Remote areas

While there are nine teaching positions, only three teachers are doubling up classes at the school.

Yalam Primary School head teacher, Chillen Wailipe, told the East New Britain Provincial Government delegation, led by Provincial Member Michael Marum, that this has been an issue for the past couple of years.

Dr Samiran Panda said drones are being used to deliver doses in mountainous states in the country's north-east.

India aims to vaccinate all eligible citizens by the end of 2021 but experts say the drive needs to pick up a consistent pace to meet the target.

India has so far given more than 925 million doses of three approved jabs.

About 70% of the country's eligible population have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, according to official data.