Chennai, Apr 18 (UNI) DMK President M K Stalin on Sunday urged
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a policy decision on Universal
vaccination for COVID, while allowing the states to go for independent
procurement of drugs and vaccine without waiting for the Centre's nod.
In a letter to Mr Modi, which was also signed by the DMK MPs, he
said in view of the rapid increase of COVID-19 infected persons,
Universal Vaccinations are the need of the hour to protect the
human lives from the deadly consequences of this pandemic.
'I fervently appeal to you to take a policy decision swiftly for
“Universal Vaccination” and help Tamil Nadu to tide over the present
COVID-19 pandemic situation and also to ensure total protection of
the people from this deadly COVID-19 disaster', he said.
'Under the circumstances, Tamil Nadu will need more number of
vaccines than allotted now to accomplish the task of effective
vaccinations, break the cycle of infection and flatten the curve'
he said.
He said the state--on one hand is suffering from the shortage
of vaccines and on the other hand, struggling to meet the needs
of the needy people--as set out in the guidelines of the Centre
itself.
Seeking the immediate intervention of Mr Modi, Mr Stalin also
urged him to direct the concerned Ministry to supply more number
of Covaxin and Covishield Vaccines to Tamil Nadu commensurate
with the population of the state, besides immediately sending
20 lakh Vaccines as requested by the state government.
He said it was equally important that the Centre allows the states
for independent procurement of drugs, vaccines and medical equipment
as the pandemic affected states could not wait every time for centre’s
nod for each and everything to save the human lives.
'It is reasonable to expect that the centre plays an active role
in sharing of international expertise and facilitating inter-state
co–ordination and leave the states to deal with the pandemic
independently', Mr Stalin said.
The DMK Chief also requested Mr Modi to lift all the restrictions
imposed on the states for direct procurements and take all efforts
to strengthen the State Disaster Management Authority in the true
spirit of cooperative federalism.
UNI GV 1605