India reduced risk of importing infection preventing large outbreak', PM extols Heads of Indian Mission

New Delhi, March 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi while interacting with all the Indian India’s Embassies and High Commissions urged them to ensure the health and safety of Indians residing in various countries who are unable to return back to India due to travel restrictions. He had held a video conference to discuss responses to the global COVID-19 pandemic on Monday.

 

PM Modi noted that extraordinary times require extraordinary solutions, which was why even in this globalized era most of the world had quarantined itself, despite the fact that it has extensive and far-reaching impact on the global economy. He addressed all the ambassadors and high commissioners followed by brief remarks by envoys, mainly from countries most affected by the coronavirus.

 

 

 

 

While PM Modi appreciated their efforts to evacuate Indians stranded abroad in some of the epicenters of the crisis, he also urged them to ensure their health and safety, and that of their teams and families. He also called on them to assist Indians, arranging shelter wherever possible, as well as address other issues arising from their unplanned stay in these countries.

 

He asked them to attend to Indians in various countries, given the travel restrictions. He called on them to boost the morale of Indians abroad, and arrange shelter, wherever necessary and feasible. He told them to identify the best practices, innovations, scientific breakthroughs and sources to procure medical equipment for India’s fight against Covid -19. He also advised Heads of Mission to suitably publicize the newly-established PM-CARES Fund to mobilize donations from abroad.

 

Since this crisis also impacts upon the economy, PM Modi advised Heads of Mission to also focus on ensuring that commerce in essential supplies, logistics chains, remittances and so on are unaffected, through their coordination with foreign partners. PM also exhorted them to continue to pay close attention to evolving international political and economic situations, especially in the context of the pandemic.

 

According to the source, 10 Indian envoys from Beijing, Washington DC, Tehran, Rome, Berlin, Kathmandu, Abu Dhabi, Kabul, Male, and Seoul were allowed to speak given the limited time available. While the envoys shared feedback regarding the appreciation in how India is combatting the pandemic, all 10 of them had their inputs.

 

Indian Ambassador to Germany, Mukta Dutta Tomar mentioned a crucial aspect of how Berlin has fought the pandemic way better than any other European nation. Mukta also highlighted the low mortality rate and what India can learn from them, how India can utilize non-pharma industrial units to produce ventilators as Germany has done.

 

 

Moreover, Indian envoy to Washington DC, Taranjit Singh Sandhu acknowledged the US's technological help in fighting the Covid-19. The US has the largest number of cases. He also spoke of steps taken to look after stranded Indians, said sources.

 

 

Iran and Italy witnessed the worst crisis and the largest evacuation operations. Indian envoy to Italy, Reenat Sandhu spoke of steps being taken to look after the Indian community and lessons learned from Italy's experience.

 

 

PM Modi emphasized that India's missions abroad may well be far from home, but they remain full participants in India's fight against coronavirus. He emphasized that the unity and alertness of all Indians would help safeguard the nation's future.