Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur gave a clarion call to the Pradhans of Gram Panchayats and other elected representatives of grass root level democratic institutions to come forward to ensure effective management and execution of home quarantine facilities in the State to check spread of corona pandemic in their respective areas.Chief Minister was addressing the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions of Mandi and Kullu districts through video conferencing from Shimla today. He said that since over one lakh Himachalis stranded in various parts of the country had returned to the State and about 60,000 have expressed their willingness to return to the State in the wake of coronavirus.Jai Ram Thakur said that although the State Government had decided to keep those coming from red zones in institutional quarantine but still there was possibility of corona infection from even those coming from green or orange zones. He said that since they were being kept under home quarantine, therefore, it was essential that proper protocol was maintained to ensure that other members of the families do not get infected.Chief Minister urged the Panchayat pradhans to give their wholehearted cooperation in effectively implementing the ‘Nigah’ programme launched by the State Government. He said that this programme envisages to keep a vigil on those under home quarantine so that they do not jump from the quarantine. He said that PRIs representatives should come forward to motivate the family members to maintain social distancing with the person undergoing home quarantine.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the PRIs representatives should gather prior information regarding arrival of a person from other parts of the country in their respective areas and also visit the house of the person in advance, so that appropriate steps could be taken for proper isolation of the person.Chief Minister also urged the Pradhans to effectively undertake various developmental works in their respective areas. He said that this would not only ensure that the pace of development goes uninterrupted but would also provide employment to the local populace. He said that steps should also be taken to effectively execute works under MNREGA as government had provided adequate funds for the same. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs. 20 lakh crore financial package to ensure welfare of each and every section of the society. He said that this was the biggest economic package post independence which envisages economic revival and economic upliftment of all.Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar thanked the Pradhans for their wholehearted cooperation to the Government in checking the spread of coronavirus.Chairperson Zila Parishad Mandi Sarla Thakur, Pradhan Gram Panchayat Namhog Kullu Kishan Chand, Pradhan Gram Panchayat Kehad Mandi Ajana Kumari, Member Zila Parishad Kullu Hiteshwar, Pradhan Gram Panchayat Kharagarh Kullu Jai Singh and other pradhans also shared their views on the occasion. Chief Secretary Anil Khachi, Secretary Rural Development Dr. R.N. Batta, Director Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Lalit Jain and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.