Engaging the state's youth in its fight against the COVID-19, Punjab Government on Thursday rolled out a new initiative to take forward the state’s Mission Fateh 2.0 as a part of the ‘Corona Mukt Punjab Abhiyan’ (COVID-free Punjab Campaign).
Launching the initiative, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has directed the formation of groups of seven Rural Corona Volunteers (RCVs) per village or municipal ward as a cadre to fight the pandemic.
With the villages more badly affected in the second wave of COVID, it was important to drive a strong campaign for ‘Corona Mukt Pind’, said the Chief Minister directing the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Deputy Commissioners to immediately form such RCVs to be the torchbearers in the war against the contagion.
“Existing clubs can also become RCVs,” he said, adding that these could work as a powerful support system for the Panchayats and Municipalities in the war against COVID.
Interacting with youth from rural and urban areas through video conferencing, the Chief Minister said that as a result of the people’s support, the number of cases in the State had come down from around 9,000 to 4,000-plus in a matter of about three weeks. “But given the impact on rural areas this time, the situation continues to be grave,” he said.
The Chief Minister tasked the RCVs with carrying forward the 3Ts drive (Test, Trace and Treat), taking care of poor and elderly and connecting them to the COVID Control Rooms and helplines, conducting Theekri Pehras in all villages, promoting COVID appropriate behaviour, assisting villagers in accessing adequate healthcare, discouraging quacks, encouraging download of COVA App, besides preparing and displaying banners and pamphlets.
The youth could also play a big role also in countering rumours and false propaganda on social media, he said, adding that the State Government will extend full support to them to fight the pandemic “and save Punjab together”.
He also urged the RCVs to spread awareness among the people in rural areas on the proper protocols to be followed for COVID treatment, given the spread of black or white fungus due to high usage of steroids.
“Beginning today, the Department of Youth Affairs has started distributing one lakh badges and four lakh car stickers carrying the message ‘I Am Vaccinated’,” he said while urging the RCVs to encourage people to “flaunt their vaccination status”, and it would display the spread of our vaccination coverage and motivate others too. As a reward for their participation in the war against Corona, every RCV will be given a Sports Kit, to be distributed on August 12 (International Youth Day), said the Chief Minister, directing the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs to immediately commence the procurement of 15,000 kits.
Expressing the hope that Mission 2.0 would be the last battle in the war against COVID, the Chief Minister, however, underlined the need to be prepared for a third wave. The event was simultaneously telecast in all districts, sub-divisional headquarters, as well as 500 rural and urban locations, presided over by Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, DCs, SDMs, Mayors, presidents of MCs, chairmen and members of Zila Parishads, and Panchayat Samitis or Sarpanches.
Youth icon and Brand Ambassador of State's COVID Vaccine Campaign Sonu Sood underscored the need to create awareness amongst people especially in rural areas about the importance of vaccination. He said that he will personally try to ensure maximum vaccine supply from Bharat Biotech for the State. He also evinced interest in setting up a medical oxygen plant in Government Hospital, Moga.