Corona effect: India to aid SAARC contain the contagion

Taking charge of the battle against Coronavirus in South Asia, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Sunday held a video conference with the leaders of SAARC member nations to exchange their views and share New Delhi’s experience in fighting the pandemic. Prime Minister suggested during the session to create an emergency fund to combat the coronavirus pandemic and pitched India’s initial offer of US$ 10 million for this fund. He also has also recommended the creation of a common research platform to synchronize research on controlling epidemic disease within the South Asian region.

“India has taken lead in tackling coronavirus. We heard of coronavirus for the first time from China on December 31 last year and by January 15, 2020, we had started the screening process at airports. This was followed by the suspension of visas and OCI card. Then, we carried out the evacuation, setting an example for the world, given that the initiative emanated from India,” government sources told media. New Delhi has been successful so far in evacuating a total of 766 people from China, 124 from Japan, 336 from Iran, and 218 from Italy.