Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 23: A day after chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's announcement of providing free vaccines for all in the state, several enterprising Keralites have gone a step further, voluntarily donating the price of the vaccine to the CM's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). The donation amounted to nearly Rs 22 lac on Thursday, April 22 alone as social media was flooded with screenshots of donation to the CMDRF.
On Wednesday, Pinarayi Vijayan had announced that the state government would provide the vaccine against COVID-19 free of cost for everyone in the State. The announcement came after the 'Covishield' shot price was announced to be Rs 400 per dose and Rs 600 at private hospitals.
"Vaccines will be provided free of cost for everyone in Kerala. We don't have the habit of changing our stance like others. We had announced free vaccines in the State," Pinarayi had said.
A social media user who goes by the handle, Red Indian, tweeted that "Vaccine is a right. But since the Union government has abdicated its responsibility" and the Kerala government has decided to take it up, "I, as a citizen, am contributing to the #CMDRF, Kerala."
"Keralites, since the central Govt has shamelessly passed all the burden to the states" shoulder on the price of vaccines, it's time for us to stand with our state and support it."
"Support everyone around you and please donate to CMDRF, irrespective of your political inclinations," a handle which goes by the name @Advaidism, tweeted.
Another user posted that he was sure that the Kerala government would provide vaccine free of cost for him and so he was donating the money for two doses of vaccine-- as per Serum Institute of India''s price-- to Kerala CMDRF. "This is the least I can do.I urge all my friends to do the same," the user tweeted.
The campaign has come down heavily as a protest against Centre's vaccine policy.
The campaign has gained momentum as Keralaites have taken it up as a protest against Centres vaccine policy. The SII had, in a statement, said, "Fifty per cent of our capacities will be served to the Central government's vaccination drive and the remaining 50 percent will be for the State governments and private hospitals."