Page 74 - COVID Newsletter 11 June

PM CARES for Children: Empowerment of COVID-affected children
launched
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired an important meeting to discuss and deliberate on steps which can be taken to support children who have lost their parents due to COVID-19. PM announced a number of benefits to children impacted by the current COVID pandemic. While announcing these measures the Prime Minister emphasized that children represent the future of the country, and the country will do everything possible to support and protect the children so that they develop as strong citizens and have a bright future. He said that in such trying times it is our duty, as a society, to care for our children and instil hope for a bright future. All children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian/adoptive parents due to COVID-19 will be supported under ‘PM-CARES for Children’ scheme. He also added that the measures being announced have only been possible due to the generous contributions to the PM-CARES Fund which will support India’s fight against COVID-19.
The ‘PM-CARES for Children’ scheme will include:
• Fixed Deposit in the name of the child
• School Education: For children under 10 years
• School Education: for children between 11-18 years
• Support for Higher Education
• Health Insurance
Website link:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1722719
DST-supported SAIF facility at Panjab University partners with
Molekule, USA to donate air purification units to hospitals in India
COVID wards and ICUs at several hospitals in Chandigarh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh will soon be able to improve their ventilation facilities with the help of air purification units from a US-based company through an effort by Panjab University.
Department of Science and Technology-supported Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility, Panjab University Chandigarh (SAIF, PUC) has collaborated with Molekule, a USA-based air purifying manufacturer, to assemble and optimise Molekule’s air purifiers in about 10 hospitals. So far this activity is still going on and the number is likely to change with progress of this work.
The partnership has led to donation of air purifiers Molekule & Air Pro RX units to hospitals across the country. Nearly 6 states have been covered till date, with efforts going on to cover most of the Covid-affected states of India to help aid in the battle against the virus and provide patients, doctors, and staff with much-needed clean air.
Installation of the air purifier will help prevent transmission of COVID-19 through exposure to aerosolized respiratory droplets by facilitating adequate indoor air purification and ventilation in the hospitals. It can help address concerns to the health of citizens and healthcare workers arising on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Molekule’s core technology, Photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO), is designed to destroy airborne pollutants like viruses, bacteria, mould, or chemicals in the air known as Volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Tests on PECO for these Molekule Air purifiers indicate up
to 99.99% inactivation of coronavirus strains (porcine & bovine) and H1N1 flu virus, up to
VOL. IV ISSUE 4
VIGYAN PRASAR 70
NATION’S S&T EFFORTS AGAINST COVID-19