Stating that the country is fighting an invisible enemy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the government is working in war-footing mode to fight the second wave of covid-19 and expressed confidence in winning the battle.
The PM was speaking at the release of the 8th installment of financial benefit under the PM-KISAN scheme via video conference here.
“After 100 years, such a terrible pandemic is testing the world at every step. We have an invisible enemy in front of us, which is in multi-form… We are overcoming obstacles in resources in the fight against the second wave of coronavirus rapidly and efforts are being made to work on war-footing mode,” PM Modi said.
“I want to warn you about corona. This pandemic is spreading fast in rural villages. Every government is taking efforts to stop this. Awareness about this among rural people and cooperation of the panchayat institutes are equally important,” he said.
PM Modi said he is standing with everyone in these testing times and they will not lose courage. Urging states to crack down on hoarding and black marketing essential goods and medicines, he termed it a crime against humanity
He also added that medical professionals, scientists, and armed forces are working day and night to fight against covid-19, adding that the supply of medicines is being increased through domestic production and imports.
Lauding the Oxygen express flagged by the Railways to tackle oxygen shortage, he said, “Oxygen Express has given great strength to the fight against Corona. These special trains are trying to reach oxygen in far-off parts of the country. India is running the world’s largest free ration scheme amid the pandemic.
Noting that appropriate covid behaviour must be followed, PM Modi urged people across the country to get vaccinated as soon as possible. He also said that over 18 crore doses of covid-19 vaccines have been administered so far in India.
On Thursday, the Union Health Ministry announced that the nation would manufacture 216 crore doses of COVID vaccines in India for the Indians between August to December 2021.
These 216 doses will include 75 crore doses of Covishield and 55 crore doses of Covaxin.
Further, Biological E is expected to produce 30 crore doses, Zydus Cadila 5 crore, Serum Institute of India 20 crore doses of Novavax, and Bharat Biotech 10 crore doses of its nasal vaccine, while Sputnik V will make 15.6 crore doses available.
