STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI:
COVID Vaccination Funds: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that though there has been no major improvement in the COVID-19 situation in Assam, State has seen a glimmer of hope in the past three days.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Sarma said, "For us, COVID-19 vaccination is a big issue. The shortage of vaccine is a national phenomenon, not in Assam alone. I hope COVID-19 vaccines will be adequate in the State by July-August this year.
"We need around one crore covid vaccines to inoculate the 45+ people and another 1.20 crore to inoculate the 18+ population in the assam state. The Government of India is providing the covid-19 vaccines for 45+ free of cost. It behoves the State Government to bear the vaccination cost of the 18+ people of the State. And for this, we need Rs 600-800 crore. The Rs 119 crore that we have in the Arogya Nidhi has to be spent for the vaccination drive.
"We've deposited Rs 50 crore to the Arogya Nidhi from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Reliance Industries have donated us Rs 15 crore. The teachers' fraternity of the State has donated a day's salary. The 49 petrol depots of Reliance doing business in the State have also decided to provide 50 litres of petrol free of cost daily for vehicles on COVID-19 duty.
"Even then, we need a huge amount. Generous donations from the public can help tide over the situation. I want to make it a Jan Andolan (people's movement) in the State. It's an opportunity for affluent people to help the needy ones with COVID-19 vaccination. People may donate the cost of ten vaccines as his/her birthday gift or someone may donate the cost of 100 vaccines to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund of the Arogya Nidhi.
"Even if the public doesn't donate for this humanitarian cause, the State Government is duty-bound to vaccinate the people at the cost of the State exchequer. But that may compel the State Government to impose some extra taxes or cess which we don't want."
Restrictions will stay put till the vaccination is complete in the State, he said.
The Chief Minister also said, "On Saturday we're going to declare black fungus a pandemic and spell out the measures to be taken to prevent it".