Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday urged the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies to come forward to motivate the people to strictly follow the SoPs and guidelines of the State Government particularly regarding number of people permitted in a social or religious function.
The Chief Minister was presiding over the meeting to review the Covid-19 and drought situation and also, the progress in implementation of Chief Minister’s announcements in Una district.
He said that the elected representatives of PRIs can also play a pivotal role by acting as a bridge between the state Health Department and those in home isolation due to COVID-19.
He also urged the opinion makers and heads of civil societies to motivate the people to come forward to get tested for COVID-19. This would not only help in time bound detection of Corona cases, but also help in checking spread of this virus, he said.
Thakur also urged the representatives of the religious organization to motivate the people to avoid gatherings in large numbers in various social functions such as marriages etc.
He directed the doctors to ensure proper treatment of the COVID-19 patients by getting themselves personally involved in the treatment. The patients under treatment must not get a feeling of being ignored as this may cause ill effects on the patient. The behavior of the doctors and other para medical staff with the patients must be courteous for early recovery of the COVID patients, he added.
The Chief Minister said that the major cause of concern is the sharp surge in the number of COVID cases in the state.
At one point of time, there were only 218 active cases, but today this number has crossed the 8400 mark.
He said that the Una District Administration played a commendable role in handling the people of the state coming back home during the lockdown last year as Una is the only district of the state with broad gauge rail connectivity.
While reviewing the drought like situation in the district, the Chief Minister said that efforts must be made for interlinking of various water supply schemes besides rationing water supply to various villages and habitations in water scarcity areas.
He said that the whole state has witnessed very less rainfall and snow during the winter season, which has adversely affected water sources and thus water supply.
While reviewing the progress in Chief Minister’s announcements, he directed the officers to ensure time bound completion of all the announcements made by him in various constituencies of the district.
He said that timely completion of all these developmental schemes would not only facilitate the people of the area, but also avoid cost escalation of these developmental projects.
Thakur further said that field officers must ensure that all the major projects announced and under implementation must be prepared and be taken up with a focused approach. Special focus must be laid in ensuring better quality in construction work particularly in the Public Works and jal shakti Departments, he added.
During the meeting, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar said that the district has been adversely affected due to the drought like situation. He also urged the Chief Minister to provide adequate funds so that the projects under implementation in the district could be completed soon.
Secretary Health Amitabh Awasthi said that all the health workers need to be more vigilant regarding the COVID-19 patients in home isolation as about 90 per cent of the total COVID patients are in home isolation. This would not only help in speedy recovery of the COVID patients, but would also lessen the burden on the health institutions in the state, he added.