Amid a raging COVID-19 pandemic, the Narendra Modi-led Central government has plans to augment the ranks of COVID warriors by encouraging, through incentives, medical and nursing students to join the battle against the virus, say sources.

Also read: UP ambulance driver arranges oxygen for patient, administration files case against him

In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, it was decided that services of final year MBBS and nursing students would be used for COVID duty. “Those medical personnel doing Covid duty will be given preference in Government recruitment as well as a financial incentive,” reports ANI quoting government sources.

India is grappling with a tidal wave of COVID-19 infections that has left the country’s health infrastructure hugely burdened. Shortage of drugs, hospital beds and oxygen have wreaked havoc in the country with close to  4 lakh cases being reported in the past two consecutive days.

The meeting was convened amid reports that health personnel in several parts of the country were feeling overwhelmed due to the COVID situation. Testing facilities are also stretched due to the massive surge in virus cases.

Among other things, discussions were also held on the possibility of delaying NEET, the agency added. The virtual meeting between the Prime Minister and domain experts was meant to review oxygen and medicine availability.

This comes on the day Centre told the Supreme Court that a total of 122 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine would be required to vaccinate a population of 59 crore in the age group of 18 to 45 years.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Centre said vaccination is the topmost priority of the government and all efforts are being made to achieve an objective of 100 per cent vaccination in the shortest time possible keeping the available resources in mind and availability of vaccine doses into consideration.

Also read: Delhi records 412 deaths in highest single-day rise, over 25,000 new cases

With 392,488 new cases, the country’s total tally has reached 19,557,457. With 3,689 deaths in the past 24 hours, the toll has risen to 215,542.