Women Sapanchs Lead The Way In COVID-19 Fight In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: At a time when Odisha government is taking all possible measures to prevent the community spread of SARS-nCoV in the State, the gram panchayat sarpanchs are leaving no stone unturned to do their bit in bolstering the fight to prevent Coronavirus outbreak.

With the aim to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in village level, the most vulnerable rural pockets in the State, three women sarpanchs from separate regions have shown the way by declaring shutdown in their respective gram panchayats.

Worth mentioning, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has vested the power of district collectors to the panchyat heads in order to enhance the fight against novel-Coronavirus at the grassroots level.

As per reports, sarpanch Kasturi Parida has declared complete shutdown of seven days in Burujhuri panchayat under Beguniapada block of Ganjam district.

Parida's decision comes after four local residents were tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three days and another was shifted from quarantine centre to nearby COVID-19 hospital.

Similarly, after a woman of Bhatakhuri village under Gangapada panchayat of Khurda district was tested positive with Coronavirus, the concerned sarpanch Geetanjali Maharana declared shutdown in Bhatakhuri and Gangapada panchayat for 48 hours.

Two panchayats of Gondia block in Dhenkanal district was put under shutdown by sarpanch Subhadarshini Parida after a person was detected positive for Coronavirus even after getting discharged from 14-day quarantine.

In a related incident, Ward No-1 to Ward No-16 of Brahmapur panchayat under Banki block of Cuttack district have been declared as containment zones after the aide of concerned gram panchayat sarpanch, engaged in duty at a quarantine centre was detected with the virus.

Following the detection, the sarpanch has been quarantined. Sources said swab samples will be collected from the sarpanch for COVID-19 examination.

Earlier on May 9, the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office praised Santilata Nayak, sarpanch of Manitara under Buguda block in Ganjam district for declaring a total shutdown of the gram panchayat for 20 hours.

The sarpanchs have been delegated the powers of under the Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act of 2005, The Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and with Odisha Covid-19 regulations, 2020.

(Edited by Suryakant Jena)

https://youtu.be/C1EYOTZSXjM

Read More:

OTV Exclusive: Odisha govt’s purchase of masks, PPE kits at inflated prices raises questions

Odisha CM Announces Rs 50 Lakh Assistance For Sarpanchs Losing Lives Battling Coronavirus