The second wave of Covid-19 has once again brought a host of Centre-state management issues to the doorstep of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba. The senior bureaucrat tackled a slew of concerns from state governments over virus mutation, vaccine management, enforcement of restrictions, congregations, industry and even elections in the high level meeting with state chief secretaries, DGPs, health secretaries and other stakeholders on Friday.
While states like Maharashtra, which has seen a surge in cases, has sought the Centre's assistance for supply of oxygen from SAIL plant at Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, there are rising concerns around enforcement of restrictions. As local police and administration slap fines, at the same time, there are poor people on the streets who do not have money to pay for challans, and they were the ones mostly in violation of guidelines; hence, it is more prudent to spread awareness.
Sources said the Information and Broadcasting Ministry also highlighted that there was pandemic fatigue in disbursal of information, but they are mobilising all resources including Doordarshan and All India Radio that have the maximum reach.
Meanwhile, many southern states pointed out that there are a number of corporate plants, industries and offices where thousands of workers work in shifts, and they want special camps to be organised to inoculate their workers on the spot as it would save time, effort and money for them. The Centre is learnt to have told states that they can make these tie-ups within the regulatory frameworks.
Concerns around Covid cases in poll-bound states were also discussed with officials from Assam maintaining that while it was difficult to enforce norms during election congregations, all steps will be taken once the campaigning is over to focus harder on enforcing Covid-appropriate behaviour.
According to sources, officials from Karnataka felt that while, on the one hand, congregations are being discouraged, the Centre has regularly been seeking updates on the programmes being arranged under Azadi Amrut Mahotsav and asked the Central government to clarify the way forward. Gauba maintained that states have the liberty to determine the size of congregations following Covid-appropriate behaviour.
With the majority of states raising concerns over new strains of the virus emerging and the efficacy of the vaccines against them, Gauba said apart from efficaciousness of the vaccines, it is Covid-appropriate behavior that can help guard against any variant. Some states said there was vaccine hesitancy, cold chain management issues and shortage of supply of vaccines. However, the health ministry assured there is no shortage of vaccines in the country and states should ensure that cold chain management and supply lines are effectively maintained.
