Ensure COVID Does Not Hit Villages: PM Narendra Modi Tells Panchayats
NEW DELHI/ RANCHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for ensuring that the second wave of COVID-19 is stopped from spreading to villages “by all means.
Every person in rural areas is vaccinated, as he noted that the challenge before the country at present is bigger than last year. Appreciating the role of panchayats in the management of coronavirus, especially in creating awareness, PM Modi asked the local leadership to work towards “complete implementation of guidelines” that are being issued from time to time.
Appreciating the role of panchayats in the management of coronavirus, especially in creating awareness, Modi asked the local leadership to work towards “complete implementation of guidelines” that are being issued from time to time. “I have this confidence that if someone is going to emerge victorious first in this fight against the coronavirus, it is going to be India”s villages, the leadership of these villages.The people of the villages will show the way to the country and the world,” the prime minister said.
Modi was speaking at a virtual event to launch the distribution of e-property cards under the ”SWAMITVA” scheme on the National Panchayati Raj Day. Chief ministers of eight states and a large number of local body representatives were also connected to the event virtually. Underlining that the pandemic was prevented from affecting rural areas last year, he exuded confidence that the success can be replicated as the local leadership now has experience as well as knowledge.
Emphasizing the need to get vaccinated, PM Modi said, “This time we have the shield of vaccine. We have to ensure that every person in the village is vaccinated and every precaution is taken.” He also stressed the need for precaution along with vaccination and said, “Right now, the mantra of the panchayats should be dawai bhi, kadai bhi” (medicine as well as strictness).
To help the poor during this period, the Centre has decided to provide them free ration for May and June, the prime minister noted, adding this will benefit over 80 crore people and cost the government ₹ 26,000 crore. “It is our responsibility that in these difficult times, no family should go hungry,” PM Modi said. “Our effort is that villages of modern India should be capable and self-reliant,” he said. The scheme will cover around 6.62 lakh villages of the entire country between 2021 and 2025, it said.
The Covid 19 cases are being increasingly reported from small towns and rural areas, indicating community transmission and current strategy of ‘trace, test and treat’ not much beneficial in combating the pandemic. Infection in Ramgarh district in the past 24 hours. Similarly, in the last 24 hour 542 fresh cases were reported from Ramgarh district.
As per health department bulletin, the infection has spread in all 24 districts of Jharkhand, while some of least infected such as Pakur with around 125 active cases and four deaths, while district such as East Singhbhum having around 5200 active cases and accounting for more than 460 deaths since the pandemic broke out last March. Ranchi accounts for highest active cases.
Smaller towns witnessing spread of infection much more as compared to previous year are Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Koderma, and West Singhbhum among others. Indian Medical Association (IMA) State Secretary, Dr Pradeep Kumar Singh said, “Compared to previous year, this year the spread of coronavirus is much contagious. The virus’ mutation is fast as compared to last year. The best way to prevent the infection is remaining safe and vaccinated.”
The virus has spread in rural areas as most rural communities rely on untrained health workers. Over two-thirds of these rural health providers have no formal medical training but remain the only option of medical support for most of the rural population. But now, the State government and Indian Medical Association have joined hands to check the spread of infection in districts. On Friday, a high level meeting of IMA officials with State Health Secretary (in-charge) Arun Kumar Singh was held.
(Bureau Report with Agency Inputs).
