Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held video interactions with Chief Ministers to find ways to contain further spread of coronavirus and affirmed that efforts of last few weeks of unlock-1 have made “ green shoots” visible in country’s economy.
This was Modi’s sixth video-conference with CMs, Lt Governors and administrators of 21 States and Union territories. The PM held that during the re-opening of the activities Indian experience has been much better than many other countries across the globe.
He said death due to Covid-19 has been the lowest in the country and recovery rate has gone up to 50 per cent. The Prime Minister, however, told Chief Ministers that need for maintaining new safety norms is far greater now and the principle of “do gaj ki doori” should be followed with all sanctity.
Upset about deaths due to the coronavirus, Modi took feedback from CMs on the unlock-1 and asked them to suggest changes needed in countering Covid-19 with the hindsight of their experiences in containing the pandemic.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh suggested to the Prime Minister to set up a Group, which should include a few Chief Ministers to discuss and formulate a coordinated Centre-State response to the devastating impact of Covid on the economy and Governments across the country.
Modi, in turn, hailed Punjab’s Covid-19 Model and asked other states to adopt Punjab’s COVID combat model of micro-containment and house-to-house surveillance.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister again pointed out the importance of wearing masks, regular hand washing and use of hand sanitisers in the fight against Covid-19. To even think of stepping out without a mask or face cover is not right at present. With markets opening and people stepping out, these precautions are even more important, he said.
Exuding hopes, Modi said with the beginning of ‘Unlock 1’, economic activities across the country have resumed and “green shoots have begun to be visible in the economy”.
“When India’s fight against COVID-19 will be analysed in future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of cooperative federalism”, he said .
“ The more we can stop corona, the more it will stop growing, the more our economy will open, our offices will open, markets will open, the means of transport will open, and so will new employment opportunities, Prime Minister said referring to the ‘success’ of last two-weeks opening up of major sectors of economy.
Concerned about the fatalities, he said the death of even one Indian is unsettling but it is also true that India is one of the countries where there have been least deaths due to Covid-19 with the Covid-19 recovery rate has gone above 50%.
In his address to Chief Ministers, Modi said in the last few weeks, thousands of Indians returned to India from abroad and hundreds of migrant workers reached their home towns.
“Almost all modes of transport have resumed operations, still, Covid-19 impact has not been that huge in India as in other parts of the world”, Prime Minister said as counts of coronavirus cases are rapidly rising and expected to peak in June-July.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said in the meeting that it has been few days, but Uttarakhand has done a lot of work in the direction of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’ “We have injected more than Rs 300 crore projects. The industry which came to halt due to COVID19 has now resumed and over 90% of it is working, Rawat said.
The PM-CM meet took place in the backdrop of tension along Indo-China border. After he finished his address Modi asked Union Home Minister to continue the exchange of views with the CMs.
