LUCKNOW l FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021 l PAGES 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. UPENG/2020/04393 l VOL 1 l ISSUE NO. 125 4 saal bemisaal! YOGI’S SAINTLY GUIDANCE Vishal Srivastav ne of the finest political craftsman and an avid Ram Bhakt Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has come of O age. Today, the people’s lead- er attains the magnificent milestone of being the longest serving CM from the Bhartiya Janata Party in UP. In the last four years, the CM has been at logger- heads with adversaries in varied forms. From his predecessors, he got as herit- age, an Uttar Pradesh that was low on confidence, riddled with criminal forc- es and public mechanisms that were dying a slow death. Cometh March, 2017 and Yogi takes charge as CM. Ever since then, feloni- ous forces have flung the corridors of the state, the government machinery seems well overhauled and the state has gained back the confidence it lost. Be it the ease of doing business rank- ings, or the five mega expressways, or the upliftment of the poor at the grass- roots, or taking government to people in the remotest parts of the state, Yogi has been one man who has stood rock- solid with the people of his state. He has a heart of gold which beats for the poor and the destitute. Going with the flow, it won’t be incorrect to say that there are many more tenures up and waiting for the saint from the land of Gorakhnath Temple. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath PERSPECTIVE www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia LUCKNOW | FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021 02 ‘INDIA TO THE RESCUE, AS MADE IN INDIA VACCINE GETS GLOBAL APPROVAL’ INDIA’S INOCULATION DRIVE BECOMES LARGEST IN THE WORLD, SQUASHES CRITICS WHO CASTED ASPERSIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO VACCINATE ITS PEOPLE HARSH few countries that got vac- SANGHAVI cines as the rest of the world scrambles for vaccine sup- plies. This also strengthened THE WRITER IS AN our position against China MLA FROM SURAT and paved the way for India becoming a superpower. Indian vaccine diploma- arendra Modi urged Indi- cy is what led to the Quad ans to walk on the path of vaccine initiative. The vac- unity led by Sardar Patel cine diplomacy will fur- who once rightly said, ther see an increase in the “Manpower without Unity upcoming months and na- is not a strength unless it tions in need of vaccines is harmonized and united can soon get more doses as N properly, then it becomes a India’s Gland Pharma pre- spiritual power” when he pares to produce and sup- launched the world’s larg- ply 25 crores of Russia’s est vaccination drive ear- Sputnik V doses. The Rus- lier this year on 16 Janu- sian vaccine has an effica- ary. As India prepared it- cy rate of 91.6 percent self to vaccinate its citi- which will help contain the zens, there were several spread of the virus. skeptics who were quick to The inexpensive rate of vac- point out that the attempts cine dose which is Rs.250 at to launch a vaccine pro- private clinics and hospitals gramme in India would be and otherwise free at the state- fraught with corruption, run health centre has mas- underhand dealing, and sively contributed to India’s overpricing of the vac- triumph in the vaccination cines. Some even thought campaign. The government’s there would be a possibil- generous budget allocation of ity of a black market and first phase, the Healthcare workers. Citizens aged Rs.35,000 crore to fully vacci- the lack of transparency and Frontline workers above 60 years received nate 50 crore citizens will cov- PM Modi’s in the entire process. were prioritised, where by 60,384 doses and those er the entire expenditure. INDIAN VACCINE DIPLOMACY IS WHAT LED TO THE decision to take I can say this with great mid February, that is, with- above 45 years with co- The government’s ambi- QUAD VACCINE INITIATIVE. THE VACCINE DIPLOMACY the vaccine on 1 pride and happiness that af- in a month since the drive morbidities got 11,481 tious vaccination drive WILL FURTHER SEE AN INCREASE IN THE UPCOMING March to kick- ter two months of the vacci- was launched, the govern- jabs. In my personal visits has confidently defied its ment was fully able to vac- MONTHS AND NATIONS IN NEED OF VACCINES CAN to the health centres and sharpest critics and placed start the next nation drive, India has suc- cessfully inoculated 29.74 mil- cinate 3.24 lakh workers. SOON GET MORE DOSES AS INDIA’S GLAND PHARMA the civil hospital, people India on the world map step in the lion doses, and