New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, during his address at the joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament on Friday, admired the ‘timely decision’ taken by the Centre amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘that saved the lives of lakhs of citizens’.

He also mentioned that the caseload in the country is decreasing at full tilt. Kovind paid his heartiest tribute to the frontline workers who gave their lives to fight the deadly virus.

“Joint sitting of Parliament amid Corona pandemic is essential. It’s a new year, a new decade and we are also entering into the 75th year of independence. Today all MPs are present here with a message and trust that however tough be the challenge neither we nor India will stop. In this fight against the pandemic, we lost many citizens. Former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away in this Corona period. Six MPs left us untimely due to COVID. I pay my tribute to all of them”, said the President.

Adding, “I am satisfied that the timely decision taken by my Government saved the lives of lakhs of citizens. Today the number of new COVID cases is going down rapidly. The number of recoveries is very high”.

Kovind also remarked on the nationwide inoculation drive, that began on January 16, stating – “It is a matter of pride that India is running the biggest vaccination program in the world. Both vaccines of this program are made in India. In this crisis, India shouldered its responsibility towards mankind and provided lakhs of doses of vaccines to several nations”. He asserted that the Central Government has done immense improvement in the health sector since the time the ruling party has come to power.