Concerned over severity of coronavirus pandemic and "loose" execution of lockdown in rural areas, the Bharatiya Bikash Parishad has urged the Chief Minister to recruit and deploy "special volunteer police (SVP)" in each village of the State at the earliest.
Mentioning that more than 14 lakh people have been detected positive and about 80, 000 have died in the world and Odisha is no behind reporting 48 positives and one death till date, the Parishad observed in a letter that lockdown and shutdown have been successful in urban areas whereas they have been responded a little in rural areas due lack of sufficient police personnel.
No doubt that the Government has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for each gram panchayat and Rs 10 lakh for block for installation of isolation halls and supply of foods to destitutes. But these seem not to have been materialised in all villages.
"Most of our rural people are uneducated farmers, labour and poor and many of them believe in superstition. About 90 000 people have returned from other States due to Corona. Almost all of the villagers, including returnees, are taking bath in tanks, ponds, river and nullah. Even they are playing cards, kabadi, volleyball and other games in groups. Due to these activities, social distancing is not being maintained and, thus, there is greater chance of community transmission of corona in near future." pointed out Parishad chief Surendra Panigrahi.
Noting that adequate police personnel are required to ensure proper exucution in rural areas, Panigrahi proposed that five to 10 youths from among villagers be selected as SVP and deployed in villages without any remuneration for the purpose.
The Government will have to issue certificates to these volunteers which would help them get Home Guard and Constabe on the basis of their qualification.
"SVPs can be very helpful in achieving the very purposes of the lockdown and thereby check community transmission of the coronavirus in villages. Kindly select and employ them as soon as possible," wrote Panigrahi.
He too sent the copies of the letter to Home Secretary, DGP, SRC, Ganjam district Collector and DIG and SP, Brahmapur.