The Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has given major responsibilities to the Rural Development and Panchayats Department in the villages to fight COVID-19.The Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Mr. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa in a statement issued here today said that the officers and employees of the department were fighting day and night at forefront in the war against corona virus.Minister Tripit Bajwa said that various activities were being carried out by the department which include measures to maintain social distance in the villages, sarpanchs have been empowered to provide food and medicine to the poor using their resources, spread awareness Literature to the people in the villages, prepare masks by self help groups in the rural areas and sanitize the villages.He said that he was informed by Mrs. Seema Jain Financial Commissioner Development and DPS Kharbanda Director that the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats, Punjab has launched a comprehensive campaign to raise awareness among the people in the villages across the state. This is to ensure that more and more people are protected from exposure to virus-infected individuals and vulnerable individuals who may be infected with the Covid-19.The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats is working at the war-footed level to ensure that social distance is maintained. Gram Panchayats have been asked to identify the places where different ways can be used to maintain social distance. In the villages, the circles were being marked with color at a distance of 2 meters.
People were being urged to maintain social distance through daily announcements from gurdwaras.The Pancaytas have been empowered to provide food and medicine to the poor using their resources. The Gram Panchayats have been authorized to spend a maximum of Rs. 50,000 per month and can spend Rs. 5000 per day for basic livelihood of the poor. Till date, Rs 316552 has been spent by 1752 gram panchayats to provide rations and medicines to the needy.The Sarpanchs have been authorised to issue curfew passes in emergency situations. In the case of any medical emergency, the sarpanchs are authorized to issue a curfew pass during the night (7 pm to 6 am). Separate pass can also be issued to one of the companion with the patient. So far, 3910 passes have been issued by the gram Panchayats.In addition, awareness campaign regarding Covid-19 is also being carried out by the department. WhatsApp groups of all sarpanchs have been created by the department under ICI activities in which awareness literature, videos and government orders are shared and most important to avoid any panic situation fake news and rumors are also countered. Other social media platforms facebook, twitter and Instagram are also being used by the department to aware people.Another major initiative taken up by the department making masks through self help groups in the rural areas. The self help groups are also being motivated to make masks, which is also providing them opportunity to serve the people and earn money. The textile material for the mask can be easily obtained and masks can be easily made. These masks are very effective and can be reused. The Public is also being made aware how to use, store and wash these masks.The department is also carrying out sanitization campaign in the villages and till date 307096 liters of sodium hypochlorite drug provided by the Punjab Alkalis and Chemicals Limited have been used for three rounds of spray in 12584 villages of Punjab.