Update on COVID-19: PM Major Initiatives to fight this Deadly Virus

Update on COVID-19: PM Major Initiatives to fight this Deadly Virus

Today, the world is going through an extremely tough situation arised due to Coronavirus outbreak. The government of each country is working relentlessly to make things better. In India, the cases of coronavirus have not gone up like other countries thanks to the initiatives taken by our government. Owing to the proactive strategies and preparations, Indian government has kept the situation in control. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is aggressively working to wipe out the deadly virus.

Interaction with Stakeholders

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is continuing his interactions with various stakeholders in India's fight against COVID-19. Prime Minister interacts with over 200 people on a daily basis which includes phone calls to various State Governors, Chief Ministers, and Health Ministers to get a first-hand feedback on India's fight against the COVID-19 menace.

Prime Minister also telephonically reaches out to various doctors, nurses, health workers, and sanitation staff from various corners of the country in order to encourage them and to pay gratitude to their yeomen service to the nation and society.

Shri Modi also interacts with people from various walks of life through video conferencing in an effort to control the spread of the Corona virus. Shri Modi has held discussions through video conferencing with the heads of various Electronic Media groups. He interacted with the heads of various Print Media Groups on the 24th March.

Prime Minister in both the cases appealed that media should counter pessimism and panic through positive communication.

On the 27th of March Prime Minister held a video conference with various Radio Jockeys and Announcers of All India Radio.

"Need to constantly celebrate the contribution of the local heroes at national level and boost their morale" he said.

Prime Minister also telephonically reaches to some of those who are affected with Corona Virus and to some of those who have recovered from its affects in order to keep an update on their progress.

Shri Narendra Modi in a special video interaction on 25th March 2020 with his constituents in Varanasi has appealed for Resolve, Restraint and Sensitivity and exhorted the people to adapt to the best practices in fighting the virus.

Regular Interactions & Meetings

Since January Prime Minister Shri Modi held several rounds of meetings and discussions with people from various walks of life and officials in order to find ways and means to fight COVID-19.

Prime Minister had been holding meetings on a daily basis wherein he is updated regularly by the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office.

Prime Minister is also being updated by the Group of Ministers (GoM) set up under the chairmanship of the Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan on the steps being taken by the Government.

COVID -19 Economic Response Task Force

To deal with the economic challenges caused by the pandemic, Prime Minister announced the creation of 'COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force' under the Union Finance Minister. The Task Force will consult stakeholders, take feedback, on the basis of which decisions will be taken to meet the challenges. The Task Force will also ensure implementation of the decisions taken to meet these challenges.

Prime Minister also urged the business community and higher income groups to look after the economic needs of those from lower income groups, from whom they take various services, urging them not to cut their salary on the days they are unable to render the services due to inability to come to the workplace. He stressed on the importance of humanity during such times.

PM CARES Fund

Keeping in mind the need for having a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide relief to the affected, a public charitable trust under the name of 'Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund' (PM CARES Fund)' has been set up. Prime Minister is the Chairman of this trust and its Members include Defence Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister.

PM Narendra Modi has always believed and shown in actions that public participation is the most effective way to mitigate any issue and this is yet another example. This fund will enable micro-donations as a result of which a large number of people will be able to contribute with smallest of denominations.

Announces Rs 1.7 Lakh Crore Financial Package

The Narendra Modi Government on the 26th of March announced a Financial Package of Rs 1.7 Lakh Crore which focuses on emergency cash transfers of the poor. The Package also includes a 3 month free supply of foodgrains, pulses and gas under the Pradhan Mantri GaribKalyanYojana in order to support them from the economic vagaries arising out of the impact of the Corona Virus.

Working together with the States

On the 20th of March the Prime Minister interacted with all the Chief Ministers of the country through a video conference where in had called for tackling the challenge together. Prime Minister called for a constant vigilance and monitoring of spread of the virus and that Centre and States must work together to combat the pandemic.

Prime Minister reminded the State leadership that the country is in a critical phase of tackling spread of the virus but assured them that there is no need to panic. The Chief Ministers were briefed on the steps taken by the Central Government so far and how the Prime Minister is personally monitoring the overall situation in the country.

SAARC Region comes together

Prime Minister is the first leader to have suggested for a regional consultation and discussion when he called for a video conference with the leaders of the SAARC Nations, home to significant portion of the World's population. A meeting of the SAARC leaders under India's leadership was held on the 15th of March 2020.

Shri Modi led the way, in the spirit of collaboration and proposed creation of a COVID-19 Emergency Fund based on voluntary contributions from all the countries, with India making an initial offer of US $10 million for the fund. The fund can be used by any of the partner countries to meet the cost of immediate actions.

Other SAARC Nations viz Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives have also contributed to the Emergency Fund.

Extraordinary Virtual G-20 Summit

An Extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders' Summit was convened on 26 March 2020 to discuss the challenges posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and to forge a global coordinated response. Earlier, PM had a telephonic conversation with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on this subject.

PM underscored the need to put human beings at the centre of our vision of global prosperity and cooperation, freely and openly share the benefits of medical research and development, develop adaptive, responsive and humane health care systems amongst others.

PM called on the Leaders to help usher in a new globalization, for the collective well-being of humankind and have multilateral for a focus on promoting the shared interests of humanity.

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