India provided COVID-related aid to 82 countries including China: MEA

In reply to a question from a Rajya Sabha Member, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan informed that India provided grants-in-aid valued at around Rs 80 crore to 82 countries including China, for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Tuesday said that India provided assistance in the form of medicines and medical equipment, to over 150 countries, including grants-in-aid valued at around Rs 80 crore to 82 countries.

The list of countries includes China, Israel, Iran, Italy, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, and Kuwait among others.

Muraleedharan was responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha from BJP leader DR Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe on the number of countries to whom India has provided medical and other assistance in the fight against COVID-19.

"Ministry of External Affairs also assisted foreign governments with approvals for the export of essential medicines in the fight against coronavirus. In addition, India sent Rapid Response Medical teams to help some countries in their fight against the pandemic," Muraleedharan wrote in his reply.

Replying to another question, also from MP Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe, on whether India has received any such assistance from other countries to fight against COVID-19, the Minister said that India received assistance from a few countries including Japan, USA, France, Germany and Israel in the form of medical equipment and grants-in-aid.

According to sources, Muraleedharan further said that the Indian Prime Minister visited 58 countries since 2015 and the total expenditure of the visits was Rs 517.82 crore.

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In a written reply to another question in Rajya Sabha from CPI MP Binoy Viswam on when the government first received information from the US Government about the planned visit of US President to India, the ministry said, "Dates for the state visit of his Excellency Donald J. Trump, President of the United States to India on 24-25 February 2020 was decided in mutual consultation by the respective governments. The visit was the announcement by the Government on 11 February 2020."

On being asked whether members of the US President's staff and delegation were tested for COVID-19 virus during his visit, the minister explained that at the time of President Trump's visit i.e. 24-25 February 2020, there was no requirement of mandatory COVID-19 test for travellers from foreign countries. Pandemic status to the disease was given by WHO on March 11.

The minister also highlighted that the requirement of mandatory universal screening of all international passengers arriving in 21 airports in India for COVID-19 was implemented by Government of India with effect from March 4, 2020.

Therefore, during US President Donald Trump's visit to India, established norms and protocols for handling such high-level visits were followed by the Government of India, he reiterated.

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His response in the monsoon session of Parliament came during the question being asked by Rajya Sabha MP on the precautions taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus at events organized during the visit of the US President.

Earlier, in a written reply to another question in the Rajya Sabha on whether the government made serious efforts to acquire a permanent UNSC seat, Muraleedharan reiterated, "Government has accorded highest priority to getting permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council that reflects contemporary global realities."

He responded to several other questions being asked during the Parliament monsoon session.

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