RANCHI: Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that free Covid-19 vaccines will be provided for the 18-44 age group, Jharkhand finance minister Rameshwar Oraon on Monday asked the Centre to reimburse the expenses incurred by all the states to procure vaccines for young adults so far.
Both JMM and Congress, the two major ruling alliance partners in the state, maintained that the Modi government was forced to make a change in the vaccination policy due to opposition from several states and Supreme Court’s recent observations.
Talking to TOI, Oraon said, “The Union government was forced to change its stand because of sustained protests and campaign by Congress and other parties to highlight the shoddy policy.
We welcome the decision.” Oraon, also the Congress’s state president, added, “The Centre must now compensate the states the expenses they had incurred in procurement of vaccines for the 18-44 age group.
Since Independence, entire vaccination cost has been borne by the Centre.
In any kind of vaccination programme rolled out in the country, Centre used to procure and distributed vaccines to states free of cost.
However, BJP government started a new trend to shrug off from its responsibility amid a pandemic.
Finally, it seems to be correcting itself.” Notably, chief minister Hemant Soren recently wrote to Modi demanding universal coverage of vaccination, citing cost implications on poor states like Jharkhand.
On Monday, Soren in a post on social media said about Rs 257 crore has been allocated for vaccinating the 18-44 years, of which about Rs 47 crore has been paid to the manufacturers of Covaxin and Covishield.
Soren also reiterated that the state was committed for giving free vaccines.
Following Modi’s announcement, Soren’s party — JMM — hoped that the Centre will walk the talk without posing any hurdles to states.
JMM spokesperson and general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharjee said, “We would have gladly welcomed this announcement had it come on April 19.
But better late than never.
Now that the Centre has exposed itself, it has decided to extend free vaccines.
However, it is still not fully committed to give entirely free.
It is because the PM said that 25% stocks will be given to private hospitals so that those who can pay can walk in to get the jabs.
We hope that in coming months, the government-run vaccine centres do not suffer a crisis to fill coffers of private hospitals forcing people to opt for taking vaccine there.” Opposition BJP on the other hand hailed Modi.
“Once again the PM has proved that his government is pro-people.
Not only he announced free vaccine for the country, but also extended free ration scheme under PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till November,” BJP state president Deepak Prakash said.