ASSAM PLANS TO CONVERT STADIUMS INTO HOSPITAL

In a bid to intensify welfare measures and augment health facilities, Assam government on Thursday announced that 40 lakh students across the state won’t go hungry and will be provided mid-day meals at home during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

Health department too has started work on converting stadium into

2,000-bed field hospital dedicated for coronavirus patients.

Assam chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said,“We have ensured that the students do not go to sleep hungry and for that, the state government has decided to provide mid-day meals to students at home.”

All the students below

14 years of age will get the benefit of mid-day meals.

He, however, clarified that they had made arrangement for supplying the mid-day meals till March 31 but now it will be extended up to lockdown period.

“The schools have been provided with ration and we have ensured that students do not go to sleep hungry,” he added.

Meanwhile, the health department has embarked upon a massive plan to create isolation facilities for 2,000 people by converting stadiums into field hospital.

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters that two stadiums - Sarusajai and Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor stadiums would be used as quarantine block.

Fearing that Assam could get its first corona infected patient anytime as incubation period of the possible corona infected person was still on, the minister said that Assam has altogether 156 ventilators and 30 more are being added at Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal who on Thursday directed the authorities to ensure that supply chain of essential food item is maintained.