India battle COVID-19

 

               

                  As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, India — a country of more than 1.3 billion people, robust actions against the virus outbreaks have been relatively strong. The outbreak of the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, began in China and has since infected 5,97,252 people across more than 199 countries and territories around the world. 27,365 people worldwide have died after being infected with COVID-19. 

The Novel Coronavirus has never been observed before, hence, there is no specific treatment for the disease. Current anti-viral treatments are also deemed ineffective at combating the illness. Therefore, present treatment is focused only on alleviating the symptoms of the disease. India, newly locked-down and with more than 800 cases, is doing its best it can, to well position to fight the virus and protect its 1.3 billion residents. 

India, got rid of polio with targeted measures, breaking down what was needed village by village. The country had overcome many pandemics and crises before, will overcome this one, too.

This is how India is reacting to the coronavirus pandemic.

• India has put in place strict restrictions on inbound travel.
• Suspended all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations, employment, project visas until April 15.
• Government has strongly advised against traveling to China, Italy, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Spain and Germany.
• India’s prime minister announced that no one could leave home for 21 days. "Every state, every district, every lane, every village will be under lockdown".
• To deal with this crippling shortage of medical equipment, the Union government, banned the export of ventilators, sanitizers and other ICU equipment with immediate effect. 
• $22.5 billion relief package to combat COVID-19 which is 0.8% of India's GDP.
• Medical insurance of Rs 50 lakh each, for paramedics, nurses, ASHA workers and others working on the frontlines of fighting the COVID-19 across the country, which will benefit about 20 lakh people.
• 80cr poor people, two-third of our population- everyone will get additional 5kgs of wheat/rice for free for the next 3 months. 1kg of pulses/person of their regional preference will be given. 
• According to official data, the government has a total of 58.49 percent of food grains in the Food Corporation of India and godowns. Which includes 30.97 million tones of rice and 27.52 million tons of wheat. The food grain stock is much higher than the required norm of maintaining a reserve of about 21 million tonnes as on April 1. 
• 8.69 cr farmers will benefit immediately from the front-loading of the first installment under PM Jan Dhan Yojana. Rs 2,000 be given to farmers as 1st installment under PM Kisan Scheme in the first week of April. 
• MNREGA payout increased to Rs 202/day from Rs 182/day.
• An ex-gratia of Rs 1,000 in two installments over three months would be given to poor senior citizens over 60 years, widows and the disabled. "This will benefit 3 crore poor senior citizens, widows and disabled,"
• Moreover 20crore women Jan Dhan Account holders will get Rs 500per month for the next three months to help them run their households. Besides, the government also doubled collateral-free loans to Rs 20 lakh for 63 lakh women self-help groups. The move will benefit 7 crore households.
• Ujjwala Yojana will get one LPG cylinder per month for the next 3 months. 

• Government of India will pay the EPF (Employees Provident Fund) contributions- 12% of the basic salary - of both employees and employers for the next three months. Workers can withdraw a non- refundable advance from their EPF accounts of up to 75%.

PM CARES FUND

Appeal to generously donate to ‘Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation Fund (PM CARES FUND)’

Donate to PM CARES FUND:

Name of the Account               :       PM CARES

Account Number                      :      2121PM20202

IFSC Code                               :       SBIN0000691

SWIFT Code                           :       SBININBB104

Name of the Bank & Branch   :       State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch.

UPI ID                                     :       pmcares@sbi

You can also donate on pmindia.gov.in using following methods:

1.      Debit Cards & Credit Cards.

2.      Internet Banking.

3.      UPI (BHIM, PhonePe, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, PayTM, Mobikwik, etc.)

4.      RTGS/NEFT

DRDO

•       DRDO working with Tata, Mahindra on multi-patient ventilators.
•          Developed hand sanitizers, ventilators, mask with multiple layer and body gears.
•          DRDO is to make 20,000 to 30,000 litres of hand sanitizers per day. The cost of the                   sanitizers is less than Rs 120 per litre.

INDIAN ARMED FORCES

•       Operation Namaste campaign launched to combat COVID-19.
•        To insulate the 1.3 million strong force from infection.
•        Established so far eight quarantine facilities across the country. The Army, Navy and the            Air Force are already operating 15 quarantine facilities.
•        Distributing free rations and supplies to daily wage earners, migrant labors and other needy      people in different parts of Jammu And Kashmir.
•        Indian Navy mobilizes IL38 to transport face masks from Delhi for Goa Health Workers.

Governments, central banks and the WHO will not defeat coronavirus alone; the private sector must play a key role. From making masks and sanitizers to contributing funds, many Indian companies have united to help citizens and government fight the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

RELIANCE

•  Reliance said it has deployed the combined strengths of Reliance Foundation, Reliance Retail, Jio, Reliance Life Sciences, Reliance Industries, and all the 6,00,000 people that work for the group on this action plan against COVID-19. 
• Reliance Industries sets up dedicated COVID-19 hospitals, ramps up face mask production.
• Detailing the measures, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate said it has set up India's first dedicated 100-bedded center at Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai for COVID-19 patients. 
• Reliance Jio announces a self-diagnostic tool, also available for non-jio users. 
• Raising its production capacities to produce 100,000 face-masks per day and a large number of personal equipment, such as suits and garments, for the health-workers to equip them further to fight the coronavirus challenge. 

MAHINDRA

• Anand Mahindra donates full salary to set up fund.
• Announced production of ventilators at Mahindra's factories.
• At Mahindra Holidays, they offered resorts as temporary care facilities.

 VEDANTA LIMITED

• The Executive Chairman of Vedanta Resource Limited showed his generous side as he pledged Rs 100cr to fight the pandemic.

PAYTM

• Commits Rs 5 cr for developing coronavirus related medical solution. 
• A small team of aerospace, electrical and electronics engineers are trying to put together a prototype ventilator using Indian ingredients on an emergency basis with the intent to be ready if COVID-19 situation becomes worse.
• Open donations, partners with Lifebuoy to fight COVID-19 spread.

Maruti, Hyundai will provide ventilators and testing kits.

The key to containing this virus is to break the chains of transmission. If robust action is taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients and trace contacts. Country will overcome this. The question is how large a price will be payed.