The Centre on April 19 had announced a ''liberalised'' policy, making all above 18 years of age eligible to get vaccinated from May 1. The third phase began on April 1 for all above 45 years of age.
Maharashtra government will vaccinate all its citizens free of cost against coronavirus, state Minister Nawab Malik said on Sunday. But so far no such decision has been made.NCP state president Jayant Patil said that Mahavikas Aghadi will take a decision on free vaccination in a joint meeting. On the other hand, Health Minister Rajesh Tope has also clarified that free vaccination has not been decided yet.
A Shiv Sena MP has said that Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation should take financial help to vaccinate the citizens of the state. Vaccination campaign for all above 18 years of age in Maharashtra will be started from May 1. The state government is considering to give free vaccines to the citizens of the state. The cost of the new phase of vaccination is Rs 7,500 crore. It will be up to the cabinet to decide whether the vaccine will be given free to all or to the economically weaker sections.
It is being said that the cost is unaffordable to the government due to the lockdown. In this regard, Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale has written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The state government should seek the help of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for this, Shewale said in his letter.
For the past year, the state government has been working hard to prevent the spread of corona. As a result, a large amount of state government funds has also been spent. Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of the country. Mumbai has helped Maharashtra and the country from time to time in times of crisis. Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the largest corporation in the country, has deposits of around Rs 79,000 crore in various banks. The state government should use the funds of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for free vaccination. Shewale also suggested that the state government should repay the funds in a few years.