Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu today asked the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Jammu Region to collaborate with the local Municipalities and identify mentally unsound, homeless destitute in their jurisdiction on priority and take effective steps to provide them with a means of sustenance.
He was chairing a meeting with the functionaries of IRCS, Jammu Region at the Raj Bhavan to take stock of activities being carried out by the society in wake of COVID-19 outbreak in the region.
Sh. Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Sh. Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, who is also the Chairman of IRCS, Jammu Region and Sh. Vinod Malhotra, Honorary Secretary, IRCS, Jammu Region attended the meeting.
The Lt Governor asked the Society to focus on taking immediate care of families whose sole bread earners have either been quarantined or put under isolation in an effort to control the cronavirus infection. He called for providing basic survival kits comprising ration, soaps, and medicines to the families in distress locality-wise so that the needy are covered in comprehensive manner.
The Lt Governor emphasized on massive awareness generation among the people by involving NGOs, social-religious organizations and volunteers to bring about a conscientious behavioral change with regard to the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and social distancing.
He stressed that efforts should be taken to mobilize volunteers and encouraging them to work in tandem with the administration after giving them proper health training. Further, the Society should organize awareness camps and undertake regular fumigation of places with high footfall especially the mandis, warehouses, and industrial estates.
Sh. Verma briefed the Lt Governor about various activities of the society towards COVID-19 prevention and relief efforts in the region. He further informed that around 400 food packets per day are being distributed by the Society in Jammu and continuous efforts are being made to upscale the distribution.