Not believing in act of God, Covid vaccine expected in early 2021: Harsh Vardhan

In order to ensure protection to the healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly since the coronavirus pandemic has erupted, Lok Sabha on passed the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020 on Monday. Under this act those who insult our corona warriors will be asked to pay fine or may even get jail term.

New Delhi: The Parliament on late Monday passed the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020, ensuring protection for healthcare workers. The bill was earlier passed by the Rajya Sabha on September 19. Also, he assured the Lok Sabha that the Central government is not just waiting for 'act of God' in the fight against Covid-19 but also working round-the-clock in the direction to get the solution and a vaccine will be available at the beginning of the next year anytime.

Harsh Vardhan's response came in a reply to a Member of Parliament who alleged that the government is waiting for the act of God in the fight against the disease which on Monday inched closer to 55 lakh-mark in India with a total of 54,87,580 cases in 235 days since the first case was reported on January 30.

"The government took advise from various law experts before introducing this act. Under this act those who insult our corona warriors will be asked to pay fine or may even get jail term," Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in the Lok Sabha.

He added, "The ordinance that was introduced for this act was necessary. The Centre took lead in honouring those corona warriors who lost their lives on the line of duty. We announced insurance for 22 lakh corona warriors across the country, be it doctors, nurse or Anganwadi workers."

The minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led from the front to tackle the pandemic and spoke to state chief ministers several times.

"Since the last nine months, the Prime Minister and his team are working hard and taking steps to control the pandemic. He held meetings with chief ministers at least a dozen times. The entire 135 crore citizens of our country are fighting together against this pandemic. The Centre and states are working in tandem to tackle the virus," he said.

Penalty ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000 can be slapped on any individual who is involved in commission or abetment of such acts of violence. It can also be punishable in the form of imprisonment for a term of three months to five years.

The Lok Sabha passed The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020, before the House was adjourned till 3 pm on Tuesday.

(ANI)