Chairing a joint meeting of the Empowered Groups constituted for planning and ensuring implementation of COVID-19 response activities in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the countrywide preparedness regarding availability of hospitals, proper isolation and quarantine facilities as well as disease surveillance, testing and critical care training.
He also directed the concerned groups and officials to ensure sufficient production, procurement and availability of all essential medical equipment such as PPEs, masks, gloves and ventilators, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated in a series of tweets.
The Government has constituted 11 different Empowered Groups, under the Disaster Management Act, to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track and reduce the misery of people as quickly as possible post 21-day lockdown imposed to contain the Coronavirus pandemic.
Each group has a senior representative from the PMO and the Cabinet Secretariat to ensure seamless coordination and is been empowered to formulate plans and to take all necessary steps for their time-bound implementation.
The Empowered Group on Medical Emergency and Management Plan is headed by NITI Aayog member Dr V Paul, while the Group on Availability of Hospitals, Disease Surveillance and Testing and Critical Care Training work under the Chairmanship of Environment Secretary C K Mishra.
The Empowered Group on ensuring the availability of essential medical equipment, production Procurement, Import and Distribution is headed by Pharmaceuticals Secretary P D Vaghela, while the Group on augmenting Human Resources and Capacity Building is under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Secretary Arun Panda. Drinking Water Secretary Parameswaran Iyer leads the Group on Facilitating Supply Chain and Logistics Management for availability of necessary items.
CEO NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant heads the Group on coordinating with the private sector. The Group on Economic and Welfare measures functions under Economic Affairs Secretary while Atanu Chakraborty and Information and Broadcasting Secretary Ravi Mittal heads the Group on Information, Communication and Public Awareness.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY ) Secretary Ajay Sawhney helms the Group on Technology and Data Management, HRD Secretary Amit Khare heads the panel on Public Grievances while Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla leads the Empowered Group constituted on Strategic issues relating to Lockdown.