Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Apr 23: MLA UT Khader on Friday, April 23, slammed the BJP-led state government for their lack of preparedness, negligence in containing the second wave of Covid which resulted in the spike of cases in the state.
Addressing a press meet here Khader said, "People in the state are confused and are in fear. The state government completely neglected the Technical Advisory Committee's report on the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. It did not prepare itself or paid attention to the improvement of the health infrastructure to contain the spread of the virus. Instead, they were busy holding election campaigns for the bye-elections. It has left the people of the state in dismay."
Khader suggested that it is the duty and responsibility of the government to take people into confidence. "Government should take people into confidence and tell the public not fear. Before implementing the order from the backdoor, the government should inform the people a week before on implementing the order."
"For the past one and a half years, what preparations were made to contain the spread of the second wave of coronavirus?" he questioned.
He also said that government should bring an online system or a single-window system that connects hospitals and the patients, to avail beds in the hospitals. "The state government has failed to implement this system and now patients are suffering due to a lack of beds," Khader said.
Khader also alleged there are only 850 ICU beds in government hospitals of the state. Already, 600 beds have been occupied and within 15 days all the remaining beds will also be occupied, he maintained.
He also said that it was imperative to hold a meeting with oxygen-production companies to produce additional oxygen cylinders so that there is enough oxygen supply for the next 10 months. He further urged people who can afford, to buy a small cylinder of oxygen as a precautionary measure.
"The union government should allow vaccines in the open market without any restrictions and it will be available to everyone instead of registering online," he advised.
He also said that vaccine manufacturing companies are exporting the vaccine to various other countries because the union government has not allotted funds to the companies for the research of vaccines. "Not even 20% of people have been vaccinated in the district," he added.
"The administration should appoint a nodal officer to help the Covid patients from the harassment of private hospitals," he said.
"In Mangaluru city limits, MCC will bear the cost of performing the last rites of Covid victims. But, what about those who died of Covid in rural areas? District administration should think about it," Khader said.
Replying to the query on minister Aravind Limbavali, UT Khader said, "BJP leaders are unnecessarily hurling allegations against Congress. Their way of handling the administration has failed. People in Bengaluru are suffering from a lack of hospital beds. The condition is getting worse. What are the steps taken by the BJP government to increase beds in hospitals? This is the failure of the administration. What good have they done for the state? They completely failed in managing the Covid. Bring back Congress to power and we will show how to manage the situation. The least BJP can do is accept suggestions given by Congress," he said.
He also pointed out that neighbouring states like Goa and Kerala are providing free vaccination to the public. "Why has the Karnataka government not taken up such initiative? Provide free vaccination in Karnataka too," Khader said.