Punjab to involve youth in fighting the pandemic

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday rolled out a new initiative, involving youth, to take forward the state’s Mission Fateh 2.0 as part of the ‘Corona Mukt Punjab Abhiyan’ (Covid-free Punjab Campaign), with directions to form groups of seven Rural Corona Volunteers (RCVs) per village or municipal ward as a cadre to fight the pandemic.

With the villages more badly affected in the second wave of Covid, it was important to drive a strong campaign for “Corona Mukt Pind”, he said, directing the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs and DCs to immediately form such RCVs to be the torchbearers in the war against the contagion. Existing clubs can also become RCVs, he said, adding that these could work as a powerful support system for the Panchayats and Municipalities in the war against COVID.

Interacting with youth from rural and urban areas through video conferencing, the Chief Minister said as a result of the support of the people, the number of cases in the state had come down from around 9000 to 4000+ in a matter of about three weeks. But given the impact on rural areas this time, the situation continues to be grave, he said.

The Chief Minister tasked the RCVs with carrying forward the 3Ts drive (Test, Trace and Treat), taking care of poor and elderly and connecting them to the Covid Control Rooms and helplines, conducting Theekri Pehras in all villages, promoting Covid appropriate behaviour, assisting villagers in accessing adequate healthcare, discouraging Quacks, encouraging download of COVA App, besides preparing and displaying banners and pamphlets.

The youth could also play a big role in countering rumours and false propaganda on social media, he said, adding that the state government will extend full support to them to fight the pandemic “and save Punjab together.”