In a bid to protect thousands of Customs Brokers, their staff and family members, Delhi Customs Brokers Association (DCBA) has organised a 4-day COVID-19 vaccination camp at New Customs House (NCH), near IGI Airport, New Delhi from June 15 to 18.
Supported by the Office of the Chief Commissioner of Customs (Delhi Zone), the vaccination camp is being conducted by Medanta Hospital.
The vaccination camp was inaugurated by Ranjana Jha, Chief Commissioner of Customs (Delhi Zone) along with Simmi Jain, Principal Commissioner of Customs, Air Cargo Import and Manish Kumar, Commissioner of Customs, Airport & General.
Customs Brokers are one of the vital components of the logistics & supply chain system and recognised as frontline warriors in respect of the fighting against COVID-19 pandemic through their immensely valuable services. Risking their lives, the Customs Brokers are working 24×7 to clear all urgent COVID-related cargo/material including Oxygen Concentrators, Oxygen Cylinders, ventilators, PPE kits, vaccines, etc. from airports, ports and ICDs.
Established in 1972 the Delhi Customs Brokers Association (earlier Delhi Customs Clearing Agents’ Association) at present has more than 1100 members and is active in Delhi NCR region to facilitate the international trade to and from this very crucial region as regard to the growth of exim trade of the country is concerned.
Highlighting the urgent requirements of the vaccination camp, Santosh Kumar Choudhary, Honorary Secretary DCBA informed that already a large number of Customs Brokers, their staff and family members got infected by the deadly coronavirus and several people including very young entrepreneurs have lost their lives from this sector.
“At this critical scenario, at present the only way out is to vaccinate the Customs Brokers community to keep the logistics/supply chain services unhindered,” he observed.
Choudhary further shared that responses from the CB community towards the vaccination drive has been tremendous and the same will be continued by organising more vaccination camps at different Customs locations/ICDs in Delhi NCR region the days to come. “Currently, more than 1000 people from the trade are being vaccinated in the first phase of this vaccination drive organised by the association.”
According to Choudhary, it could happen because of huge efforts of the entire Managing Committee of the association. The Managing Committee of DCBA includes Raman Raj Sud, President; Gurvinder Singh, Vice President; Santosh Choudhary, Hony Secretary; Rajbir Singh, Honorary Joint Secretary; Bhim Singh Jain, Honorary Treasurer; PS Atree, Advisor and Managing Committee Members- Anil Kumar Mishra; Davender Lal Pipil; Devendra Singh Bhadoria; Mahendra Singh Yadav; Rajiv Kumar Sharma; Rohit Kapoor; Vaneet Aggarwal; Vijay Raghavan; Vikrant Gogia; and Yogesh Kumar.
Prior to organising the event DCBA launched a massive campaign among its members highlighting the importance of vaccination to fight the deadly coronavirus. The association’s sensitisation programme propagated the slogans: “Don’t Pretend, Serve Mankind”, “Don’t wait, Come to Be Vaccinated”, “Vaccines Are Safe for All”, “Baju Dikhao, COVID Hatao”. Leave Fear My Dear, Fight Together”, etc.
