Rishikesh, Oct 7 (UNI) The world is watching how India is handling the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday as he dedicated 35 PSA oxygen plants to the nation, and lauded the efforts made by India through the Covid-19 pandemic in augmenting and creating health infrastructure like labs, oxygen supply and the ongoing vaccination program.
Speaking at an event at AIIMS Rishikesh, the Prime Minister also recalled that it was this day 20 years ago, he got a new responsibility to serve the public as the chief minister of Gujarat. "World is closely watching how India is facing the biggest challenge of 100 years (Covid-19 pandemic). The kind of facilities India created in limited time shows our capabilities," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said India created a network of labs, increased its oxygen production by almost ten times during the second wave, and is now running the world's "fastest and largest" vaccination program. He also said that the country's large population and diverse geography were major challenges.
"Work was done at war scale day and night. Wherever possible, oxygen plants and tankers were arranged. Special oxygen trains were run, Indian Air Force aircraft were used for transporting oxygen, PSA oxygen plants were built and funds were given for over one lakh oxygen concentrators," the Prime Minister said.
"For better preparedness in future, a network of PSA oxygen plants is being created under the PM Cares fund. Every district is now covered by Oxygen plants made under the PM Cares," Modi said.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation 35 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants established under PM CARES, across 35 States and Union Territories. According to an official statement, 1224 PSA Oxygen Plants have been funded under PM Cares all across the country, out of which more than 1,100 Plants have been commissioned, providing an output of over 1750 MT oxygen per day.
PSA technology of Oxygen production uses Zeolites Molecular Sieves to separate Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon, etc from ambient air to produce Oxygen that can be up to 96 per cent pure. The Prime Minister also said that he stated his public life on this day, 20 years ago, and his taking charge as chief minister of Gujarat came shortly after Uttarakhand was carved out as a separate state.
"My journey of serving the people, living among the people was going on for many decades, but 20 years ago today, I got a new responsibility as the chief minister of Gujarat. The beginning of this journey coincided with the formation of the Uttarakhand state as I took over as a CM a few months after that. I never imagined, with the blessings of the people, I would reach the position of the Prime Minister," he said.
Prime Minister Modi also expressed happiness that the oxygen plants are being dedicated to the nation from Uttarakhand, the land where life-giving forces like Yoga and Ayurveda gained strength. Talking about development in the state which is scheduled to go to polls next year, the Prime Minister mentioned how the AIIMS in Rishikesh made health care available to citizens in the mountain state. He also talked about the Jal Jeevan Mission, and said his government fulfilled the 40 years old demand for One Rank One Pension.
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