COVID-19: Ladakh MP Namgyal releases Rs 1 cr from MPLADS fund, donates one month salary

Lakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal has sanctioned Rs 1 crore from his MPLS fund for both Leh and Kargil districts, besides donating his one month salary of Rs one lakh to PM Relief Fund in order to strengn ongoing fight against coronavirus.

Centre has recently changed guidelines to allow use of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLS) fund to supplement government's effort in battle against dely disease.

"Pandemic COVID 19 is creating a challenging situation world over. Considering pandemic situation has alrey reached Lakh with 13 positive cases (3 of m have resulted negative after treatment), I decided to sanction amount and donate salary," Namgyal told PTI on Monday.

He said Lakh being a landlocked region during long winter season and with current situation of suspension of airlines, it is facing acute short of essential medicines and or medical supplies.

"To keep all my people safe at this hour of need, I am trying my best to coordinate with all officials concerned at all levels and assisting ministration of Union Territory of Lakh with my all possible time, energy and efforts," Lok Sabha member said.

He said authorities are working on establishing a bio safety level-2 (BSL) (or BSL-3 Lab, if possible) laboratory in Lakh so that tests for COVID-19 can be conducted here.

"As of w, we are sending each of COVID-19 samples to Delhi for laboratory testing on daily basis," Namgyal said.

funds sanctioned by MP will be utilised by deputy commissioners of both districts of Lakh for purchasing equipment for establishment of bio safety level-3 testing laboratory and infra-red rmometers (n-contact), among ors.

Besides se, amount can be used for purchasing personal protection equipment (PPE) for medical personnel, rmal imaging scanners, coronavirus testing kits for airports of Leh, Kargil and Thoise, and Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh ros which allow detecting of temperature from a safe distance.

fund will be furr used to improve ventilators and isolation/quarantine wards.

Recently, Lakh MP played a pivotal role in evacuation of 577 stranded Muslim passengers from Iran. He also ensured that Lakh students who are stranded at various locations such as Dehrun, Jammu, Nagpur, Srinagar, Jammu, Gujarat, Bengaluru and Chandigarh, etc. amid 21-day lockdown get essential commodities.