NEW DELHI: The
home ministry
has approved Y-category security for vaccine-maker
Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla across the country, based on his latest threat perception.
The
CRPF will be handling his security detail.
SII is making and supplying
Covishield vaccine and is one of the two domestic companies, the other being Bharat Biotech, whose vaccines against Covid are currently being administered in India.
Sources confirmed that
MHA
had approved Y category security by the CRPF to the SII boss. “MHA has asked CRPF for a report on manpower and other logistics for his security cover. CRPF will be sending the report to MHA and shall soon take over his security detail,” an officer told TOI.
Only on Wednesday, Poonawalla had announced on Twitter that he would supply vaccines to the states at a reduced price of Rs 300 per dose. “As a philanthropic gesture on behalf of @SerumInstIndia, I hereby reduce the price to the states from Rs 400 to Rs 300 per dose, effective immediately; this will save thousands of crores of state funds going forward. This will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives,” he tweeted.
Y category security involves static security by around 11 persons including CRPF commandos and police personnel.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Bharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. ...
Read MoreBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.
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