TN reaches out to US civil rights chief to assist state with vaccine supply- The New Indian Specific
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has reached out to US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson (Sr) to ensure that at least 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines are shipped to India from the US’s excess reserves at the earliest.
In an appeal to Jackson on the instructions of CM MK Stalin, Treasury Secretary Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan held a zoom call meeting on May 21, urging Jackson to urge US President Joe Biden to rapidly release an allocation of AstraZeneca vaccines for India (including a part of the 80 million vaccines the US is for have offered to donate abroad, according to a statement by the Rainbow Push Coalition.
In the statement quoting the finance minister that, for some inexplicable reason, Tamil Nadu has received a very low allocation of vaccines relative to its population (6.5% versus about 16.5% in Gujarat for example). It appears that additional grants are not likely in the future either. The only way to reduce the risk is therefore to buy a large number of vaccines from abroad, he said.
The finance minister said Tamil Nadu has the best medical infrastructure, with one doctor per 300-400 people and access to basic health care in almost every village. This can ensure that AstraZeneca mass vaccinations are effectively administered in a timely manner, he said.
On Monday, Jesse Jackson Sr. delivered a personal message to the Chief Minister: “Help is on the way. We stand by your side. Keep hope alive. We will do our best to ensure that Tamil Nadu State receives its fair share.” . ” soon from covid vaccines. “
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According to a release from the Rainbow Push Coalition, Jackson Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow Push Coalition, camped with Dr. Vijay G Prabhakar, National Chairman of the American Association of Multi Ethnic Physicians, USA, and Rainbow Push Coalition Global Ambassador in Washington to ensure vaccines are shipped to India.
Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, global ambassador and president of the Rainbow Push Coalition of the World Federation of Tamil Nadu, told the Treasury Secretary that Jackson Sr. is in contact with U.S. President and Vice President Kamala Harris to help Indian state governments buy AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines from the manufacturers.
It is known that during the interaction, the Treasury Secretary explained the history and development of the Dravidian movement in South India and drew a parallel with the US civil rights movement. He expressed his deep respect and admiration for Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s lifelong civil rights endeavors, and as the fourth generation of his family to advocate the Dravidian ideals of social justice and inclusive growth, declared it was a great one Privilege to meet and work with the Reverend Jackson Sr. on this initiative.
Parthiban Shanmugam, General Secretary, World Association of Tamil Youth, Atlanta, Georgia, Padmanabhan Venkatesan, Treasurer, World Association of Tamil Youth, Phoenix, Arizona, Alli Dhanaraj, Deputy Secretary General, World Association of Tamil Youth, Neperville, Illinois, Vijayakumar Jaganathan, Executive Vice President, World Association of Tamil Youth, Indian Chapter, Bangalore, India, and Shree Gurusamy, Chairman of Human Services, Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force of US Congressman Danny K. Davis, attended the Zoom meeting.
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