'Order for purchase of 52k ventilators issued', Centre informs SC

The Centre told the Supreme Court through a status report on Covid-19 medical preparedness that it has issued purchase order for 52,094 ventilators to meet exigencies and that 10,500 would reach India by April 30.

"Supply of 10,500 ventilators is expected by April 30, an additional 18,000 by May 30 and 20,000 by June 30. Union government has supplied 2,83,910 PPE kits and 20,52,417 N95 masks to states," it said in the status report filed in response to a PIL filed by Alakh Alok Srivastava seeking adequate protection gear for health workers across states.

The Centre said it has banned export of PPEs and N95 masks and taken up production of these essentials on a war footing.

It added:

The Government said it was trying to ensure that no one went hungry during the lockdown and had announced a package of Rs 1.70 lakh crore under the PM Garin Kalyan Yojana to meet expenses for food, drinking water, medication, sanitation and shelter. Under the Yojana, "80 crore individuals, that is roughly two-thirds of India's population, is being provided five kg of foodgrains (rice and wheat) free of cost per person per month for the next three months at an estimated cost of Rs 46,061 crore," it said.

Source Link