In view of the expanding quantity of COVID-19 circumstances, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday has authorized delegation of emergency economic powers to Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
The measure taken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will allow AFMS to assist in providing health-related services not only to the personnel of the Armed Forces, but to the civil administration also.
According to the order issued on April 23, 2021, the emergency economic powers are delegated beneath Sl No 8.1 of Schedule 8 of Medical Schedule of Powers (MSP) to Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services (DFPDS) 2016.
Who will have these powers?
According to the order, Director General Medical Services (Army/Navy/Air Force), head of Medical Branches at Formation/Command Headquarters of Army/Navy/Air Force/Andaman & Nicobar Command.
Also, Joint Staff like Command Medical Officers of Navy and Principal Medical Officers of Air Force (Major General and equivalent/Brigadiers and equivalent).
Who will invest how a lot?
DGsMS (Army/Navy/Air Force) – Rs 500 lakh
Major General & equivalent – Rs 300 lakh
Brigadier & equivalent – Rs 200 lakh
According to a statement issued by the MoD, the emergency powers have been offered up to September 30, 2021. However, there is a provision which states that there will be revision/extension which will assist to expedite procurement of health-related things/supplies/shops. And also provisioning of several services for therapy/management and tackling the COVID-19 circumstances.
Meanwhile … IAF planes are on standby to airlift higher capacity tankers
To make certain uninterrupted provide of health-related oxygen across the nation, the Ministry of Home Affairs had on Thursday April 22, 2021, issued an order beneath the Disaster Management Act, 2005. This order is directing all the State/ UTS to take several measures to make certain uninterrupted provide of health-related oxygen across the nation.
The MHA has also began facilitating movement of health-related oxygen across the nation as per authorized allocation strategy.
To decrease movement time, the transport fleet of the Indian Air Force has began transporting empty tankers soon after delivery of oxygen to Destination State/ UT to oxygen generating areas.
And, in an work to make extra tankers for movement of oxygen out there, the Home Ministry is coordinating lifting of higher capacity tankers from friendly nations.
The Operation of airlifting from nations like Singapore and UAE by IAF transport planes is anticipated to get started later Friday evening or early Saturday morning.
The Indian Railways is currently operating particular trains which are carrying oxygen tankers across the nation to make certain quicker delivery.