BULLETIN ON COVID-19

16/05/ 2020 INDIA

• 

Health Secretary interacts with 30 COVID-19 high case load municipal areas; Reviews measures for Covid-19 containment and management; Recovery rate increases to 35.09%

These 30 municipal areas are from the following States/UTs: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Odisha.The measures taken by the officials and the staff of the municipal corporations for the management of COVID-19 cases were reviewed.So far, a total of 30,150 people have been cured. In the last 24 hours, 2233 patients were found cured. This takes the total recovery rate to 35.09 %. The total number of confirmed cases is now 85,940. Since yesterday, an increase of 3970 has been noted in the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in India.

Presentation of details of 4th Tranche announced by Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. NirmalaSitharaman under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan to support Indian economy in fight against COVID-19

Finance Minister announces measures to strengthen Agriculture Infrastructure Logistics, Capacity Building, Governance and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Processing Sectors

Finance Minister Smt. NirmalaSitharaman on Fridayannounced the 3^rd Tranche of measures to strengthen Infrastructure Logistics, Capacity Building, Governance and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Processing Sectors. These include Rs 1 lakh croreAgri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers; Rs 10,000 crore scheme for formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises; Rs 20,000 crore for Fishermen through Pradhan Mantri MatsyaSampadaYojana; National Animal Disease Control Programme; Setting up of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs. 15,000 crore; Promotion of Herbal Cultivation with an outlay of Rs 4,000 crore; Beekeeping initiatives worth Rs 500 crore; Measures for Governance and Administrative Reforms for Agriculture Sector; Amendments to Essential Commodities Act to enable better price realisation for farmers; Agriculture Marketing Reforms to provide marketing choices to farmers; Agriculture Produce Price and Quality Assurance.

$1 Billion from World Bank to Protect India’s Poorest from COVID-19

The Government of India and the World Bank have signed a $750 million of $1 billion proposed for Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection Response Programmeto support India’s efforts at providing social assistance to the poor and vulnerable households, severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.This takes the total commitment from the Bank towards emergency COVID-19 response in India to $2 billion. A$1 billion support was announced last month towards immediate support to India’s health sector.

Union Power Ministry writes to States/UTs extending Rs 90,000 crore package under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

The letter sent to States/UTs mentions that REC and PFC shall immediately extend loans to DISCOMs which have headroom for further borrowing within the working capital limits prescribed under UDAY. Further, the DISCOMs that do not have headroom under UDAY working capital limits but have receivables from the State Government in the form of electricity dues and subsidy not disbursed will also be eligible for these loans to the extent of receivables from the State Government.

Modi Government’s faith – India’s welfare only through Farmers’ Welfare; when Farmers are Empowered, Country would become Self-reliant: ShriAmit Shah

ShriAmit Shah has said, “Modi Government believes that India’s welfare lies in the welfare of its farmers. This unprecedented assistance given to farmers shows PM Modi’s foresight to make the country self-sufficient by empowering the farmers.”According to Shri Shah, PM Modi’s sensitivity towards farmers, even in adverse circumstances, is exemplary for the whole world.

ShriMansukhMandaviya welcomes the slew of measures announced under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan to support Indian economy in fight against COVID-19

ShriMandaviya has said that the details announced by the finance Minister in three tranches so far, will go a long way in ameliorating the Indian economy and its citizens, who are bravely fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.

MHA to States/UTs: Ensure Migrant Workers do not have to walk back home, and perform the journey only in buses & ‘Shramik’ Special Trains being run by the Government specifically for this purpose

MHA has again written to all States/UTs to ensure that these migrant workers do not have to walk back home.The communication states that Ministry of Railways is running more than 100 ‘Shramik’ special trains per day and is ready to arrange additional trains, as per requirement. People need to be made aware about these arrangements and counseled by State/UT governments to not travel on foot, when they can travel in buses/trains being specially run by the government to facilitate their journey.

Over 6.28 Crore free cylinders availed by PMUY beneficiaries so far, under the PMGKY;Rs 8432 Crore transferred in the bank account of PMUY beneficiaries
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas ShriDharmendra Pradhan today interacted with PMUY beneficiaries, Gas distributors and OMC Officers, through the webinar. He said that PMUYhas just completed four years of its successful journey. The Minister said in the initial days itself of the crisis, the Modi Government announced Pradhan Mantri GaribKalyanYojana, which included free gas cylinders for 3 months to the PMUY beneficiaries. More than Rs 8432crorehas been transferred in advance in their accounts. So far, over 6.28 Crore PMUY beneficiaries have got the free cylinders.PMUY beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the government for taking care of them in this time of unprecedented crisis.

More than 1.4 million stranded people transported back to their home State till midnight 15th May, i.e in 15 days

As on midnight of 15th May,2020, a total of 1074 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalized from various states across the country. More than 1.4 million stranded people have been transported back to their home State in last 15 days.It is to be noted that more than 2 lakh person are being transported per day during last 3 days. In days to come it is expected to be scaled upto 3 lakh passengers per day.These 1074 Shramik Special trains have originated from various States

Free food grains to 8 crore migrant labourers and their families to be provided under AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswanhas said that to mitigate plight of migrants during this precarious COVID-19 situation and also ensure availability of food grains to them and their families, 8 LMT of food grains has been allocated to States / UTs and the Government of India will bear the entire cost on account of such distribution including transportation within the State, dealers’ margin etc. He said that23 states/UTs will be part of One Nation One Card scheme by August 2020.

Effective Implementation of RERA can Restore Trust Between Buyer and Seller: Hardeep S Puri

ShriHardeep S Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairshas said that one of the principal objectives of RERA is to help restore the trust between a buyer and the seller and this trust can only be restored by the true and effective implementation of RERA.Speaking on the challenges due to the present COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the real estate sector, the minister observed that Covid-19 has had a debilitating effect on the real estate sector, which has become a cause for project delays. During the initial period of the lockdown, construction activities had been barred. After reviewing the situation, the Government has put in place certain measures to allow for construction activities effective from 20 April, 2020, he added.

OP SAMUDRA SETU PHASE 2 – INS JALASHWA DEPARTS MALE WITH INDIAN NATIONALS EMBARKED

Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa completed embarkation of 588 Indian citizens on 15 May 20, at the port of Male, Maldives as part of Operation SamudraSetu – the Indian Navy’s contribution to India’s national effort to bring home our citizens from foreign shores by sea. Her manifest of 588 includes six expectant mothers and 21 children.The ship cast off today morning from Male for Kochi.

HRD Minister e-Launches seven titles on “Psycho-Social Impact of Pandemic & Lockdown and How to Cope With”

HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’has e-Launchedprint as well as e-editions of the set ofseven titles on “Psycho-Social impact of pandemic & lockdown and how to Cope With” under the corona studies series published by NBT India. Speaking on the occasion Union Minister said that “To counter these formidable circumstances that the world is facing these days, NBT has brought out these remarkable and unparalleled set of books, and I hope that these books serve as guides to mental well-being of people at large”,

Scientists develop mobile indoor disinfection sprayer to combat COVID-19
These sprayers are also equipped with mopping features and extendable arms to reach hidden area and clean comprehensively. This technology will have relevance even beyond the current COVID-19 crisis