On Friday, Rajasthan has tightened restrictions amid a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases.
The Rajasthan government Sunday decided to innoculate those above 18 years of age for free. The move will cost Rs 3,000 crore to the state exchequer, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said.
Announcing the decision on Twitter, Ashok Gehlot also raised the issue of additional financial burden on states.
"The state government will provide free coronavirus vaccine to all people above 18 years of age in the state at the cost of about Rs 3,000 crore," Ashok Gehlot said in a tweet in Hindi.
He also said it would have been better if the Centre had agreed to incur the cost of vaccination for the 18-45 age category, as demanded by state governments.
For the past several days, Ashok Gehlot has been demanding the Centre bear the cost of vaccination of those above 18 years of age.
During a video conference with PM Modi recently, Ashok Gehlot had raised this issue.
In his tweet on Sunday too, he said, "It would have been better had the Centre, as demanded by state governments, met the cost of vaccinating the 18-45 age group, as it did in the case of those above 45 and 60."
This would have saved states'' budget from getting disturbed," he said.
On Friday, Rajasthan has tightened restrictions amid a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases. The state government said all markets will remain shut through the weekend.
The order said the shops selling essentials can remain open between 6 am and 11 am; banks and insurance firms from 10 am to 2 pm; animal fodder outlets, agricultural produce stores, and dairies and milk shops from 6 am to 11 am. The last two, though, can remain open again from 5 pm to 7 pm.
The 6 am-11 am window is also for vegetable vendors and door-to-door deliveries. Petrol pumps and LPG distribution will remain open from 7 am to 12 pm.
The government asked people not to travel in vehicles but walk to the nearest market for supplies.
Processed food vendors, bakeries, restaurants, and sweets shops can only make home deliveries.
Weddings and related events are to be held on the same day, each event lasting no longer than three hours, and with only 50 guests.
The government said people can drive out in their personal vehicles only during emergencies. District-to-district travel is barred unless, again, it's an emergency.
Vaccinations will be opened to all above 18 from May 1, the government on Monday announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of meetings over India's response to record daily surges in Covid cases.
India's coronavirus cases and deaths hit a new record today with 3.49 lakh fresh infections, taking the caseload to 1.69 crore; 2,767 people died in the last 24 hours.