Mandaviya launches song, film as India hits Covid milestone

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stands near the world's largest khadi Tricolor in the premises of the historic Red Fort in New Delhi.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stands near the world's largest khadi Tricolor in the premises of the historic Red Fort in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI, Oct 21: As the cumulative vaccine doses administered in India surpassed the 100-crore mark, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday launched a song and a film describing the efforts that went behind the launch of the world’s largest Covid inoculation programme.
The Union Health minister launched the song and the film at the iconic Red Fort where the country’s largest khadi tricolour, weighing around 1,400 kg, has been displayed.
The same tricolour (225 feet by 150 feet) was unfurled on Gandhi Jayanti at Leh.
“Today India created history. It’s a story of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Sankalp’. 100 crore vaccine is a story of Atma Nirbhar Bharat,” Mandaviya said at the event.
The song has been sung by singer Kailash Kher.
The audio-visual film is about how the entire process of vaccination was initiated and what efforts it took to launch the world’s largest Covid inoculation programme.
The film also thanks doctors, nurses and everyone else who contributed in the largest vaccination drive and made it a success.
The flag was displayed at a raised slant platform at the lawn right in front of the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Over 75 per cent of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while over 31 percent have been administered both the doses, according to Unon health ministry officials.
To mark the milestone on the COVID-19 vaccination exercise, a series of events have also been lined up.
The Archaeological Survey of India will light up 100 of its heritage monuments in colours of the national flag to mark the milestone which will be a tribute to health professionals, frontline workers, scientists, vaccine manufacturers and the citizens of the country who bravely fought the pandemic, officials said on Thursday.
SpiceJet will unveil a special livery at the Delhi airport to celebrate the 100 crore vaccine milestone on Thursday.
“After 100 crore doses are administered, we will go on a mission mode to ensure that those who have taken their first dose take their second dose too to ensure they are protected against COVID-19,” Mandaviya had earlier said. (PTI)