Odisha government urged the Centre to include people retained in utility services, staff stationed at imperative locations, and media persons to classify as frontline workers (FLWs).
In a letter, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, P.K. Mohapatra asked Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary Rajesh Bhushan that people who are at the risk of vulnerability to infection due to their work are not even included as frontline workers. He urged the Health Ministry to include journalists and other organizations of print and electronic media and sevayats (priests) of Lord Jagannath temple at Puri and Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar in Covid-19 vaccination drive.
According to the report, Mohapatra stated that considering the vaccines are being supplied by the Centre and the drive is central controlled through the online system CoWIN, the State government cannot take the decision on the incorporation of any section of people. He further requests the Minister to include the categories on priority and communicate necessary approval at the most unexpected.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik assured to extend all support to the Union government in the fight against Covid and take steps to ensure that the virus spread is contained through reiterated endeavors in recognition and implementation.
Through a video conferencing CM Patnaik stated to PM Modi that the rollout of vaccines helping to give hope to all the citizens and the entire state is grateful to the scientific community for creating a solution in this short period. CM argued that they should need to involve further the private sector in expediting the vaccination program.
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