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Declaring that salary of state government employees would not be deducted for the lockdown period, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that people should remain indoors and stay safe so that lockdown could be effectively implemented.
The chief minister issued this directive during a meeting of COVID officers in Lucknow on Wednesday while reviewing the lockdown and availability of essential commodities in the market.
“The only way to defeat coronavirus is to implement lockdown effectively. If we can ensure that people stay at home, we can win this battle decisively,” he said.
The chief minister asked officials to ensure that people got all basic necessities like milk, vegetable, rice, flour and pulses easily at MRP (maximum retail price).
“There is apprehension that salary of government employees could be deducted for the lockdown period. This apprehension is baseless. Salary of employees will not be deducted. Even in private sectors, owners should pay full salary to their employees. This is a time of crisis and everyone should chip in with their contribution,” Yogi said.
The chief minister asked the Energy department not to take fixed charge from industries during the lockdown period.
“It is the responsibility of the state government to look after migrant workers staying in shelter homes across the state. Provide them water and food regularly and if anyone needs medical help, do extended it also. Those who are fasting during Navratri be provided fruits,” the chief minister said and added that no one should be allowed to travel in goods train and the guilty be punished as per law..
Yogi also asked officials to send action taken report to the prime minister and home minister’s offices regularly.
The chief minister further said that as procurement of wheat would start from April 15, officers should ensure that all mandis were sanitised.
“If need be, fire-tenders be used for this purpose. During the purchase of wheat, social distancing should also be ensured,” he said.
During that meeting, Yogi also enquired about the operation of community kitchens and said that the facility be extended to all areas where the poor live. “Daily wage earners should get the benefit of these community kitchens,” he added.
Yogi also asked officials to look for options to start out patient department (OPD) so that basic health facilities could be extended to the people. “Retired PHMS and Army Medical Corps doctors can be employed for this purpose. If need be, doctors should provide consultation over phone,” he said.
Industrial Development Commissioner Alok Kumar informed the chief minister that all flour mills, rice mills and oil mills were operating as per directions of Health department.
DGP HC Awasthi said that gloves and masks had been made available to all police personnel of the state.