‘Allow NMC to purchase vaccines directly from cos’
   Date :07-May-2021

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Staff Reporter :
 
In a letter to Chief Minister, Mayor stated, this will help speed up vaccination and ensure maximum people are inoculated before third wave of COVID-19 hits the country 
 
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has sought permission from State Government to directly purchase vaccines from company to enable speeding up of vaccination to fight COVID-19 in city. Disclosing this on Thursday, Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari said, he has written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray seeking the nod for direct purchase from within State’s quota. Since the third wave is being predicted it’s imperative to ensure that maximum people are inoculated, NMC is ready to pay for vaccines if State allows us to order the same.
 
Tiwari also said, the matter was discussed with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and NMC has finalised plans to make direct purchase, if permitted. Sometimes back, Gadkari had also instructed Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B to take up the matter with Principal Secretary, Public Health Department, about NMC proposal for placing direct orders with manufacturer for getting vaccine, he added. It may be noted that NMC had allocated Rs 10 crore from its budget for proposed jumbo hospital. Since the work is looked after by Guardian Minister, it was decided to utilise the money for purchasing vaccine. Similarly, an appeal is made to all legislators, Members of Parliament, corporators, to donate from their respective constituency development fund so that NMC can stockpile on vaccines.
 
Mayor said, it was disturbing sign that senior citizens could not get their doses though it was scheduled due to shortage of vaccine. Though NMC is going to provide vaccine free of cost, Mayor appealed to citizens who can afford the same to at east make a donation to Mayor’s Sahayata Nidhi. However, to a question about exploring possibility of starting paid vaccination, he said, since Government has announced free jabs NMC cannot go against the policy. Further Mayor also urged business organisations and corporates to donate liberally to NMC so that it can effectively meets its obligations in time of health crisis and ensure 100 per cent vaccination of Nagpurians. 
 
Donate for vaccine purchase: Mayor to elected representatives Responding to an appeal by Mayor to all elected public representative to donate funds for purchase of vaccine by NMC, Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition; Pravin Datke, MLC; and Mohan Mate, MLA, have pledged to donate Rs one crore from their respective constituency development funds provided State permits NMC to purchase vaccines directly from companies. The trio has provided the letter of approval for diversion of their MLA’s Constituency Development Fund in case State Government grants permission to NMC for making direct purchase of vaccines. “From MPs, we are expecting donation of Rs 2 crore from their funds,” the Mayor said. Tiwari also said, for NMC the vaccine would cost Rs 600, for two doses of Covishield, and is seeking donation liberally from citizens and corporates. Appeal is also made to corporators to donate Rs 10 lakh form their ward fund, zonal fund and fixed priorities to Mayor’s Sahayata Nidhi to enable purchase of vaccines, he added. NMC aims to collect Rs 25 crore that would enable it to purchase 5 lakh vaccines and that would enable speeding up the inoculation for citizens in all age groups. Tiwari said, they would start accepting donation from Akshay Tritiya and are hopeful that State Government will give the nod in eight to ten days period.