Lt Guv urges religious leaders to spread awareness against COVID-19
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu Saturday urged the religious leaders to play the crucial role in bringing about a conscientious behavioural change among their followers regarding importance of wearing face masks, social distancing and adherence of guidelines and advisories related to the prevention of COVID-19.
The Lt Governor was interacting with the religious leaders and heads of various religious faiths and organizations from across the Kashmir Division here at the Auditorium Complex, Raj Bhavan.
Taking note of the spike in the positive cases during the relaxations, the Lt Governor underlined the importance of taking strict and effective measures to ensure the safety of the people amid the crisis.
He asked the religious heads to facilitate awareness and encourage people to take all the precautionary measures and follow the SOP’s issued by the Government to prevent the transmission of the deadly disease, he added.
The Lt Governor advised them to utilize the potent media tools like social media, print and electronic media to spread awareness messages in this regard.
Stressing on broader community participation for generating awareness, the Lt Governor sought their cooperation for achieving better results in the fight against the deadly virus as they have a greater impact on their followers.
He further asked them to encourage the public to participate and cooperate with the government, take immunity boosters for self care and install Aarogya Setu App, besides adopting the practice of ‘Stay at Home-Pray at Home’ during the COVID-19 crisis.
The religious leaders assured their full support to the Government in its efforts to prevent and contain this pandemic.
Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan said that the religious leaders are already playing a constructive and positive role in generating awareness among the people against COVID-19. He further appealed to the religious heads to encourage the people to inculcate healthy practices in day to day life, besides adopting a behaviour change to protect themselves from the deadly disease.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole gave a detailed briefing on the Do’s and the Don’ts to stay safe during this pandemic situation. He also informed about the various initiatives and measures undertaken by the Administration to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in J&K.
Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole; besides religious leaders and heads of various religious organizations were present on the occasion.
Earlier in the day Murmu visited the frontier district Kupwara.
The Lt Governor observed that the UT Government is implementing the best practices in people centric governance with progressively increasing people’s participation and improved public service delivery system through transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly administration.
During his visit, the Lt Governor inaugurated seven developmental projects worth Rs 55.33 crore. He also laid foundation stones of five projects worth Rs 170.13 crore including mega projects like 12 MW Karnah Hydel Electric Power Project costing Rs 123.72 cr and Transit Accommodation for Migrants at Kulangam, at a cost of Rs 34.56 cr.
He further took a detailed review of the developmental scenario and COVID-19 containment efforts in the District. He also inspected the Dialysis Centre and CT Scan Facilities recently made operational in the district.
The public delegations representing various sections and areas of the district included delegations from border areas of Karnah, Keran and Machill, Traders Federation Kupwara and Handwara, Contractors Association, Progressive Farmers Association, Fruit Growers Association, Municipal Committee Presidents, BDC Chairpersons, Transporters, NGOs and Civil Society members, Media Persons, ST delegation, Wushu delegation and MGNREGA contractual staff delegation apprised the Lt Governor about their concerning issues and sought his intervention for their timely disposal.
The members of the delegations put forth various issues and demands including augmentation of water supply, power supply, macadamization of roads, all weather connectivity for border areas, special employment drive for district Kupwara especially in border areas, construction of bunkers, Relief package for transporters, upgradation of health facilities, extension of railway network from Baramulla to Kupwara to Chowkibal, four laning of Kupwara-Srinagar National Highway, release of pending payments to the contractors, mobile network for border areas, District Board for Block Development Councils, low interest rate loan facilities to traders, establishment of Press Club, Heli service for border areas during winter, Tourism Development Infrastructure, completion of Lolab-Bandipora road etc.
During the interaction, the Lt Governor assured to address the public issues and developmental needs at the earliest. He urged the people to come forward with the developmental needs of their areas and actively participate in the developmental programmes. The Government is putting all efforts to improve the socio-economic status of the people, especially people living in border and far-flung areas, he added.
On augmenting water supply, he said that the government is upgrading water supply facilities under Centrally Sponsored Jal Jeevan Mission and by the year 2022, every household would be connected with tap drinking water.
Referring to the unemployment issue, the Lt Governor stressed on spreading awareness among the youth, especially in rural areas and encouraging them to participate in the recruitment drive launched by the Government.
He directed for macadamization of all roads in major towns of Kupwara at the earliest and entrusted upon the concerned officers to expedite the execution of developmental works and ensure timely completion so that the benefits of the development percolate down to the ground level.
While interacting with Media delegation, the Lt Governor stressed on taking comprehensive measures to highlight the benefits of the various welfare schemes launched by the government so that the people can avail of maximum benefit of these schemes.
The projects inaugurated included IPD Block at Sub District Hospital costing Rs 24.80 cr; Video Wall at District Administrative Complex costing Rs 23 lakhs; Government Degree College, Tangdar at a cost of Rs 15.50 cr; 6.3MVA (33/11KVA) Receiving Station Teetwal costing Rs 2.49 cr; 6.3MVA (33/11KVA) Receiving Station Keran costing Rs 6.28 cr; 100 Bedded Girls Hostel Zachaldara, completed at a cost of Rs 3.01 cr and Boys ST Hostel at Government Degree College, Handwara costing Rs 3 cr.
KV News
