Bhubaneswar, April 8: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 300 crore to the State under the Emergency Covid Response Plan (ECRP) for COVID-19 management.
“During 2020-21, Odisha had requested for Rs 400 crore under Emergency Covid Response Plan (ECRP), but we received only Rs 146 crore. In view of the new wave of Covid, it is requested that at least Rs 300 crores be released to Odisha for 2021-22 for Covid Management,” said Patnaik during Prime Minister’s meeting with all Chief Ministers on COVID-19 situation today.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Government for allowing the States, under SDRF guidelines, to spend up to 50% of the annual allocation for Covid-related activities during 2020-21. The same guidelines may be continued for the year 2021-22 as well.
The Chief Minister also requested the PM that at least 10 days stock of the vaccines is ensured for Odisha.
“Odisha has been doing well in vaccination program with among the lowest wastage in the country and efficient system of administering the vaccine to eligible persons. We have not been able to ramp up the vaccination due to supply issues. We are currently able to vaccinate 2.5 lakh persons per day and have capability to increase further. We request that at least 10 days stock of the vaccines is ensured for Odisha,” added Patnaik.
The entire country has to put up a united front against this pandemic and we will continue to provide support in this fight, Patnaik further said.
