New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) After declaring face masks and hand sanitisers under essential commodities, the government has now fixed the prices of these items, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has said in a tweet.
He said that since the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Indian market has seen a huge surge in the prices of various face masks and hand sanitizers. Therefore, the government has fixed the prices of two-ply and three-ply surgical masks and hand sanitizers.
Ram Vilas Paswan✔@irvpaswan
कोरोना वायरस #COVID19 के फैलने के बाद से बाजार में विभिन्न फेस मास्क, इसके निर्माण में लगने वाली सामग्री और हैंड सेनिटाइजर की कीमतों में बेतहाशा वृद्धि देखी गई है। सरकार ने इसे गंभीरता से लेते हुए इनकी कीमतें तय कर दी हैं। 1/3 @drharshvardhan @narendramodi #IndiaFightsCorona
Paswan said, “Under the Essential Commodities Act, the prices of fabric used two-ply and three-ply surgical masks will remain the same as it was on February 12, while the retail prices of three-ply masks will be at Rs 8 per mask and not exceed Rs 10.”
The Union Minister said, “The retail price of a 200 ml bottle of hand sanitizer will not exceed Rs 100. Other sizes of bottles will also be priced in the same proportion. These prices will be applicable throughout the country till June 30, 2020.”
Coronavirus has claimed lives of over 10,000 people worldwide and four in India.
Original story
Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan advises medicos to sell masks and sanitizers at proper rates
New Delhi: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan advises state government to look into black marketeering of face masks and hand sanitizers. Paswan also advises medical stores to provide the following essential items at rates fixed by the government.
The items are:
1: Sanitizer of 200 ml to be sold at Rs 100
2: A face mask of 2 layers to cost 8 rupees
3: A face mask of 3 layers to cost 10 rupees
The production cost of face masks is to remain the same as it was before 12th February and will remain same till 30th June. In the wake of past coronavirus situation, medical shops sold sanitisers and masks at inflated prices. News of medical shops black-marketeering essential items also surfaced in the news.
Prasanta Patnaik