PRIME Minister of India, Narendra Modi, recently engaged heads of all Indian missions worldwide to discuss responses to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Consul General to Anguilla, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, participated in the video conference from the High Commission’s office in Georgetown.

Prime Minister Modi has instructed that all the country’s ambassadors and high commissioners should seek the interests of Indian citizens working and/or studying abroad, especially in a time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Modi noted that extraordinary times require extraordinary solutions, which was why even in this globalised era, most of the world had quarantined itself. This was an unavoidable step taken to fight this pandemic but it was also hugely consequential, as the closure of the globalised system has had an extensive and far-reaching impact upon the international transport system, financial markets and the global economy.

He said India had taken unprecedented and early steps in response to this pandemic from mid-January this year, to reduce the risk of importing the infection, and thereafter to prevent a large outbreak. This included the world’s largest quarantine and lock-down, implemented by India.

The heads of mission outlined their efforts to help Indians stranded abroad, in particular, students and workers. They also reported efforts to identify medicine, medical devices, technologies, research and other measures which might help in India’s own national effort to fight this pandemic. Heads of mission also reported lessons learned in other countries, and their best practices, in the global fight against COVID-19.

Heads of mission in the neighbouring countries of India underlined measures to assist the national responses of those countries, using the special fund created at India’s initiative for SAARC countries to combat COVID-19.

PM Modi emphasised that India’s missions abroad may well be far from home, but they remain full participants in India’s fight against the virus. He emphasised that the unity and alertness of all Indians would help safeguard the nation’s future. Prime Minister Modi complimented heads of mission for their efforts to evacuate Indians stranded abroad in some of the epicenters of the crisis.