OdishaPlus Bureau
- All 17 blocks of Sundargarh ready to handle coronavirus COVID-19 contingencies
- 400 hostels in Sundargarh vacated
- 48,963 students sent home
- Three months advance pension awarded by District Administration
- PDS rations have reached all Gram Panchayats to be distributed soon
- Social Distancing is the need of the hour says Mr. Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Collector Sundargarh
Lockdown
The district administration of Sundargarh has made ample provision to counter the coronavirus COVID-19 menace. Our focus is on social distancing and enabling service delivery of essential commodities without creating panic while maintaining law and order during the lockdown period”, said Collector –cum-District Magistrate Mr. Nikhil Pavan Kalyan at a corona awareness press conference today. We are strictly adhering to the guidelines put in place by the state government, he says.
Financial Assistance
As per the state’s directive, more than 400 hostels in the district have been ordered close and close to 45 thousand students have been sent home. Similarly, advance pension of three months is being distributed to the elderly persons, widows and specially abled across all 17 blocks in the district. Further, PDS rations have already reached all Gram Panchayats and will begin distribution from tomorrow, informs the collector.
Essential Commodities
We have fixed prices of various essential commodities as well as limited the quantity of wholesale purchase per head to check hoarding by individuals and families. The citizens need not panic as we are taking daily stock of essentials and medicines etc and I am happy to announce that Sundargarh has all the commodities in surplus.” says the Collector Nikhil Pavan Kalyan allaying all fears of the residents.
Isolation Facility
“There is an arrangement of 50 isolation beds in each CHC and 40 beds in the GP level for isolation of patients showing symptoms of COVID-19. Additionally, all PHCs are ready to form isolation wards in case of emergency,” highlights Mr. Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, Collector Sundargarh. We are looking to make Rourkela and Sundargarh as isolation headquarters by having large scale isolation facility in place soon, the collector further informed.
State Funds
The state government has already released a sum of rupees 8.5 crore from the Special Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). “We will also utilize the MP-LAD, MLA-LAD and DMF funds to enable all healthcare facilities to the district as and when needed”, assures the collector Nikhil Pavan Kalyan.
Migrant Workers
The state government is in touch with all residents of Sundargarh stuck in other places are and efforts are being made to check on their well being. Similarly all workers and migrants from other states who are engaged in various places in the district are being taken care of in terms of food and shelter. “Many NGOs and government officials are also distributing food and supplies to migrant labourers here in the district and it gives me pleasure while hearing about them”, the Collector was quoted as saying.
Social Distancing
It is important to create awareness on social distancing among the general public. You can see marked spots for people to stand in front of grocery shops as I have also been receiving photos of the same. Further, to break the chain of coronavirus spread in the community, we are going to break the weekly haats (marketplace) into daily haats and issue guidelines for people to attend it in small groups.
