Lok Sabha Question No. 1857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: COVID-19 Management and Relief Support in Rural India
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED Q. No 1857 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th JULY, 2021

## COVID - 19 MANAGEMENT AND RELIEF SUPPORT IN RURAL INDIA

## 1857 SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA :

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- ( a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the disproportionate impact of COVID -19 in rural India, if so, the details thereof;
- ( b) whether  the  Government  has  implemented,  or  intends  to  implement,  any  schemes  or special  funds  for  COVID - 19  management  and  relief  support  in  rural  India,  if  so,  th details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- ( c) whether  the  Government has  implemented  any  measures  to  increase  awareness  of COVID - 19 risks and appropriate behavior in rural India, if so, the details thereo not, the reasons therefor;
- ( d) whether the Government has maintained any data on migrant workers who were tested fo r COVID - 19 before returning to their homes, if so, the details thereof; and
- ( e) the total number of tests so conducted and positivity rates thereon and if not, th therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(DR. BHARTI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e) :Health is a State Subject. Union Government has been providing required technical and financial assistance to all States/UTs for strengthening of their healthcare system management of the COVID - 19 public hea lth challenge.

In  view  of  ingress  of  COVID - 19  in  rural  areas  besides  the  ongoing  measures  to  control COVID - 19 the following steps are taken:

- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on 16 th April 2021 issued a detailed SOP on COVID -19 Containment & Management in Peri - urban, Rural & Tribal areas. The SOP provides for strengthening  primary  level  healthcare  infrastructure  at  all  levels  to  intensify  C - 19 response in peri - urban, rural & tribal areas, while continuing to provide other essential services  through  inter - sectoral  approach  by  involving  community - based  organizations, Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNCs), Pachayati Raj institutio Urban Local bodies, etc.
- The 'India COVID19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness package' of Rs 15,000 Cr was approved in April 2020 wherein States/UTs were provided required technic and financial assistance for strengthening of their healthcare system for management COVID - 19 Public Health Challenge.
- This  wasprimarily  to  support  the  States  for  the  critical  activities  for  surveill containment, for ramping up of testing and treatment facilities, for procurement of e supplies, for engagement of critical HR etc.
- Following  receipt  of  requests  from States/UTs,  States/UTs  are  allowed  to  utilize  the uncommitted  unspent  opening  balance  under  NHM  of  FY  21 - 22  from  the  previous  year releases for COVID - 19 management.
- In addition, 'India COVID - 19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase II' has also been approved by the Cabinet with Rs 23,123 crores (with Rs. 15,000 Cr as Central Component & Rs 8,123 as State component) and is to be implemented from 1s July 2021 to 31" March 2022.
- It includes s upport to State/UT level for ramping up health infrastructure including tho rural, tribal and peri - urban areas, providing support for procurement of drugs and diagnosti to enhance service delivery at district and sub district levels (including pedia tric care) and for maintaining a buffer stock of drugs, support for IT Interventions such as implementat Hospital  Management  Information  System,  expanding  access  to  tele - consultations  in  all districts,  and  support  for  capacity  building  and  training  f or  all  aspects  of  management  of COVID - 19.

Communication material and toolkits have been developed (pamphlets, poster, audio and films) and have been provided to the States for translation into local languages. Commu being briefed about action ta ken by Ministry through electronic, print media & social media. Technical  Officials  from  Ministry  have  attended  various  programmes  in  Doordarshan/T Channels  to  brief  community  at  large.  A  dedicated  Call  Centre  /  Helpline  (1075)  guide citizens on COVI D - 19.

In addition, support from all other line Ministries like Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Mi Rural Development, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Woman and Child Development is al taken along with all states/UTs to reach out & to amplify COVI D related messages

Union Ministry of Health has advised states to extensively utilize RT - PCR and RAT tests for early  identification  of  cases.  Accordingly,  as  reported  by  the  states  on  ICMR  portal, number of 46,09,00,978 tests have been conducted a nd so far, total 3,14,84,605 positive cases have  been  reported.  The  present  weekly  positivity  rate  for  the  country  is  2.36%  as  on ending 28 th July 2021.