A day after intense bickering over chikungunya deaths with the BJP-ruled civic bodies, the AAP Government pitched for ‘One Delhi campaign’ as it extended “olive branch” to the Opposition, saying the health crisis has to be tackled together.
The AAP Government on Thursday appealed to the residents of Delhi to come together and spread awareness and undertake initiatives to control the spread of chikungunya and dengue at #OneDelhi campaign.
It has also received support from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder Art of living and their volunteers are visiting households across Delhi to create awareness and help in the fogging drive.
Besides, several prominent celebrities like Amjad Ali Khan, Birju Maharaj, Shubha Mudgal, Swapan Sundari, Raja Radha Reddy, Abhay Sopori, Mita Pandit, Saraswati Sen, Rajan Sajan Mishra, Bhajan Sopori amongst others have also pledged their support for the campaign.
Addressing a Press conference, Delhi Tourism and Water Minister Kapil Mishra said, “We have received a phenomenal response to our appeal requesting everyone to come together to fight vector borne diseases that have spread across the Capital and adjoining States”. He said, “Religious institutions like Gauri Shankar temple, Tilak Nagar Gurudwara, Jama Masjid, Orthodox church have all come forward to help spread awareness about the diseases. The religious institutions
will be making special appeals to public and request for their support to ensure that these vector borne diseases can be curtailed”
The Minister said market associations across Delhi which include prominent markets like Chandini Chowk, Karol Bagh, Nehru Place, Sadar Bazar, Kashmiri Gate have come forth to join the One Delhi Campaign and will help in cleanliness drive in these areas. Hotel associations like the Paharganj Hotel Association have also extended their support for the campaign and have already initiated the awareness drive
He said, “The One Delhi Campaign is above politics, allegiances and personal interests . Delhi belongs to all of us and we must serve it together”. He further cited that according to an AIIMS report 80 per cent of the patients in Delhi who have been diagnosed with chikungunya and
dengue are from other States and that all States must come together to combat this issue.
Mishra said Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Kumar Jain has also written a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda urging him to convene a meeting of Health Ministers of all the neighbouring States to come forward and work together.