<span style="color: #222222;">Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has requested the Central government to provide COVID vaccines for free of cost. On his twitter handle, Zoramthanga in a video message said that the pandemic put serious stress on the resources of the country and this has far more severe impacts on small states like Mizoram.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said buying vaccines for the 18-44 years age group puts more stress on meagre resources of the state.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Chief Minister Zoramthanga has also sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting for buying vaccines as per requirement by the central government and making equitable distribution to all states. Zoramthanga in his letter written to the Prime Minister requested for the central government to provide vaccines free of charge for the special category states like Mizoram.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He also mentioned that while most parts of India appear to have reached a stage where new cases of COVID-19 are declining, North East India is still witnessing an increased trend of new cases.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In the video of his speech on the twitter handle, Zoramthanga highlighted how the state as a whole has swung into action in the fight against the pandemic. The international borders are being managed by the youth volunteers to prevent illegal entry, setting up of Community COVID care centres in Church halls and community centres and aids given by Churches, and managing Covid care centres by the community people were outstanding, he said. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He also said that voluntary actions being discharged by the NGOs, youth volunteers and individuals in procuring, transporting and distributing foods and essentials to needy people and voluntary services being extended by many retired doctors, unemployed nurses, health workers are exemplary instances.</span><br />''  <br />