‘J’khand doing everything to check pandemic with minimum resources’

NEWDELHI: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren says the pace of Covid-19 testing has been slow in his state because of a delay in procuring testing kits and personal protection equipment (PPE) from the Centre. In an interview with have made 1,200 CM’S didi kitchens. The target is to feed 5,000 daily. But we have also received complaints. We have deployed flying squads and are trying to check people do not face food shortage. The government has also released two months of free ration to BPL card holders.

Do you fear community spread in Jharkhand?

You will be surprised to know that the people in our state are aware of the pandemic to the extent that they are being extra cautious. In many villages, residents have on their own enforced the lockdown and are not allowing any outsiders into their areas. You will find many such examples in rural areas. The problem may arise in urban areas and that is why we are taking extra precautions there.

How are you helped stranded migrant workers?

We have identified around 150,000 people who have come to Jharkhand since February 15. Out of those, more than 100,000 have been traced and stamped. We have also put in quarantine centres 5,000 people against whom lookout notices had been issued. We have set up control rooms, dedicated 70 phone lines for stranded people and deployed officials for better coordination. We are coordinating with those state governments. I cannot say that we have reached 100% people but our efforts to do so are ongoing.