Keralaities have always stood together and shown solidarity at times of crisis. This was quite evident at times of 2018 and 2019 floods. The state now witness the same unity and solidarity when Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund started to flow with contributions for the #vaccinechallenge, a challenge in the social media asking those who received free Covid 19 vaccines in Kerala to donate the vaccine cost to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund
The #vaccinechallenge kick-started as a mark of protest against the Centre’s Covid vaccine policy and in support of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s assurance that vaccines will be provided free of cost to all in the state. Vijayan, among other Chief Ministers, had written to the Centre demanding free Covid 19 vaccines.
The #vaccinechallenge is finding vehement support with contributions pouring in from all quarters. The contribution for April 24 till 8.45 am was 34.51 Lakhs.
PROUD KERALITE
In a tweet, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “Proud as a Keralite; time and again we’ve stood united to protect one another. Contributions to CMDRF are flowing in from all quarters. Thank you! Request all – cutting across party barriers – to join this noble cause so that our land and its people can be saved.”
Proud as a Keralite; time and again we've stood united to protect one another. Contributions to CMDRF are flowing in from all quarters. Thank you!
Request all – cutting across party barriers – to join this noble cause so that our land and its people can be saved. pic.twitter.com/MxZefYRRcc
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) April 24, 2021
SOLIDARITY
Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac said in a tweet “in solidarity with the protests against Centres Vaccine Policy few youth launch a hashtag campaign to donate the cost of 2 doses to CMDRF ,while insisting on free vaccination.”
In solidarity with the protests against Centres Vaccine Policy few youth launch a hashtag campaign to donate the cost of 2 doses to CMDRF,while insisting on free vaccination.Within 24 hours ₹35 lakhs remitted.#vaccinechallenge
— Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) April 23, 2021
The Government had initiated the earlier challenges during the floods of 2018 an 2019. But this time, it is not the government but a few youths who initiated the challenge against the Centre’s vaccine policy.
DISPLAY
A dose of vaccine is fixed at Rs 400 in the state and as such, people who have taken the two doses are contributing the price of two doses to the CMDRF. Moreover, they also take the challenge to the social media by displaying the receipt.
