Covid a challenge as long as cases exist: PM
NEW DELHI: India’s battle against Covid-19 requires continuous change and upgradation of plans and innovations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday while cautioning it will not be over if the virus remains even in a small area of the country.
He said there is more concern now about young people and children, a demography which has so far not been affected hard as the adult population with people in the older age bracket being seen more susceptible.
Addressing a virtual meeting of district magistrates of 10 states along with their chief ministers, Modi said the vaccine supplies would be strengthened and emphasised: “We have to save our villages.” He sought more ideas and new practices to tackle the pandemic and described the virus as “dhurt bahurupiya (rogue impersonator), referring to its mutations.
“Every phase of the pandemic has taught us that constant change, up-gradation, and constant innovation is key to fight the pandemic. This virus is famous for changing itself through mutations. It is like a bahurupia and it is clever as well. So, our strategies and plans should also be dynamic,”
he said at his virtual meeting with district magistrates.
When the tally goes down, people start thinking that there is no need to worry now, he said, cautioning against it. Modi called for collective responsibility in this regard among the government machinery, social organisations and elected representatives.
Modi commended the Union health ministry’s plan of providing vaccine stocks that will last 15 days and called for a need for a vaccination calendar. He added more transparency in the supply of vaccines will make the inoculation campaign easier.
The Prime Minister also said that there is a need to prevent vaccine wastage, saying every dose wasted is denying someone protection shield against the disease. Asking officials to analyse data separately for urban and rural regions besides those for tier 2 and 3 cities, Modi said it will help them prepare their strategy accordingly.
In his earlier meeting with district administrators on Tuesday, Modi called them the “field commanders” in the fight against the pandemic and spoke about their preparations for the civil service exams.
“You showed determination when you appeared for the exam. You solved problems with your own abilities. Today, you are facing the toughest test and now, you are using your abilities to solve even the smallest problems of your district.”
Modi said sensitivity and patience were essential in this battle and the “biggest jaributi (medicinal herb) of success is earning people’s trust”.
He called earning people’s trust the key to success while seeking ideas. Modi said the field experience was more valuable than intellectual debate. As infections have been spreading in smaller cities and rural areas, Modi urged the district administrators to reach out to the people and convince them to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour to curb the spread. “Your presence, your speeches can remove fear among people. We have to send a message...that we have to save our villages.”
Modi urged the magistrates to find unique solutions to their local problems and to do a separate analysis of the spread of the virus in tier two and three cities. He expressed confidence that a solution to check the virus from spreading in the rural areas can be found. “My experience says that if you convey the right things at the right time, people will follow religiously.”
The officials, who interacted with Modi via video-conferencing, were from Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
MODI SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO PREVENT VACCINE WASTAGE, SAYING EVERY DOSE WASTED IS DENYING SOMEONE COVID-19 PROTECTION