Union Panchayati Raj Ministry asks states to curb COVID spread in rural India

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 12

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With Covid making strides in villages, the Union Panchayati Raj Ministry has asked all state governments to take preventive measures to curb its spread in rural India.

The Ministry, in its letter, has suggested states sensitize and facilitate the Panchayats/Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) to meet the challenge and providing leadership.

It has advised undertaking an intensive communication campaign for the awareness of rural communities on the nature of Covid infection, and preventive and mitigation measures, following the Advisory of the Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) Ministry.

It has stressed measures to dispel false notions and beliefs about the disease.

“The Panchayats may be activated to provide the necessary institutional village-level support catering to their respective locations,” the Ministry said.

Wherever possible, they may improvise households as home quarantine locations, where the maximum of the asymptomatic Covid positive cases can be managed.

They may also set up specific quarantine/isolation centres for the needy and returning migrant labourers.

“In consultation with the Health Department, the Panchayats may be designated to facilitate vaccination drives to ensure maximum coverage of eligible population”, the Ministry has suggested in its letter.

Also, states have been directed to leverage various Central and State government schemes towards the provision of rations, drinking water supply, sanitation, MGNREGS employment etc. to provide relief and rehabilitation at the village level to the needy.

Besides, states must establish inter-linkages with the medical facilities at the nearby District and Sub-Districts so that ambulances, advanced testing and treatment facilities, multi-speciality care etc. are provided to the needy without much loss of time.