Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, December 15
The Bihar Cabinet that met here on Tuesday evening approved a proposal of the health department to facilitate free vaccination against COVID-19 to all citizens of the state.
This was the first cabinet meeting of Nitish Kumar led ministry after distribution of portfolios. The Cabinet was sworn in on November 16.
Health Minister Mangal Pandey said the department had made all preparations for free vaccination, storage of vaccines in the district and sadar hospitals have been arranged. Pandey told this correspondent, date of launch of free vaccination has not been decided so far.
Union minister of state for health Ashwini Kumar Chaubey, who is BJP MP from Buxar in Bihar had reviewed the arrangements of storage and vaccination with the state officials during his two days stay here on Sunday. Chaubey said every citizen would get two doses of vaccines in a month.Priority would be given to the Corona front warriors, like doctors, nurses, members of the armed forces and the senior citizens.
Chaubey claimed the district magistrates informed him that all arrangements for transportation and storage of vaccines from Pune to Patna and districts have been completed. On an average 100 people would be vaccinated daily at a booth,which would be like a polling booth. Registration for free vaccination would be done on the basis of 12 identify cards, including Aadhar and EPICs. In the first phase, Bihar is expected to receive seven lakh vaccines.
At a press conference here on October 22, the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, had announced free vaccination to all people of poll bound BIhar.She was releasing the BJP manifesto. Election Commission of India in its order on October 31 had found BJP manifesto was not a violation of the model code of Conduct.
EC in its order rejected the objections of the opposition parties and had observed “The directive principles of the state policy enshrined in the Constitution enjoys upon the state to frame various welfare measures for the citizens. There can be no objection to the promise of such welfare measures (free vaccination) in the manifesto. EC had defended the Minister’s announcement.
On Monday, 82 people got Covaxin shots in the third phase at AIIMs, Patna. So far, 206 people have got vaccination under the clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine. In Bihar, 2.43 lakh people were found Corona positive.
Cabinet also acted on another poll promise of providing jobs to 19 lakh youths and approved a proposal to create 20 lakh job opportunities in next five years. It decided to give Rs five lakhs as grant to the youth for starting self-employment schemes for which 50 per cent of the subsidy would be given by the state.
Cabinet also decided to implement another election promise by announcing Rs 25,000 to every girl who passes intermediate examination and Rs 50,000 to every girl with graduation degrees.
BJP’s election promise to have technical education in Hindi medium was also approved by the cabinet.
Cabinet approved a proposal of the Law department to dismiss three members of higher judicial services, including two district and sessions judges who were found guilty of violating prohibition rules and enjoying unauthorised holiday in neighbouring Nepal.They were posted at Araria, bordering Nepal. Patna High Court had conducted investigations against them and found the charges true.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the cabinet would be expanded after he received recommendations from the BJP. “I have not received the list from the BJP so far,” he said. At present, there are 14 ministers in Nitish Kumar ministry and 16 more can be inducted according to the Constitutional provisions.
