Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SD)

New Delhi, Oct 23: The world's second most populous nation after China gearing to battle the ongoing Covid-19 has earmarked around Rs 50,000 crore ($7 billion) for the purpose. In the country of 1.3 billion, it has assessed an all-in cost of approximately $6-7 per person.

Sources revealed that funds provisioned so far are for the current financial year ending March 31.

Given the country's situation, the estimation made is said to assess two injections per person at $2 a shot. Another $2-$3 per person is supposedly estimated as infrastructure costs such as transport and storage. All the above-mentioned details are being worked out based on recommendations of a working group, sources revealed.

The country's economy has taken a massive hit due to subsequent pandemic-induced lockdown even though a government-backed committee portends that India is past the peak of coronavirus infections and predictions say that the country may manage to contain the spread by February, 2021.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi recently said that his government will ensure all citizens have access to the vaccine as soon as it is ready.

Narendra Modi addressed the nation on October 20 wherein he urged the citizens to take all necessary precautions during the festive season and not become complacent with the improvement in the COVID situation.

"Till the time we get a vaccine for this pandemic, we should not let our fight against coronavirus abate even a little. It has happened for the first time in years that the entire world is engaged on war-footing to protect mankind. Several countries are working on this (vaccine). Our scientists, too, are working on a vaccine," said PM Modi.