Bhubaneswar: Government of Odisha has planned to boost job creation for the workers returning home amid COVID-19 Lock Down. A provision of Rs. 900 Crores to extend short term credit for undertaking economic activities has been made for this purpose. This is informed by the Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy.
Under MGNREGS scheme, it is targeted to create 20 lakh mandays per day, increasing it from 10 lakh mandays as done at present.
3.85 lakh MT Paddy has been procured so far from 17 districts of the State which is 40% more in comparison to that of last year. Rs. 521 Crore has been deposited in account of farmers in regard to paddy procurement.
Asit Tripathy, Chief Secretary and Sri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Information & Public Relations Department, briefed the Press about COVID-19 situation and post-cyclone restoration work in the State.
Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik, today, in a video conference reviewed COVID-19 situation and post-cyclone restoration activities in the State. While appreciating the sacrifice of the people of Odisha that inspired everybody to fight difficult circumstances like COVID-19 and Cyclone, he emphasised on 15 day long extensive awareness drive on COVID-19 and strict discipline to be followed.
Chief Minister said that our learning on the behaviour of virus in India and more particularly in Odisha has given us hope that with strict social distancing, wearing masks and repeated hand washing we should be able to successfully contain the spread of pandemic. Also our learning is that vulnerable population i.e. elderly persons, people with co-morbid conditions etc. need extra care.
Chief Minister said that the State has tuned our basic mandatory quarantine period on par with ICMR recommendations; at the same time empowered collectors to further extend institutional quarantine on a need based manner in the overall interest of containing COVID spread.
Chief Minister said that Temporary Medical Centres (TMCs) at GP level are doing a great job in containing the spread of COVID-19. 95 percent of our positive cases are only from quarantine centres. This shows the robustness of our system and the efforts put by Sarpanchs, peoples’ representatives and the entire government machinery from top to bottom cutting across departments. Hon’ble Chief Minister appreciated each one for working day and night in our fight against COVID-19.
Government is ensuring Zero Walking Inside Odisha in relation to migrant workers stranded in State. So far, 14,669 persons of other States have been transported to the Border Check Posts of their Home States by Bus.
So far, 1,53,738 number of migrant persons have come to State by 109 Special Trains.
With opening up of flights and railways, the coming 15 to 30 days will be more challenging, Chief Minister hoped that we will handle the same in a professional manner with a human face.
Chief Minister conveyed his special appreciation for all those who handled Covid-19 on one hand and a super cyclone on the other and ensured zero casualty, restored road connectivity in 24 hrs and power connectivity in 48 hrs.
Involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions with COVID-19 management process is innovative and need of the hour. State Government recognised the Panchayati Raj Institutions as a Unit of Administration and this has enhanced community participation.
The COVID-19 testing policy, quarantine, discharge policy etc. of the State are more refined and are being followed strictly. Institutional quarantine in rural areas has been mandatorily followed in the State. Arrangement has been made to accommodate 8 lakh persons. Such planned quarantine system has invited appreciation for Odisha and Odisha has become a model.
Odia brothers and sisters are returning to Odisha every day since 3rd May. 35,861 Odia people have returned to Odisha today. So far 3,21,881 Odias have returned to Odisha. Returnees are coming by train/bus and other vehicles.
16,627 Temporary Medical Centres/Camps have been readied in 6798 Gram Panchayats of the State. In all these Centres, total no. of 7,31,266 beds have been arranged to provide COVID-19 health services in rural areas.
From 25th May morning to 26th May morning, 15 no of cases have been registered by the Police in the state for violation of different regulations and guidelines related to COVID-19, out of which 12 cases are for violation of
lock down, 1 case for Home Quarantine, 1 case for rumour mongering and 1 case related to other issues. 141 persons have been arrested by police for different violations.
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