around 24.31 In the second phase, as PREPARES TO PRODUCE AND SUPPLY 25 CRORES OF had a positive mindset to- ahead of many developed vaccination million people have received many as 9,29,359 aged 45 RUSSIA’S SPUTNIK V DOSES. THE RUSSIAN VACCINE wards the vaccine drive nations in successfully drive proved to the first vaccine dose. This and above with specific co- HAS AN EFFICACY RATE OF 91.6 PERCENT WHICH and expressed relief upon overcoming challenges in be hugely means that 1.26 million doses morbidities and 55,99,143 WILL HELP CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS receiving the jab. its fight against Covid-19. beneficial in are roughly administered beneficiaries more than 60 India’s global standing in As India and the rest of curbing the fake every day. This data alone sig- years old were given their the world has received a boost the world looks forward to propaganda nifies that the vaccination first dose, within the first by its vaccine diplomacy. As once again return to the spread by anti- programme in the world’s ten days since the start of the world’s largest vaccine normal, pre-pandemic vaxxers and largest democracy has been a the second phase. concerns over the safety of to get the vaccine dose has, in manufacturer, we have sent as life, it is heart-warming to encouraged huge success. As per the lat- PM Modi’s decision to take the indigenous covid vac- my opinion, hugely ensured many as 586 lakh doses to 71 see conscientious citizens people to be est reports from the Health the vaccine on 1 March to cine, ‘Covaxin’, developed the success of the drive. A countries in 55 days. Follow- and NGOs come forward vaccinated Ministry, roughly 3.39 crore kick-start the next step in the by Bharat Biotech. Those well thought out plan and an ing a truly internationalist to work with the govern- safely. This vaccine jab has been given vaccination drive proved to concerns were finally laid effective system in place are approach, the Indian govern- ment to defeat this deadly further gave a and more than 1 crore benefi- be hugely beneficial in curb- to rest as the Phase 3 trial the main reasons for the ment provided vaccine free of virus. As a citizen, dedi- boost to the ciaries aged over 60 years ing the fake propaganda results demonstrate 81 per- smooth functioning of the cost to all its neighbours as a cated to serve the people were covered within a span spread by anti-vaxxers and cent efficacy rate. Prime vaccination process, which is “goodwill” gesture. Around of my country, I would vaccination of just 15 days. India’s inocu- encouraged people to be vac- Minister Modi and Exter- otherwise a daunting and 80.75 lakh doses were export- like to thank each and eve- drive. This lation drive is now the largest cinated safely. This further nal Affairs Minister, S Jais- challenging exercise. ed as gift, while 165.24 lakh ryone who stepped up and proved critical in in the world ahead of UK. gave a boost to the vaccina- hankar were administered In my city, Surat, the doses have been delivered as helped fellow Indians dur- eradicating the The government aims to tion drive. This proved criti- a jab of Covaxin, which Municipal Corporation ad- part of Covax mechanism un- ing the lockdown and who fear over the utilise up to 50 million dos- cal in eradicating the fear gave a sense of confidence ministered roughly 56,950 der the aegis of the Global Al- continue to play an active safety procedure es to provide jabs to 250 over the safety procedure among those wary of it. doses of vaccine to the liance for Vaccines and Im- role in society. and hygiene million priority group, at and hygiene standards. The relatively lucid and healthcare workers and munisation. Saudi Arabia, THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY standards least by end of July. In the Many people also raised straight forward procedure around 36,336 to frontline Morocco , and Brazil are the THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL Top TACKLING THE GLOBAL LEARNING CRISIS TWEET ducation has Bank estimated that 53% of costs of the current educa- Prakash Javadekar emerged as one children finishing primary tion gap are too large to ig- @PrakashJavdekar of the most con- school in low- and middle- nore. So, what can be done? Reduction in pollution in Delhi sequential cas- income countries (and as A strategy for tackling is largely due to Central Govt initiatives like: Leapfrogging to E ualties of the many as 80% in some low- the learning crisis must in- BS6, Eastern & Western express pandemic. According to income countries) still clude two components.