New Delhi: Two senior leaders of the Congress party Sam Pitroda and Jairam Ramesh held a discussion on Friday, over the need of ramping up vaccination drive in the country as the Covid-19 cases have been increasing rapidly.
Concerned over the prevailing situation in the country, the Congress leaders attacked the Centre, alleging that India is not just in the grip of Coronavirus but also in the grip of 'ideology virus' as the Government is in denial mode.
During the discussion, Ramesh said, "We had a target set by Prime Minister that by August 2021, 300 million Indians would be vaccinated. Till today, only 10 percent of this target has been achieved. This is not the time to think of market economics. This is a national emergency."
"We are not just in the grip of Covid virus. We are in the grip of an ideology virus that looks at the public sector suspiciously and which thinks that it is a time for market economics. We have to vaccinate people," he alleged.
India in grip of ideology virus, not just Covid: Congress The former Union Minister asserted, "It's a collapse of the state. The entire governmental machinery is in a denial state right now. You cannot get on the solution track unless you recognize what the problem is. This is a time when a giant collective effort is needed." Meanwhile, giving out some suggestions to the Government, Sam Pitroda said, "We must listen to the voices of the people, we must invite others for ideas and inputs and we must have a scientific mindset."
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He suggested that a national credible team of domain experts should conduct daily press conferences on behalf of the Government to establish facts and truth and give confidence to the people as to one set of information.
"It cannot be political. It has to be professional," he stated.
Over the need for vaccination drive, he said, "Calls for consolidation of all production facilities, because it is no longer about private or government, it is about a national emergency. Give the private sector their due profit but run it as a national emergency production line. Part of that would be one price for everybody. We cannot have this 3-tier price system."
Pitroda further added, "On distribution system takes charge but also allows state governments for freedom and flexibility that they need to make local conditions. Basically, walk the talk. Establish credibility."
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Jairam Ramesh also mentioned the polio vaccination drive asserting that it is necessary to let all the stakeholders, including state governments, MPs, MLAs, local media, into confidence to spread awareness in the country over the matter.
He said, "Giving people a sense of participation is actually communication. It was not 'Diya Jalao, Tali Bajao'. It was actually going out to State govt, making them stakeholders in the process, no attempt at centralization it was to empower the state govt's to carry out their own immunization programs."
He added, "Creating a scientific consensus, setting up of production, and at the same time, the Department of Biotechnology was also established. And it is because of the Dept. of Biotech that 10 years later Bharat Biotech became a reality."
He also suggested that Government needs to put together a group of experts, including AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, Niti Aayog Advisor VK Paul, and let them every day take the nation into confidence.
In addition to this, he said that there is no alternative to compulsory licensing as there should be more companies in India, producing these vaccines.
He asserted, "I have a feeling that the international ridicule that we have been subjected to over the last couple of days may trigger some meaningful actions on the part of the Government because it's awful. I really feel ashamed in the manner India is being covered. I hope that this is going to have some effect. The system should be responding to these criticisms and not sending rebuttals."
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