Role of village heads key in fight against Covid: Yogi
Interacting with the newly-elected village pradhans, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said their role is very important at a time when the state’s fight against corona has reached a decisive stage.
“Be vigilant and make your villagers aware about Covid. It is heartening that in our survey, 68 per cent of the villages were found to have zero infection, but we still have to be cautious,” the CM said here on Friday.
He asked the pradhans to keep an eye on anyone coming from outside. “Take full care. Inspire the message of ‘My village corona-free village’ to be the goal of every villager. For this, there should be a sense of healthy competition in the panchayats too,” CM said.
“Our priority is to save both life and livelihood. The Centre and state government are making arrangements for ensuring food for all. Free ration will be given in June and July and will be extended till August,” he said, adding that the pradhans should ensure that not a single eligible person is deprived of ration.
The CM congratulated the village heads and said that the panchayati raj system is the most important link in the democratic system. “This is the basis of the strength of our democracy. I am happy that many village heads started working closely with the monitoring committees immediately after the results without waiting for the formalities. Recently I went to Saharanpur, where I saw that a woman village pradhan down with Covid was providing food to people from her home. Many such inspiring works are being done all over the state,” the CM noted.
“As village heads, all of you are the chairman of the monitoring committees of your villages. Our monitoring committees have done a very good job so far. You all screened people and gave them medical kits as per the need, got tests and quarantine done. Monitoring committees have infrared thermometers, sanitizers. Now, under your supervision, this work will go faster,” the CM said.
He asked the pradhans to make all the necessary efforts to make their villages smart villages. “There should be a competition. There should be a college, a playground, a hospital, good roads. There is no shortage of funds,” the CM said.
“Construct village secretariat in every gram panchayat. There should be Internet facilities and seating arrangements for banking sakhis. Install a public address system. If there is any need, the government will help you,” Yogi said.
“Make people aware so that they get tested and vaccinated. Take people to the Common Service Centres, get them registered for vaccinations,” he added.
