Page 33 - Covid 26 July 2021

TRIFED and UNICEF is leveraging 45,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras to promote COVID-19 vaccines among tribals to clear all vaccine related misconceptions
Shri Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs, virtually launched a nationwide campaign ‘COVID Teeka Sang Surakshit Van, Dhan aur Uddyam’ to accelerate the pace of COVID-19 vaccination among tribals, in India. The Minister of State for Steel, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste; Ministers of State for Tribal Affairs, Shri Bishweswar Tudu and Smt Renuka Singh too were present virtually during the launch. Other dignitaries present during the launch were Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED); WHO representative Dr Roderico Ofrin; UNICEF India representative Dr Yasmin Ali Haque; and senior officers of TRIFED as well as partners of Tribal Affairs Ministry and TRIFED in states.
Shri Munda launched the campaign through a video conferencing link-up with field camps in Mandla in Madhya Pradesh and Bastar in Chhattisgarh. During the launch, Bastar Collector Shri Rajat Bansal and Mandla District Collector Smt Harshika Singh gave details about the preparations for vaccination being done in their respective districts.
The campaign will leverage the 45,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVK) of the TRIFED, a national level cooperative body under the administrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
The campaign is being launched in partnership with UNICEF and WHO. The goal is to connect over 50 lakh tribals by emphasising that COVID-19 vaccination is free, available in the nearby centres and that it not only protects people from hospitalisation cost and death but also helps to continue with livelihood activities.
VOL. IV ISSUE 7
VIGYAN PRASAR 29
COVID-19 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS IN INDIA