The focus of the videoconference interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday was on controlling the spread of COVID-19 in rural and semi-urban areas and on remaining prepared for a third wave of the pandemic, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.
He said that Mr. Modi expressed concern over the infection spreading in rural areas. District administrations have been asked to concentrate on micro-containment zones to keep it under check.
“The focus was on understanding novel ways of fighting the pandemic and sharing them as successful models across the States to be replicated,” the Home Minister said after the interaction involving Mr. Modi and the Deputy Commissioners of 17 districts of Karnataka. The interaction also involved Deputy Commissioners from nine other States, apart from Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and a host of district in-charge Ministers.
The instructions given by the Prime Minister included setting up task forces in gram panchayats, which will not only have officials but representatives of NGOs, Stree Shakthi Sanghas, and Yuva Sanghas, among others.
Given the anticipated third wave, which is likely to affect children, the Prime Minister has asked the local governments to prepare cartoons and stories in local languages to raise awareness among children. Mr. Modi was briefed on the measures being initiated in Bengaluru, which has been severely affected by the second wave of COVID-19.
Bengaluru’s needs
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta, who presented the work done to contain the virus in Bengaluru, told reporters later that they have asked for more oxygen and vaccines for the city. “We have already submitted to the State government the quantum of vaccine we need, and the same has been forwarded to the Centre. We were assured that the availability of vaccines would improve,” he said.
