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(GIST OF YOJANA) Effective Allocation of Covid-19 supplies received from the Global Community

[June-2021]

Effective Allocation of Covid-19 supplies received from the Global Community

Introduction:

The global community has extended a helping hand in supporting efforts of Government of India in this collective fight against the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Medical equipment, medicines, oxygen concentrators, ventilators etc., are being provided by many countries. A streamlined and systematic mechanism for allocation of the support supplies received by India has been put into place, for effective distribution of the medical and other relief and support material.
The Indian Customs is sensitive to the need for availability of Covid-related imports including Oxygen & Oxygen related equipment etc., and are working 24X7 to fast track and clear the goods on arrival and lead to expeditious clearance within hours.

The steps taken for expeditious clearance on fast track basis are as follows:

The Goods are given high priority for clearance by the Customs Systems for processing over other goods.
Nodal Officers also gets alert on email for monitoring and clearance.
Monitoring by senior officers for pendency of Covid related imports is also being undertaken.
The handholding to the trade is given for complying with the requirements beforehand.
Outreach activities and Helpdesk enables Trade to get the goods cleared on arrival.
In addition to faster clearance, Indian customs has waived Basic Customs Duty and Health cess on goods identified for defending Covid. Effective Allocation of Covid-19 supplies received from the Global Community
When imported free of cost and distributed freely, based on the state govt. certification, IGST is also waived.
Further, for import of oxygen concentrators for personal use, IGST has been reduced from 28% to 12%.
The medical items started coming in as donations from different countries after the rise in sudden cases of Covid across the different parts of the country from the last week of April, via MEA. The materials are being given by countries due to the immediate and urgent requirements in different parts of the country. This help is over and above what Govt of India is already providing, and is thus an additionality for the states and UTs. Later on, supplies coming from private companies, entities etc also started routing through the Niti Aayog.
The Ministry of External Affairs is the nodal agency for channeling offers of help from foreign countries and coordinates with Missions abroad. The MEA has issued its own SOPs which are applicable across board.

Indian Red Cross Society:

For all consignments received via MEA and coming as donations from foreign countries; the consignee is the Indian Red Cross Society.
Upon receipt of the papers outlined in the process flow chart, IRCS issues the necessary certificates immediately to HLL for processing customs and regulatory clearances at Airports. IRCS also ensures liaison with MoHFW and HLL so that delays are reduced and quick turnarounds are achieved.