Govt fund created to fight COVID-19 swells

Kathmandu, Mar 24

Various organisations and individuals have pledged their support to the government fund created to collect money to prevent and combat COVID-19.

The main opposition party Nepali Congress has decided to contribute 15-day salary of its lawmakers at the Federal Parliament.

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) and Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal have decided to contribute Rs. 10 million each to the fund. 

The government had established 'Coronavirus Infection Prevention, Control and Treatment Fund' with Rs. 500 million seed money and urged one and all on Friday to deposit contributions to its bank account 196000001101 in Rastriya Banijya Bank to assist in the fight against COVID-19.

Issuing a statement on Tuesday, NC Chief Whip Balkrishna Khan welcomed the government decision of 'lockdown' and announced the contribution.

Chair and vice-chair of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives had announced to contribute a month's salary to the fund.

Likewise, President of Rastriya Janata Party Raj Kishor Yadav has pledged a month's salary to the fund.

National Cooperative Bank Limited has pledged Rs. 1.1 million to the fund and appealed its member cooperation ogranisations to support the government in the initiative.

Rajendra Kumar Poudel, Joint-Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, said that many individuals, companies and organisations had pledged their contributions to the fund, but the details were unknown since the bank remained close on Tuesday.

"The details of the money and contributions to the fund will be made public from Wednesday," he said.

Meanwhile, Deurali Janta Pharmaceuticals has pledged 400,000 Hyquin 200 (Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate Tablet) worth Rs. 4.8 million free of cost to the government for the treatment of COVID-19 infected people. It said that various international research publications have said that the medicine helps in the speedy recovery of the COVID-19 infected patients.

Province Initiatives

State – 1 government  has established a Rs. 100 million 'Public Safety Fund' for the control and prevention of the coronavirus. It has also established a Corona Information Desk at the Chief Minister's Office.

Chief Minister, ministers and state ministers have pledged their one month salary to the fund.

Similarly, Sudurpaschim State government has also established Rs. 115 million corona fund. An emergency meeting of the State Cabinet has also decided to provide Rs. 30 million to the local units as conditional grant.

Restriction to other funds

Amidst the announcement of funds for coronavirus by various organisations, the federal government has issued a restriction on establishing such funds.

A meeting of the High-Level Committee on Coronavirus Prevention, Control Committee on Tuesday has issued the restrictions.

The government has established 'Coronavirus Infection Prevention, Control and Treatment Fund', therefore, other agencies or orgnisations should not create funds for the same purpose, reads the decision.

However, in terms of organisational fund, the committee has allowed them to collect money from the individuals affiliated to the organisation.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 March 2020.