Vienna: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in the General Debate on the topic ‘The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic challenges and multilateralism’s ability to deliver for the people’ at the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (5WCSP) today.
Underlining India’s global response to the pandemic, Birla said that India has been at the forefront of undertaking prompt humanitarian assistance and relief operations during the pandemic. He mentioned that India supplied vaccines, medicines and other equipment to over 150 countries as a measure of India's commitment to global health and well being.
Birla further stressed that the post-pandemic global economic recovery phase requires collaboration and cooperation between member countries, so as to stimulate the revival and rebounding of the global economy.
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Birla further said that the world needs to take important lessons from the pandemic. He cautioned that as more dreadful variants of virus are expected to arise, the global community needs to ensure that vaccines are distributed equitably around the world. Birla also added that the international community needs to push for global and national reforms in order to make a more just and equal world in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Birla further underlined that India was proactive in dealing with COVID-19 and the hallmark of India's response to the pandemic has people and communities at the core of its efforts. Birla added that the initial measures taken by the country in the early days of the pandemic gave India the requisite time and resources to gear up its strategies to fight the virus.
Birla also highlighted India’s focus on developing indigenous technologies. He underlined that India enhanced its production capacity of PPE kits, masks, face-covers, diagnostics, oxygen, drugs, ventilators and other accessories to fight the pandemic.
Mentioning that India reopened its economy in phases after the initial lockdown, Birla informed the delegates that two major economic stimulus packages were announced immediately to provide much-needed relief to people. He added that these packages included the $110 Billion Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojana which is equivalent to 10 percent of India’s GDP and the $23 Billion Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana relief package.
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Birla also mentioned that India has embarked on the world’s largest free-of-cost vaccination drive which has an ambitious target of inoculating 900 million citizens by the end of the year. Birla further said that with the strength and will of its people, India is making steady progress towards this lofty goal.
On the sidelines of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Birla held bilateral meetings with the Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Italy, Mongolia and Guyana and discussed shared democratic values, strengthening of the democratic ethos at the grassroots level, women empowerment and the need for enhanced mutual cooperation in cultural, economic, diplomatic and other areas.
