State Finance and Food and Civic Supplies minister Rameshwar Oraon has ruled out the possibility of imposing lockdown in Jharkhand right now. Oraon said that in Jharkhand there is no such situation of putting a lockdown in right now. He said there is a need for increasing strictness regarding the conditions arising out of the infection. The Finance Minister was in his constituency Lohardaga on Friday.
The minister along with senior officials had a meeting reviewing the situation in the district. Oraon emphasized on protecting life and livelihood, along with taking stock of situations arising out of Covid-19 infection in Lohardaga district. He said this year the Government has set up two Isolation ward at Referral Hospital, facilities for 18 ventilators, also a bed equipped with 80 oxygen facilities is provided to the district.
The minister also said that today a decision was taken to purchase 25 oxygen cylinders. The 100 bed isolation centre at Kasturba Gandhi Residential School and 40 bed Hospital at Chiri will be functional in a day or two. In the meeting the officials informed that that in the district, there are currently 220 active cases. The minister also announced to provide Rs 5 lakh from his MLA fund, to deal with corona infection. By this fund, oxygen cylinders and additional beds will be provided.
Speaking to reporters after a high-level review meeting in Lohardaga, he said that there is not a situation like full lockdown right now; he said last year there was complete lockdown bringing all economic activities to standstill, which leads to unemployment and loss of jobs.
Oraon said that the Deputy Commissioner informed him that migrants from the big cities are returning, they need to be monitored. Their corona test is to be done and if they are found infected then they have to be kept at isolation centres. He said that the health department is on alert mode and vigilant of the situation.
Regarding providing employment to people under rural jobs, the minister said that in this regard, he will talk to the Minister of Rural Development.
Regarding the Madhupur Assembly bye-election, the State Congress president said that voting is going to be held on Saturday, but the result is already out, in Madhupur. The victory of the coalition candidate is certain. It may be noted that Oroan along with his team had camped in Madhupur for a week campaigning for JMM candidate Hafizul Hassan Ansari.