains).
FCI distributes about 160 LMT foodgrains to States/UTs during lockdown
FCI is having sufficient stocks to cater to the requirement of the nation. As on 1st May, 2020, the stock position was 642.7 Lakh MT, out of which rice was 285.03 Lakh MT and wheat was 357.7 Lakh MT. Till 12.05.2020, 159.36 Lakh MT foodgrains have been issued under various schemes. State Governments have lifted 60.87 Lakh MT foodgrains under NFSA, which is equivalent to almost one and half month’s requirement. Further, 79.74 Lakh MT has been lifted for distribution under PMGKAY against total allocation of 120 Lakh MT, which is equal to two month allocation.
Mission Sagar: INS Kesari Hands Over Food Provisions to Maldives
As part of ‘Mission Sagar’, Indian Naval Ship Kesari entered Port of Male, Maldives on 12 May 2020. The Government of India is providing assistance to friendly foreign countries and towards this INS Kesari is carrying 580 tons of food provisions for the people of Maldives.
Tribal Affairs Minister holds video conference with States/UTs
Addressing the participants, Shri Arjun Munda congratulated the States for supporting the tribal livelihood by stepping up procurement of Minor Forest Produce at the revised MSP. Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda also reviewed the working of Prime Minister’s VandhanYojana in the States. He said that value addition is required to connect tribal produce to the Global market which is a long-term vision of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. ShriArjunMunda reviewed the arrangements being made by States for the tribal migrants and students who are returning home in the wake of situation created by COVID-19.
Dr. Jitendra Singh reviews arrangements in J&K, Ladakh on Covid 19 management
Dr Jitendra Singh interacted with the Deputy Commisioners of all Districts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to discuss the latest COVID 19 situation, the arrival of stranded persons in the two UTs and the arrangements made by the administration for the passengers arriving through the Shramik Special trains, besides the resumption of regular train services to Jammu from Wednesday.
Haryana gears up to provide tap connections to all rural households by Dec 2022
The State provided 1.05 lakh tap connections during 2019-20 under the JalJeevan Mission. Now the State Government is planning 100% coverage by December, 2022, ahead of the national goal by 2024-25. By doing so, Haryana will be among the leading states to accomplish the ambitious target of providing tap connection to each rural household. Dashboard of Public Health Engineering Department has been recently launched by Chief Minister. During this testing time of CoVid-19 pandemic, such attempts to provide household tap connections in rural areas will definitely improve the ease of living especially the women and girls, reducing their drudgery, making them safe and lead a dignified life.
J&K plans to provide tap water to every household by December 2022
During the current year, State is planning for 100% coverage of all 5,000 villages of 3 districts i.e. Gandharbal, Srinagar and Raisi.Presenting their action plan to the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation yesterday for achieving the goal of every household with tap water supply under the JJM, UT officials said there are 18.17 lakh households in the UT, out of which 5.75 lakhs are already provided with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs). Out of the remaining households, J&K plans to provide 1.76 lakh households by 2020-21.