Mandaviya announces ₹267-cr aid for Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday announced a special package of ₹267.35 crore for Kerala to strengthen its health infrastructure to fight the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Having rushed to the state in the wake of high caseload, Mandaviya met Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state health minister Veena George and officials in the state capital on Monday. “We will provide all possible help to the state. Besides this amount, ₹1 crore will be made available to each district to create a medicine pool. The Centre will also ensure creation of a centre of excellence that caters to telemedicine facilities in every district,” the minister tweeted after his marathon talks with the CM and others. He added that the state will be given top priority in allocation of vaccine.

In another tweet, the Union minister, said, “Under the visionary leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji, Central Government has assured all possible help to Kerala, including providing vaccines to the State.” Later a senior state health official, who did not wish to be named, said talks were fruitful and the central minister was studious and aware of problems being faced by the state. The state also raised its long-pending demand for an AIIMS in Kerala, the official added. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the Union minister expressed satisfaction over the ongoing containment and mitigation measures of the state. “The minister assured us that the Centre will try its best to send enough vaccines,” he said.

For more than a month, the state has been reporting half of the total caseload of the country.