President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday expressed concern over the incidents of attacks on doctors, health workers and police personnel in some parts of the country and the gathering of migrant workers in Anand Vihar and congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin in Delhi even as Vice President Venkaiah Naidu called upon the Governors and Lt. Governors of States and Union Territories to motivate spiritual and religious leaders to advice their followers to not hold any congregations and observe social distancing norms to prevent the transmission of the pandemic.
The President and the Vice President held the second round of interactions with the Governors, Lieutenant Governors and administrators of all states and union territories via video-conferencing to discuss measures to combat against COVID-19. The conference was a sequel to the video conference held on March 27 with the Governors/LGs of select States/UTs on the issue.
The President emphasized the need to ensure that no one remains hungry during the nationwide lockdown. Taking note of the problems faced by the homeless, the unemployed and the weaker sections of society during this crisis, Kovind said, “We will have to be extra sensitive towards their needs.”
The Vice President laid emphasis on roping in volunteers of the Indian Red Cross Society, social organisations and private sector to mitigate the plight of the poor. He urged the Governors/Lt Governors and Administrators to persuade leaders from different walks to life to come forward and support the most vulnerable sections of society, particularly farmers, as the lockdown coincides with the harvesting season in many states.
Naidu pointed out that though the Central Government and the State Governments were taking adequate measures to alleviate people’s suffering, it would serve eternal human values for social elites to come forward and support the poor and most vulnerable sections in this crisis.
In the conference there was unanimity that there is no scope for laxity or complacency in fighting the invisible enemy, a Rashtrapati Bhawan communiqué stated.