Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat on Tuesday called on the armed forces to rise to the occasion and support the civil administration in creating COVID-19 mitigation facilities in a time-bound manner.
“Timely support at this juncture is important,” Gen. Rawat said in a message to the forces.
“Our men and women in uniform have the will and dedication to break barriers and walk the extra mile, always and every time,” he said. “We can and we will. Well done and carry on. We still have long distances to travel.”
The Services have pressed in personnel and resources to assist the civil administration in dealing with the pandemic.
Reviewing the situation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, Gen. Rawat said oxygen cylinders available with the armed forces at various establishments will be released for hospitals.
The IAF has deployed heavy transport aircraft to transport cryogenic oxygen containers from several countries which have been procured as part of commercial agreements and transfer oxygen containers within the country.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved temporary hiring of additional contractual staff in 51 high pressure Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme(ECHS) polyclinics to cater to veterans and their dependants, the Defence Ministry said.
“The contractual staff, including one each of medical officer, nursing assistant, pharmacist, driver and chowkidar for identified ECHS polyclinics, will be hired through station headquarters for night duty, beyond normal working hours, for three months, the statement said. The validity of this sanction is up to August 15, 2021.”
Navy launches oxygen express
The Navy too had launched an oxygen express via the sea to transport cylinders and other supplies to Lakshadweep. The second consignment as part of this was sent on Tuesday.
The Navy’s IN LCU 55 arrived in Port Blair on Monday with oxygen cylinders and Multi feed Oxygen Manifolds, manufactured by the Naval Dockyard, Vizag.
