July 8, 2021: In its very first meeting after being revamped, the Modi Cabinet on Thursday announced a mega Covid Emergency Response package of Rs 23,123 crore to bolster India’s fight against the deadly virus.

"The first package for the emergency Covid-19 response was Rs 15,000 crore. Now 23, 123 crore, allocated as emergency response to fight any future fight against Covid,"  Mansukh Mandaviya said briefing the media after taking over as the Health Minister of the country.

The announcement is a clear indication of the fact that Modi government’s focus and target is clear in its fight against Covid.

He said that 20,000 ICU beds would be set up and the money from the package would be used for getting critical medicines and infrastructure for Covid patients. The new Health Minister has urged the states to work faster and assured all help to the states.

This was the first Cabinet meeting after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reshuffled his Cabinet yesterday (Wednesday) and inducted 36 new faces and elevates seven ministers.  Mandaviya was made the Health Minister after Dr Harsh Vardhan resigned hours prior to the big rejig.