MPCC demands, questions Govt on handling Covid crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 27 2021: Asking the state government to stop blaming Congress party and act proactively for containing the Covid-19 crisis, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has raised a nine-point demand along with several questions on the government's policy of handling the Covid-19 crisis.

Addressing a virtual press conference on Thursday, MPCC spokesperson N Bhupenda Meitei stressed the need for providing free treatment to Covid patients, compensation for Covid fatalities, increasing slots for vaccination of 18-45 years category, capping the costs of Covid testing done at private laboratories or any other relevant private establishments, live tracking system of oxygen demand, supply and distribution.

The press briefing was also aired live on the official Facebook page of Indian National Congress - Manipur.

Refuting the recent public statement given by Lok Sabha MP Dr RK Ranjan that Congress is not visible in the fight against Covid pandemic, Bhupenda said that it was essentially the constitutional obligations of the ruling government to proactively fight the pandemic by taking along all the stakeholders and listening to suggestions from opposition instead of blaming the opposition Congress.

Terming the statement of the MP as false and baseless charges, Bhupenda categorically stated that Congress never yearns for cheap publicity.

The party believes in giving constructive criticism, practical suggestions during the pandemic and it was clearly shown in the MPCC president K Govindas' letter submitted to the Prime Minister Modi recently.

BJP government's lies are exposed by the recent in auguration of the building - which was constructed as TB (Tuberculosis) Hospital during the previous Congress government - as Covid hospital, while the government should have honestly dedicated the TB Hospital to the people in such a way that the TB Hospital's infrastructure could be used temporarily for treating Covid patients during the pandemic, Bhupenda said.

It is also not clear whether the CM inaugurated the facility as Covid Care Centre or as Dedicated Covid Hospital.

The CLP leader and opposition leader O Ibobi's earlier statement that the present BJP government will not be able to finish inaugurating all the yet to be completed projects initiated by the Congress government in the current term, is being vindicated by the recent inauguration of the original TB Hospital as Covid Care Centre, he said.

Many PILs have been heard in the Supreme Court and High Courts to ensure the fundamental rights, in the form of Article 21, Right to Life, for Covid patients during the pandemic.

It appears that unless the courts intervene, the Central government and the BJP-ruled states are not proactive enough to tackle the second wave of Covid, he continued.

Laying out the demands and questions raised to the government, the MPCC spokesperson asked the government to ensure free treatment of all Covid patients while adding that the recent order on capping the costs of treatment in private hospitals will not be possible to give dignity of life to the poor and needy people during this war like situation.

Questioning the benefits of PMJAY and CMHT cards during the pandemic, he enquired the number of beneficiaries, who have got treatment for Covid under the scheme in the first wave in the state.

He also enquired if the assured amount of Rs 2 lakh under CMHT and Rs 5 lakh under PMJAY will be enough to bear the entire costs of Covid treatment in a family of two or more members.

He then asked who will bear the costs of Covid treatment for the poor in private hospitals when the costs become more than the financial limits of PMJAY & CMHT.

He further demanded the reason for not including PPE kits in the cost and why the government forces the poor people to buy Remdesivir at Rs 3400 when they cannot even earn Rs 1000 in a month due to the curfew.

He then demanded the government to provide compensation to all Covid victims stating that they are entitled to get ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh under Section 12(iii) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.Ministry of Home Affairs, keeping in mind of section 12 (iii) ofthe Act, had issued an order on April 8, 2015, by which a revised list of norms and assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund and National Disaster Response Fund was given.

Since COVID-19 has been declared as a disaster and as per the order dated April 8,2015, every family, who has lost one of its member(s) is entitled to get the compensation.

He also demanded to issue universal Covid death certificates in which the cause of the death must include 'Covid' so that the next of kin of the Covid victims could receive the compensation.

He then asked if the government would be waiting for the Supreme Court to issue order in this regard.

He demanded the government to cap the price of Covid tests in private laboratories or any relevant private establishments; increase the number of daily vaccination capacity for people in the age group of 18-45 with robust allocation of vaccines in all the 16 districts.

He then enquired if the government has prepared to buy vaccine doses on its own under the Modi government's liberal policy on vaccines or if the government would be relying only on the vaccine doses, which are to be allocated by the Central government.

He also demanded to establish the live tracking system of oxygen demand, supply and distribution in all the 16 districts along with additional oxygen auditing mechanism by a third party.

DoNER minister Dr Jitendra had an urgent meeting with all the health secretaries of the eight northeast states, as per PIB report dated May 25.In the meeting, the union minister referred to support given by Japan and UNDP for installation of Oxygen plants in each of the 8 NE states, he said and enquired if the DoNER ministry had not informed the state government in this regard, when the government will share the information to the public and how may oxygen plants will be installed in the state.

Stating that ICUs and ventilators are not functioning in many District Hospitals due to lack of staff or even absence of staff during the pandemic, he enquired when the government will make the ICU facilities with ventilators in those District Hospitals functional for providing treatment to Covid patients.

He also demanded the government to ensure that the last rites of Covid victims are performed with dignity by the state government.

The SOPs for handling the dead bodies due to Covid from home isolation or Covid care centres or from anywhere must be publicised to the people so that the government officials and the ground frontline workers involved in the process have proper knowledge of the protocols for handling dead bodies with dignity.

He enquired about the number of frontline workers or staff being deputed to carry one Covid dead body and number of frontline workers or staff assigned to an ambulance carrying Covid victim, excluding the driver.

Bhupenda also enquired if protective covers and stretchers are used to cover and carry the dead body, and the government's protocol in handling Covid victims, who died in home isolation.

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