Maharashtra Received Maximum COVID 19 War Gear from Centre: RTI Reply

A reply to an RTI query has revealed that Maharashtra, the worst-hit state by the COVID 19 Pandemic, has received the maximum number of N95 masks, PPE kits, tablets and ventilators, from the central government. The reply has been given by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in its reply given to activist Anil Galgali.

Details

The central government has allocated a total of 2.18 crore N95 masks, 1.21 crores PPE kits, 6.12 HCQ tablets and 9150 ventilators around the country out of which Maharashtra has been given 21.84 lakhs N95 masks, 11.78 lakhs PPE kits, 77.20 lakhs HCQ tablets and 1805 ventilators. The question was regarding the equipment and materials allotted to various states to combat the deadly pandemic, by the central government.

These figures include the 26.61 lakhs N95 masks, 14.38 lakhs PPE kits, 57.32 lakhs HCQ tablets and 330 ventilators made for the central institutions. It has also been revealed that some states like Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Chandigarh, Puducherry and some UTs have received their full requirements whereas states and UTs such as Sikkim, Lakshadweep and Ladakh are yet to receive the supplies as per their requirement.

Maharashtra also needs an additional 1770 ventilators, Karnataka 1020, AP 914, UP 811 and Rajasthan 706 ventilators, as per the RTI Reply.

What is RTI?

Right to Information first gained prominence when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 providing everyone with the right to seek, receive information and idea through any media and regardless of frontiers. In India, the RTI Act was enacted in 2005 with the objective of empowering the citizens, promoting transparency and accountability and to contain corruption in the country. However, it did not create any new bureaucracy for implementation; rather it tasked the existing officials only with providing information to change their overall attitude.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020