Expressing serious concern over the increasing fatalities due to Covid in Punjab, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday urged the youngsters to think 10 times before posting or forwarding anything on social media as any irresponsible action could impact their future.
“What you post on social media is your responsibility…You can’t mislead people,” said the Chief Minister during his #AskCaptain Facebook Live session.
Pointing out that once a case is registered, their entire future could be adversely affected, he urged the youth to act responsibly. “So far 121 social media accounts or links had been blocked while 292 more had been identified by the Punjab Police for indulging in false propaganda on organ harvesting and testing for Covid,” he said, adding that any attempt to mislead the people through fake news and posts are totally intolerable and unacceptable.
Responding to a question about media reports suggesting that rumours around COVID-19 have impacted the COVID recovery in Punjab, the Chief Minister said that COVID tests have indeed gone down because of the vicious misleading propaganda on social media, which was causing people not to get treated in time.
REFRAIN FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST COVID PATIENTS
Even as the Chief Minister maintained that the strict instructions were in place to maintain the confidentiality of the identity of COVID patients and implementation of the same will be ensured; he appealed to the people to refrain from discriminating against any patient of COVID, whether undergoing treatment or recovered. “This is a disease like many others, and attaching any social stigma to it is completely unjustified,” he said.
GOVT COMMITTED TO TAKE CARE OF HEALTH WORKERS
On a plea by NHM workers working on a meager salary for the past 10 years, despite now being on the forefront of the COVID fight, the Chief Minister said that the State Government has already established a cabinet sub-committee to look into the regularization of contractual staff working in the state.
A Faridkot resident was also given a similar assurance, with Captain Amarinder saying that his government was committed to taking care of the health workers, especially those on Covid duty.
SLEW OF MEASURES ANNOUNCED TO IMPROVE CLEANLINESS IN ABOHAR
Capt Amarinder also listed out various steps being taken by the state government to improve cleanliness of Abohar, which has been recently ranked the third dirtiest city in the country.
The Chief Minister said that a project for sanitation and cleanliness, called ‘Chokho Abohar’, has been approved by the State Government. Funds have been sent, and tenders have been invited, he added. Since overflow of sewage was a major reason for dirty streets, the contractor in charge had been withdrawn and the Corporation has taken over the operations, he said adding that four Grab Bucket Machines are being procured, while one Jetting Machine has already being procured and work through Super Suction has been ordered.
PUNJAB PREPARING OWN CROP INSURANCE SCHEME
On a question from a Hoshiarpur citizen on crop insurance, the Chief Minister said that Punjab had not joined the Pardhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, launched in 2016 by Government of India, as the terms and conditions were not suitable for compensating the Punjab farmers. “Like many other States — Gujarat, West Bangal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, we are also preparing our own scheme,” he said, adding that at present, the farmers are being compensated at the rate of Rs 12,000 per acre against Rs 5,400 being provided by Government of India under Disaster Response Fund.
NO SUNDAY CURFEW TO FACILITATE NEET CANDIDATES, NON-ESSENTIAL SHOPS TO REMAIN CLOSE
To facilitate free movement of students appearing for NEET exam, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday announced that there will be no curfew in the State this Sunday (September 13).
However, the non-essential shops will continue to remain close. “Though the State Government has imposed Sunday curfew in all urban cities or towns, an exemption would be made this Sunday with free movement to be allowed,” said the Chief Minister adding that the students will have no problem reaching their examination centres.
‘DON’T IGNORE SYMPTOMS, GET TESTED AND HOSPITALISED IN TIME’
Pointing to the state’s high deaths rates, which were attributable to late reporting at hospitals for treatment, Capt Amarinder called upon the people to help him and the Government in reversing the trend by not ignoring symptoms, and getting themselves tested and hospitalized in time as most of the deaths were being reported at Level III. The conditions in hospitals had improved, said the Chief Minister, adding that a lot of money had been spent by the Government to scale up the facilities. “I have also asked the Ministers to visit the districts under their charge to take stock of the ground situation,” he added.
Rs 514 OXYMETERS TO BE AVAILABLE THRO’ APPROVED VENDORS IN EVERY DISTRICT
Amid the spiraling cases of COVID-19, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday announced Oxymeters to be made available to all citizens at an affordable cost of Rs 514 through approved vendors in every district.
The Health Department will issue detailed guidelines in this regard within one week, said the Chief Minister adding that the Department was purchasing these Oxymeters for Rs 514 each for the health staff and these would now be made available through authorized vendors to the general public too on a no-profit-no-loss basis.
Responding to a Raikot resident’s suggestion that the Government must provide Oxymeters and thermometers at cheap price in every home, Capt Amarinder said that 50,000 Covid care kits were being distributed by the Government ‘free of cost’, which contain Oxymeters and thermometers, among other essentials.
CAPT ANNOUNCES Rs 5L GRANT IMPRESSED BY YOUNG GOLGAPPA SELLER’s GRIT
Chief Minister announced a grant of Rs five lakhs for a young boy from Amritsar whose viral video of selling Golgappas on the roadside to earn his livelihood had touched the hearts of thousands of people. The youngster was seen refusing the offer of money from an individual, saying that he wanted only his hard-earned money.
The Chief Minister told a questioner on #AskCaptain that he had also seen the video, which captured the spirit of ‘Punjabiyat’.
He agreed with the citizen’s suggestion that the boy should be helped by the State Government and immediately announced Rs five lakh. Capt Amarinder said that he will ask Amritsar Deputy Commissioner to invest the grant in a Fixed Deposit and the interest on it will be used for the boy’s education. “I am impressed by the grit of this young boy,” he added.