Odisha to invite global tenders for Covid vaccine procurement

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today decided to invite global tenders from vaccine manufacturers for procurement of Covid-19 vaccine to ensure universal vaccination. The State Cabinet during a meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took a decision in this regard.

Chief Secretary SC Mahapatra, who was present in the State Cabinet meeting, informed the Health and Family Welfare Department has been allowed to invite the global tenders. The decision has been taken with an aim to procure vaccines for people of the State at the earliest.

Also, a technical committee will be formed so that it can recommend steps to save human lives and restore livelihoods, the Chief Secretary added.

The State Cabinet decided to urge the Government of India to exempt the Covid vaccine and drugs from all kinds of tax.

As the fight against the Covid-19 will be a long-run, the State government will request the Centre to provide financial assistance to States in proportionate with cess and surcharge being collected from people. The move will lessen the financial burden on the State governments, the Odisha Chief Secretary added.

The State Cabinet also heaped praises on front line workers, health workers and Covid warriors for their indomitable spirit to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Besides, the State Cabinet took ten other important decisions in its meeting.

The Cabinet approved a proposal on Rules to regulate the method of recruitment and service conditions of the persons appointed in the Odisha nursing college education service.

Command area development and water management activities in irrigated commands and utilization of ground water resources through deep bore wells with solar pump system in remote areas of the State under Buju Krishak Vikash Yojana Deep Borewell Secha Yojana also received the Cabinet nod.

Proposals regarding approval of tender for construction of sports infrastructure facilities in Kalinga Stadium Bhubaneswar and construction of a new international hockey stadium at Rourkela for Hockey World cup were approved as well.

The State Cabinet approved amendment of negative list for addition of manufacturing/refilling of medical oxygen/ container, amendment to the Odisha Transport- Traffic and Enforcement Rules, 2013.

Change of the nomenclature of “Forest and Environment Department” as “Forest Environment and Climate Change department” received the Cabinet approval.

Amendment of Odisha Ex-servicemen (Recruitment to State Civil Services and Posts) Rules, annual report on activities of Odisha Public Service Commission for the year 2017-18 and framing of the Rules for accommodation and other services in Bhawans owned and maintained by the Home department outside the State-2021 got the State Cabinet nod in today’s meeting.

Also Read

Comments are closed.