New Delhi: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has stated that they are ready to contribute an additional 1 per cent over and above the 2 per cent of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the National Immunization Mission.
The national industry body has suggested the government to charge an additional 1 per cent for a period of one year in the upcoming Union Budget to encourage companies to spend on COVID-19 booster doses.
CII, in its recommendations, has urged the state governments to lift restrictions on economic activities, as the occupancy rate of hospital beds due to the omicron version of COVID is within manageable levels.
According to CII, the upcoming Union Budget is expected to focus on measures to strengthen the economic recovery during the third wave of the pandemic.
CII President TV Narendran said, “We recommend adding an additional 1 per cent to the CSR requirements in the budget for a specified period of 12 months, so as to provide boosters for all age groups. In fact, our recommendation was this. that if companies spend on vaccines for their employees, their families and community members, that expenditure can be adjusted against this additional CSR spend.”
Narendran said, “The hospitalization rate in the current wave is at a manageable level and hence, the industry feels that the restrictions related to COVID may be lifted to continue with the robust recovery process. Our previous recommendations in this regard got the support of the government and we are grateful to the Prime Minister for that. CII has written to chief ministers to consider micro containment zones only when the hospitalization rate is more than 75 per cent. with a low level of hospitalization omicron It is possible to maintain normal economic activities and protect lives and livelihoods.”
With regard to investment revival, the CII President said, “Investments under the National Infrastructure Pipeline and Gati Shakti Program should be fast-tracked and hopefully the budget will provide for it. will be reduced.”
CII has written to the Chief Ministers of the states giving suggestions regarding the level of restrictions on markets and factories.
The industry body has also requested the government to expedite the import of all internationally accepted mRNA and protein-based vaccines at the price fixed by the government. This will open up a booster shot to all sections of the society.
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