First coverage shift in 16 yrs: India open to international assist, okay to purchasing from China

In what marks a significant shift in coverage in 16 years, India has now began accepting items, donations and assist from international nations because the nation reels underneath an enormous scarcity of oxygen, medication and associated tools amid a surge in Covid instances.
There have been two different adjustments in method that sign this shift. India now has “no conceptual problem” in procuring oxygen-related tools and life-saving medicines from China, a supply mentioned, including that on Pakistan, New Delhi has nonetheless not made up its thoughts on whether or not to simply accept assist — although it’s unlikely to simply accept it. Besides, state governments are additionally free to obtain these life-saving units and medicines from international companies, and the Central authorities won’t are available in the best way.
All these three parts add as much as a big change in New Delhi’s technique, which normally stresses on self-reliance and its personal emerging-power picture. It’s a marked change from the coverage of the final 16 years, for the reason that UPA authorities underneath Manmohan Singh determined to not settle for assist from international sources.
Until then, India had accepted assist from international governments — Uttarkashi earthquake (1991), Latur earthquake (1993), Gujarat earthquake (2001), Bengal cyclone (2002) and Bihar floods (July 2004).
It was within the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami that then PM Manmohan Singh famously mentioned, “We feel that we can cope up with the situation on our own and we will take their help if needed.” It was a “watershed moment” for India’s catastrophe assist coverage.
That set the coverage and within the final 16 years, India has refused international assist after the Uttarakhand floods in 2013, the Kashmir earthquake in 2005, and Kashmir floods in 2014.
As not too long ago as August 2018, within the aftermath of the Kerala floods, when the state authorities mentioned the UAE had supplied Rs 700 crore as flood aid, the Centre had dominated out any worldwide assist and had made it clear that it could meet the state’s necessities for aid and rehabilitation by way of “domestic efforts”. This place had led to a significant row between the Centre and the state authorities.
So far, greater than 20 international locations have come ahead to assist India — from neighbours to main powers. While Bhutan will provide oxygen, the US is prone to share AstraZeneca vaccines subsequent month.
Among the international locations which are sending help are the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Ireland, Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden, Australia, Bhutan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Italy and the UAE.
There was a sign of this shift final 12 months when India determined to simply accept contributions from overseas, “irrespective of nationalities”, to the newly established PM-CARES fund.

New Delhi, nevertheless, doesn’t acknowledge the change in method, with sources stating that these usually are not donations or assist. They say India has not made an “appeal” for assist, and that these are procurement choices. “If some governments or private entities want to donate as a gift, we accept it with gratitude,” a supply mentioned.
The Indian authorities is asking all international governments and companies to donate to the Indian Red Cross Society, after which an Empowered Group will take a name on how one can ship them ahead, sources mentioned.
Sources additionally level out that these items and donations from international governments have been coming as a return of favour for the emergency medical provides — from hydroxychloroquine to vaccines — that India despatched them. India despatched about 6.5 crore vaccines to greater than 80 international locations.

New Delhi’s nuanced change in method in direction of procuring emergency provides from China, particularly oxygen-related units, is important contemplating the 2 international locations have been at loggerheads over the border standoff.
Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong confirmed that 25,000 oxygen concentrators could be equipped to India. “Chinese medical suppliers are working overtime on orders from India. At least 25,000 orders for oxygen concentrators in recent days. Cargo planes are under plan for medical supplies. Chinese customs will facilitate relevant processes,” the envoy tweeted.
In New Delhi, sources mentioned procurement is going on from China, and there’s “no conceptual problem”.