India offers $10 million for Covid fund

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 15

India today offered $10 million for an emergency fund to combat Covid-19 which could be drawn upon by any of the eight SAARC members to meet their urgent requirements.

Pointing out that SAARC comprised one-fifth of the humanity, Modi said its dense population, significant challenges in terms of access to healthcare facilities and the deep interconnection of societies made it imperative that the region must prepare and act together.

Modi said foreign secretaries could quickly coordinate among themselves on the modalities of the fund as he offered to put at the disposal of SAARC members a rapid response team of doctors and specialists assembled by India along with test kits and other equipment. “They will be on standby, to be placed at your disposal,” he offered.

India can also quickly arrange online training capsules for emergency response teams based on the model used here to raise the capacity of emergency staff.

Modi offered to share the software of India’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Portal to trace virus carriers and people they have contacted, besides activating the SAARC Disaster Management Centre.

PM Modi proposed joint deliberations on the economic consequences. Presidents of Maldives, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan besides the PM of Bhutan pointed out that their economies had started suffering. Modi encapsulated the Indian response as “collaboration, not confusion” and “preparation, not panic”, while warning that despite the low fatality rate, the situation remained uncertain. “We cannot predict with certainty how the situation will unfold despite our best efforts. You must be facing similar concerns… it is valuable for us to share our perspectives,” said Modi.

Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan wanted the health ministers of SAARC to meet like they had done during the SARS crises in 2003 with Islamabad offering to host the first conference in this regard. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani put forward a five-point proposal, while Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina appreciated the collective effort by SAARC. Nepal PM KP Oli warned the SAARC region faced the risk of an outbreak anytime.

Pakistan’s Mirza backed the proposal by Maldives and Bangladesh for the SAARC Secretariat to establish a working group to ensure real-time exchange of data. He, however, used the occasion to raise the issue of lockdown in the Valley. He said it was a matter of concern that Covid had been reported from J&K and in view of health emergency, it was imperative lockdown must be lifted immediately. The J&K administration said 2,157 persons had been put under surveillance.

Delhi’s proposal to 8-member grouping

• Covid-19 Emergency Fund with voluntary contribution
• Rapid response team of experts equipped with test kits
• Software to trace virus carriers, people they have contacted
• Activate SAARC Disaster

Management Centre

Online training for nations’ emergency response staff

Highest number of cases in Maharashtra

1. 110 is the number of coronavirus patients in country
2. 32 cases reported from M’rashtra, followed by Kerala (22), UP (12), Delhi (7), K’taka (6)
3. 80 lakh N95 masks and equipment ordered for healthcare workers

Corridor closed

The MHA has issued a notification to close the Kartarpur corridor indefinitely from Monday midnight, fuelling speculation over its reopening

Haryana schools, gyms shut

Haryana on Sunday decided to close all schools, cinema halls, gymnasiums and night clubs till March 31. It was decided to limit gatherings to 200 persons

FPIs withdraw Rs 37,976 cr

Foreign portfolio investors have withdrawn a whopping Rs37,976 crore on a net basis from the Indian markets in March, triggering fears of recession

Civic polls put off in AP

Elections to rural and urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh were on Sunday put off indefinitely by the state Election Commission