A detailed document about the initiatives taken by elected representatives will be published on the Lok Sabha website in due course.
In a soon-to-be-published compilation by the Lok Sabha, the Members of Parliament have listed efforts, initiatives, and achievements taken by them to lessen the suffering caused due to the pandemic in their respective communities.
The book that goes by the name ‘Members of Lok Sabha standing with the citizens’ innovation and best practices during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-21)’, contains work accentuated by the elected representatives of the Lower House. It will soon be uploaded on the Lok Sabha website.
West Bengal MP Joynagar Pratima Mondal, in her account, has provided details on her work during two devastating cyclones – Amphan and Yaas, which caused massive destruction in the coastal regions of Odisha and West Bengal, during the second wave of COVID-19. Although the frequency of cyclone formation has increased over time in the northern Indian Ocean region, the TMC MP talks about her relief work during the crisis in detail.
Mondal, in her list of achievements, primarily focused on Mangrove Forest Restoration in the region. Mangroves act as barriers against the destructive force of cyclones, and therefore, protecting them has become a matter of concern. Mondal’s list of achievements turned out to be all-inclusive of public awareness campaigns, putting legislative measures in place, and planting more than 10,000 mangrove saplings.
Next on the list was BJP MP from Sasaram Bihar, Chhedi Paswan, who mentioned a donation of Rs 1 crore to the MPLAD scheme (a scheme under which MPs may pitch development strategies and programs to the central government, procuring Rs 5 crores every year, further investing the amount in their communities). According to a report by the Print, Paswan also talks about his personal contribution of Rs 1 lakh to the PM’s National Relief Fund. Reportedly, he also invited people to use the Aarogya Setu application, which was listed among one of his important achievements in the document.
As of now, the book has been circulated to all the MPs for review and further correction, and will be available to the public in due course. In the document, notably, the most-common element mentioned by the BJP MPs was delivering relief material to those in need, which was further exemplified under the name of PM Narendra Modi.
South Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri, for instance, stated that he delivered around 21,000 ‘Modi Kits’ consisting of ration and other essential supplies to families who couldn’t afford it. He also highlighted providing cooked food to nearly 1,51,000 needy people through 21 ‘Modi Kitchens’. These kitchens were instituted in his constituency during the pandemic.
Carrying forward the idea of relief work under the PM’s name, Vadodara MP Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt declared the setting up of NaMo COVID isolation centres and the distribution of ration kits to railway porters. The common factor between most of the BJP MPs was the mention of the ‘Seva hi Sangathan’ programme – calling it one of their best practises.
During the second COVID wave, the severe shortage of oxygen in the country was indicative of the healthcare ecosystem of India. Undeniably, the pandemic has affected the global network supply chains – from medical equipment to items vital to businesses. But whether the disruption in supply is the only reason for the shortage will remain a matter of debate.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, in his declaration, mentioned purchasing a Thermal Imaging Camera for the Thiruvananthapuram airport. In his list, dialysis kits, infrared thermometers, and RT-PCR testing kits were given priority in terms of alleviating suffering in his constituency.
MP Jugal Kishore Sharma from Jammu talked about the allocation of Rs 1 crore to MPLAD funds for the installation of oxygen plants and ensuring their proper functioning in the Sama and Rajouri regions.
Furthermore, adding to the list of MPs who mentioned their achievements in the medical sector, Jalore (Rajasthan) MP Devji Patel and Bargarh (Odisha) MP Suresh Kumar talked about the import of 50 oxygen cylinders from Singapore and the opening of oxygen banks, respectively.
