IT Correspondent
Mumbai, April 10:
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged states to observe ‘Tika Utsav’ (vaccination festival) till April 14 to vaccinate as many eligible, different states have highlighted shortage of the vaccine.
Speaking after attending the recent review meeting with CMs, PM Modi said, “Let’s celebrate ‘Tika Utsav’ from April 11, the birth date of Jyotiba Phule, to April 14 which happens to be Bhimrao Ambedkar’s birth date.”
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagmohan Reddy has demanded 25 lakh dosages saying that the state has a stock of hardly two lakh dosages. While the formula of “Trace, track and treat” with appropriate COVID appropriate behavior, to contain the infection is appreciated, nothing can be done if the vaccine is not available in sufficient quantity, Reddy has pointed out in a letter to PM.
Maharashtra Minister Jayant Patil has pointed out that the state requires 40 lakh to 50 lakh dosages to meet the heavy demand, however the Union Government has agreed to supply only 17.50 lakh dosages.
In another development, Raju Shetti, President of the “ Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana leader” has threatened to stop vehicles transporting vaccines to other states from the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, if supply of vaccines is not increased for Maharashtra within a week. “ I’ve written to PM, HM & Health Minister stating that if supply of vaccines is not increased for Maharashtra within a week, we will start stopping vehicles transporting vaccines to other states from Serum Institute of India: Swabhimani Shetkari Saghtana leader Raju Shetti” said in a tweet.
In yet another development, Bombay High Court on Friday asked the centre to file a reply by April 21, clarifying whether it has any plan to vaccinate the people above 75 years of age at their residence. The petitioner pointed while thousands of people were struggling with registration formalities and waiting in long queue to get themselves vaccinated, some of the Maharashtra leaders received a jab at their residence. The bench headed chief Justice Dipankar Datta wondered when the President of India nan the prime minister can go o AIIMS to receive the jab, what prevented some of the Maharashtra leaders from receiving jabs at the Government hospitals.
In the meanwhile the vaccinated was halted at several vaccination centres, including Mumbai, in Maharashtra on Saturday due to want of the vaccine.
