Give priority to weaker sections in Covid vaccination: Chhattisgarh CM to PM

In a letter to PM Modi, Bhupesh Baghel demanded on-site registration for the 18-44 age group in the manner it was for the above 45-year group. Baghel said they have sought 2.5 million doses of Covishield and Covaxin. Out of them, the state will get 300,000 doses in May

Updated on: Apr 30, 2021, 17:48:48 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that socially and economically weaker sections of the society should given priority in Covid-19 vaccination as there is a possibility that they may get deprived of it if only online registrations are allowed.

Chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel. (HT file)

He demanded on-site registration for the 18-44 age group in the manner it was for the above 45-year group. Baghel said they have sought 2.5 million doses of Covishield and Covaxin. Out of them, the state will get 300,000 doses in May.

Baghel urged that an order of priority in this age group should be set by the Government of India and added that the socially and economically weaker sections should be the first ones in line.

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On Thursday, the chief minister stated that according to an estimate, about 13 million people out of the 29 million population of Chhattisgarh are in the age group of 18-44 years, and as such, 26 million doses would be required for their vaccination. So far, 72% of the 5.87 million people of age 45 and above have been vaccinated.

“Including the frontline workers, more than 4.8 million people have been given the first dose of the vaccine and total 634,000 people have been the second dose. In this way, more than 5.4 million people have received the doses of the vaccine,” Baghel said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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