COVID-19 patients, NGOs struggle to refill oxygen cylinders
The Hindu
Oxygen plants are prioritising requests from hospital after authorities crack down on hoarding
Families of patients, who are dependent on oxygen cylinders at home, as well as non-government organisations and volunteer networks, who provide this service to individuals, are finding it increasingly difficult to get their cylinders filled. One of the reasons is a decision taken by the authorities to crack down on people hoarding oxygen cylinders and streamline supply to hospitals. Oxygen plants have been told not to fill empty cylinders brought by individuals. However, this measure has caused inconvenience to those who are genuinely in need of oxygen and getting treated at home. “Through our network, we have been supplying cylinders for those in need. For the last few days, individuals going to the plant to refill cylinders are facing problems. The staff of some plants are asking people to produce discharge letters from hospitals to refill cylinders or letters from doctors,” said Sabeen Nazir from Naasih Foundation.A crowd comprising farmers, researchers, professors, students, and horticulture enthusiasts thronged the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hesaraghatta, Bengaluru, on Friday for the inaugural ceremony of the Triphal Diversity Show which showcased 300 mango, 100 jackfruit, and 100 banana genotypes in collaboration with ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli.
The State government on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional Director-General of Police, Manish Kharbikar of the Economic Offences division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the alleged multi-crore scam in the government-run Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.