Assist every state equally in COVID-19 fight: J'khand minister tells Centre

Hazaribag/Ramgarh, Apr 9 () Jharkhand HealthMinister Banna Gupta on Thursday urged the Centre to assistevery state equally in the fight against COVID-19,highlighting the shortage of key medical equipment such asmasks.

The state government has been seeking the Centre'sassistance for supply of more medical kits in the last fewdays.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give equal reliefto all states in equal measure to tackle COVID-19," Guptasaid, adding, despite limited health resources, the Jharkhandgovernment is providing maximum relief to the affected.

"There is shortage of ventilators, PPEs, life-savingdrugs, masks and other equipment required to tackle COVID-19cases," the minister told a press conference in Hazaribag.

At a separate press briefing in neighbouring Ramgarhdistrict, Gupta said, "I have discussed with Union HealthMinister Harshvardhan and requested him to provide medicalequipment and necessary medical help to Jharkhand."

The state government will take the help of PSUs andother corporates, too, he said.

Meanwhile, former Jharkhand chief minister RaghubarDas asked all BJP MLAs to donate 30 per cent of their salaryto the PM-CARES Fund.

"As per the initiative taken by BJP Legislative Partyleader Babulal Marandi, all party MLAs should contribute 30per cent of their salary," Das said in a statement.

Marandi had on April 6 said he will donate 50 per centof his one-year salary and suspend MLA funds for two years.

Jharkhand has seen a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases,with the total going up to 13. A 72-year-old man died due tothe infection in Bokaro, becoming the first fatality in thestate. CORR PVRRBT RBT