Will produce white paper on Covid expense: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, August 23 2021: Chief minister N Biren has informed that a total of 1739 Covid-19 positive patients and 38 post-Covid-19 related deaths have been reported in the state till August 20 .

On the second day's session of the Legislative Assembly on Monday, he assured the House that a white paper on Covid-related expenditures will be produced within 1-2 months, while adding that a door-to-door vaccination survey would be carried out to address the low vaccination rate in the hill districts.

Replying to a question raised by Congress MIA Surjakumar Okram, CM Biren (in-charge Health) said that the Covid related death records are from the government and private health facilities in the state.

Only 38 post Covid-19 related deaths have been reported through DCs and SPs concerned.

He also said that technicians to operate the installed oxygen plants in the state will be recruited soon.

So far, oxygen plants have been installed in 5-6 districts and efforts are underway to install the same in the remaining districts.

A lone oxygen plant requires 3-4 technicians and as such, an expert from outside will be engaged to train them for 3 months.

The cabinet has already taken a decision on the matter and there will be no issues in the operation of the plants, he added.

The CM further said that the cabinet will consider steps to rehabilitate the family of (late) Jamadar Waikhom Ronald, who succumbed to Covid-19 during election duty, in the next sitting of the assembly.

Responding to another query by Surjakumar, Biren said that the Centre has sanctioned Covid Relief Fund for the year 2020-21 and 2021-22.Under the Government of India's Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness package (ECRP), a total amount of Rs 31,52,00,000 has been sanctioned.

Out of this, Rs 19,58,06,589 has been utilised in 2020-2021, while Rs 2,84,63,819 has been utilised for 2021- 2022 .

Under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Rs 16,80,00,000 had been allocated during financial year 2020-21 and Rs 8,40,00,000 sanctioned during financial year 2021-22 .

A total of Rs 3,00,00,000 was released by North Eastern Council in 2021 for Covid Related expenses and the entire amount has been spent.

During 2020-21, a sum of Rs 4.111 crore was allocated from PM CARES.

No fund is allocated from PM CARES during financial year 2021-22.Additionally, a total of Rs 7.5 crore has been released from SDRF for giving remuneration to COVID Task Force, he further informed the House.

Assuring that a white paper on the Covid-related expenditures will be produced within the next 1-2 months, the CM said that it will help people have a general understanding of where the funds have been utilised.

The remaining funds which are yet to be sanctioned will soon be released and utilised in addressing the shortages of district hospitals in the state.

On the other hand, the government is trying its level best to speed up the ongoing vaccination process in the state.

So far, 70-8- per cent of eligible persons in valley has been vaccinated but the rate is still quite low in the hill districts.

Thus, a door-to-door survey will be conducted to ascertain the status of non-vaccinated beneficiaries, Biren said.

In addition, the CM informed that there are funds to address any shortages in Covid Care Management, provided a detailed report on the same is submitted.

In response to a question raised by MLA Md Fajur Rahim, CM Biren said that the Government will not spare anybody involved in the misappropriation of fund meant for paying compensation to the victims of flood that occurred in 2017 in Thoubal district.

He further stated that the fund was deposited in two instalments to DC Thoubal in February, 2019 and March, 2020 .

Welcoming the suggestion given by the MLA, the Chief Minister said that he will inform the MLAs concerned for taking up further necessary steps to deliver the compensation.

Responding to a question on July's quota of NFS A rice raised by MLA K Ranjit, CAF & PD Minister Th Satyabrata said that the central government has already released the quota for the month of July.

However, due to limited usage of ePOS machine, the state received only 2831.92 MT out of the allocated 10610.645 MT quota for the month of July, which is yet to be distributed.

Satyabrata continued that owing to limited usage of ePOS machine during Phase I and II from April to November 2020, the quantity of PMGKAY rice during the period was taken as the required by the Ministry, leading to lowering of the quota.

However, under the supervision of the CM, efforts are being made to obtain the full quota to which the Ministry has responded positively.

Once this comes under fruition, the rice for the month of July will be distributed, the minister informed the House.

Comment