Delhi Congress slammed BJP-ruled Municipal Corporations in the national Capital for not doing enough to combat the Covid-19 pandemic as it failed to provide proper medical facilities such as ‘Personal Protection Equipment’ (PPE) kits for the Corona warriors, like doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, sanitation workers and others.
Congress Delhi unit president Chaudhary Anil Kumar said that even 50-bed isolation ward set up for Corona patients at the Hindu Rao Hospital is not functioning effectively due to lack of resources and medical equipment.
“The health workers are on the forefront in fighting the pandemic, and therefore, considering the risk involved in their job, they should be paid double salary as their emergency allowance to further motivate them in recognition of their work,” he said.
Kumar demanded that this hospital should be well equipped and provided with enough resources urgently to treat the Corona patients. He said that the MCDs should immediately regularize the health staff, working on contract basis for the past many years, with all the perks and facilities like other permanent employees.
Addressing the media, he demanded that insurance cover should be given to all those involved in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic as presently, only doctors have been insured. He said that all the temporary sanitation workers should be regularized forthwith.
Senior Congress councilors Mukesh Goel (North), Abhishek Dutt (South) and Rinku (East) were also present in press conference.
The Congress president also demanded that Covid-19 testing facilities should be made available in MCD hospitals to widen the testing facilities in Delhi so that more and more people could be tested and preventive steps could be taken accordingly. “A large number of patients visit hospitals run by Corporations and if Covid-19 test facilities are made available in these hospitals more people could be tested for the COVID pandemic,” he added.
He further alleged that Mayors and Standing Committee members of all three Corporations have not been spotted in respective zones. He asked them to join hands with the Corona warriors in fighting to eliminate the pandemic.
Kumar pointed out that the Corporations have not announced any relief package for the people, particularly the poor and the needy. He asked them to announce a relief package for the people including a property tax waiver.