Order for purchase of 52k ventilators issued, Centre tells SC

Dhananjay Mahapatra | TNN | Updated: Apr 27, 2020, 10:30 IST

NEW DELHI: The Centre told the Supreme Court through a status report on Covid-19 medical preparedness that it has issued purchase order for 52,094 ventilators to meet exigencies and that 10,500 would reach India by April 30.
"Supply of 10,500 ventilators is expected by April 30, an additional 18,000 by May 30 and 20,000 by June 30. Union government has supplied 2,83,910 PPE kits and 20,52,417 N95 masks to states," it said in the status report filed in response to a PIL filed by Alakh Alok Srivastava seeking adequate protection gear for health workers across states.
The Centre said it has banned export of PPEs and N95 masks and taken up production of these essentials on a war footing. "In view of global scarcity of PPEs (especially coveralls and N95 masks) and unavailability of indigenous manufacturing, testing and accreditation facilities, ministry of textiles in collaboration with ministry of health has identified 39 indigenous manufacturers of coveralls to ensure their local production and availability in Indian markets. Union government has sanctioned Rs 15,000 crore for India Covid-19 emergency response and health system package," it added.
The government said it was trying to ensure that no one went hungry during the lockdown and had announced a package of Rs 1.70 lakh crore under the PM Garin Kalyan Yojana to meet expenses for food, drinking water, medication, sanitation and shelter. Under the Yojana, "80 crore individuals, that is roughly two-thirds of India's population, is being provided five kg of foodgrains (rice and wheat) free of cost per person per month for the next three months at an estimated cost of Rs 46,061 crore," it said.
"Apart from this, 19.4 crore households are being provided 1 kg of pulses free of cost per family per month for next three months at an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore. Eight crore beneficiaries are being distributed one gas cylinder per month free of cost for next three months at an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 crore. 2.82 crore senior citizens, aged widows and divyang beneficiaries are being released Rs 1,000 in their accounts at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore," it said.
In addition to these, Rs 16,000 crore has been released for eight crore farmers. "More than 20 crore women account holders under PM Jan Dhan Yojana are being released Rs 500 each for three months at a cost of Rs 31,000 crore. 78.74 lakh workers earning less than Rs 15,000 per month are being released their EPF contribution (24% of monthly salary) per month for three months at a cost of R 4,860 crore," it said.