Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday directed the officers to adhere to the guidelines of Union Ministry of Home Affairs and said that there should be no laxity till April 20.
Holding a video conference in the wake of coronapandemic with all the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Chief Medical Officers of the State from Shimla, he said all the primary and secondary contacts of Tablighi Jamat should be identified and tested and laxity would not be tolerated in this respect.
Thakur said wearing of masks has been made mandatory for all and disobedience in this regard would be viewed seriously, pointing out that people can also wear home made masks. He urged the NGOs to come forward in providing home-made masks to the people of the State. He said spitting in public places has also been made an offence and the Government would take strict action against violators.
The Chief Minister said plying of trucks and other private carriage carrying essential commodities and vegetables should be allowed with three persons including two drivers and one conductor to ensure adequate availability of essential commodities in the State. He said vehicles should be sanitized and drivers and conductor should be medically checked up. He directed the officers to keep constant check on hoarding and profiteering and strict action must against erring shopkeepers.
Thakur asked the officers that farmers should be allowed to harvest their crops and motivate them for adopting social distancing while working in the fields. He said that steps must also be taken for procurement of their produce so that they do not face any inconvenience due to imposition of curfew. He said that shops dealing with farming inputs should be allowed to open to facilitate the farmers and horticulturists.
Director General of Police S.R. Mardi directed the Superintendents of Police to counter the fake news effectively so that people could be made aware about the factual position.
CM ANNOUNCES HOME BASED TEACHING PROGRAMME FOR STUDENTS
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday announced to launch the e-learning and teaching for 10th and 12th standard students of the State through Doordarshan.
"Online learning facility from home will be provided to students under Himachal Doordarshan Gyanshala programme from 17 April, 2020 onwards," he said in a statement, adding that the education department has prepared programme according to the syllabus of HP School Education Board for 10th and 12th classes which would be telecast from 17 April for three hours from 10 AM to 1 PM for different subjects as per the time table.
Thakur urged the teaching faculty, students and their parents to take this benefit by adopting proper social distancing as per the directions of the Union and State Governments.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the ‘Learning from Home- Har Ghar Pathshala’, a home based teaching programme for the students from grades 9 to 12 during the lockdown period of Covid-19.
Reviewing the launch of this programme, the Chief Minister said that to ensure that the studies of the students does not suffer due to the curfew in the State due to corona pandemic, this programme would help the students to get access to online videos and worksheets from their homes on www.education.hp.gov.in and https//cut.ly/hargharpathshala. He said that this programme would start from 16 April, 2020 between 10 am to 1 pm daily till the regular opening of schools.
Thakur said under this programme, all the students would regularly receive daily videos and home work through WhatsApp groups with teachers on important topics. Their homework would be regularly checked by the teachers and also provide feedback, he added.
Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that the education department is also planning to broadcast the study material on TV/Radio/FM to cater every student of the State.
Secretary Information and Public Relations Rajneesh, Secretary Finance Akshay Sood, Special Secretary Education Hemraj Bairwa, Director Higher Education Amarjeet Sharma, Director Information and Public Relations Harbans Singh Brascon and representatives of Doordarshan Shimla were present of the occasion.
AMPLE SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES, SAYS CM
In another statement, the Chief Minister said that keeping in view the lockdown, steps were being taken by the State Government to ensure adequate supply of essential commodities in all parts of the State. He said that the supply chain of essential commodities in the State is being maintained effectively so that there is no scarcity of essential commodities during the period of lockdown.
Emphasising that there is sufficient stock of flour, rice, pulses, sugar, edible oils, salt and other grocery items in the state, he said steps are also being taken to ensure availability of milk and bread in adequate quantity and to ensure supply of LPG to all households. He said that availability of medicine is also being ensured in every part of the State besides the fodder for cattle.
Thakur said necessary steps are being taken to check hoarding and profiteering of essential commodities and stern actions being taken against the defaulters.
He urged the general public not to panic purchasing and unnecessary stocking as adequate supply of essential commodities was being done in the State.