District Development Commissioner, O P Bhagat said the District Administration has successfully undertaken several initiatives to make the life of every citizen easy, safe and manageable during lockdown.He informed that there is sufficient stock of essential commodities and medicines in the district and people can buy these items from the shops following the directive of maintaining social distancing and wearing mask while visiting outside.A team had already been constituted to check black marketing and hoarding of essential items. DC has asked all the shopkeepers to refrain from selling essential items on exorbitant rates.DDC further informed that for needy, destitute and migrant laborers of the district, the Administration has established 8 relief camps/shelters in which 700 persons are housed and in 18 food camps the meal is getting cooked. NGOs are also helping the Administration in running these food camps, he added.Elaborating other initiatives of the District Administration, DDC said that home delivery of essentials and medicines through mobile call had been started and a team of dedicated officers is working round the clock to ensure these deliveries should reach the caller on time.
However, about 110000 food packets have been served till date and 12 NGOs are presently serving 14000 stranded laborers at 63 different locations across the district. Besides, at 68 different Administrative Quarantine Centres, inmates have been provided food and shelter. DDC added that dry ration consisting of Rice, Pulses, Salt, Sugar, Potato, Cooking Oil and Flour has also been distributed among the needy families of the district.He said that counselling of interstate migrant laborers and awareness concerning COVID-19 has also been generated at various slums of the district by the Health and Employment Department. The slum dwellers were advised to maintain safe distancing and keep their surroundings clean and hygienic.The DDC has also appreciated the role of several civil society members who have donated generously in this testing time. He said that in Kathua donation of more than Rs. 3.50 Lakhs have been deposited in the account of J&K Relief Fund, PM`s CARES Fund, PM`s National Relief Fund and in the account of Chairman, IRCS Kathua. DDC further said that intensive sanitation cum fumigation drives have being carried out throughout the District by RDD and Municipalities to contain the spread of Coronavirus infection.