The newly appointed Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday announced a Rs 23,123 crores emergency package in response to the issues faced by the country in the second wave of Covid-19. "Rs 23,123 crores package to be given to deal with the problems that occurred in the second wave of Covid-19. It will be used jointly by the Central and state governments", said Mansukh Mandaviya. Addressing the media following the first Union Cabinet meet after the rejig, Mandaviya said that the emergency package would be jointly used by the Centre and state governments. He also announced that the Centre will form pediatric care centers in around 736 districts, adding that nearly 20,000 ICU beds will be created under the COVID relief fund.
"We have to collectively fight against COVID. The limitation period is a maximum (9 months). We have to get it done quickly. State governments will have to do it quickly. Our duty is to help the state in every possible way," Mandaviya was quoted as saying. Mr Mandaviya was appointed on Wednesday just hours after Harsh Vardhan, who was the face of the government's efforts to fight COVID-19, was asked to step down along with his deputy. Yesterday, several members of the ruling BJP and a few from allies were sworn in at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to replace 12 ministers that were fired in the first cabinet reshuffle since PM Modi was re-elected in 2019 on a promise to transform India into a political and economic power.PM Modi retained his core team at the foreign, finance, home and defence departments even though the economy is in a deep recession and there are widespread concerns that a surge in COVID-19 infections will stall economic recovery.