Shawdesh Desk:

In a major breakthrough, the Delhi government has decided to nominate only doctors and paramedic staffs in the capital for the Padma awards, one of the highest civilian awards in India.

The nominations would be given in recognition of the service they have rendered during the Covid-19 pandemic that created havoc across the country taking the lives of nearly 4.24 lakh and infecting over 3.16 crore people in India.

The state assembly on Friday, in the second and last day of the monsoon session, unanimously passed a resolution in favour of nominating only doctors and paramedic staffs in the capital for the awards.

“It is our responsibility to deliver a message of respect to doctors, paramedics and healthcare workers for the service they have rendered during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the assembly.

Besides, on July 5, Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to consider awarding the Bharat Ratna collectively to the doctors’ community in India.

Every year, the central government invites nominations from states for Padma awards, one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.

According to a recent report of Indian Medical Association (IMA), more than 1100 doctors across India have lost their lives at the battle against coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic.

Of the total, 420 doctors including 100 in Delhi succumbed to the coronavirus disease in the second wave of the pandemic while 748 died during the first wave in 2020, the IMA report said.

The Padma Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service).