Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network –Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Apr 21: Aiming to contain the spread of Covid-19 and to create awareness among the public, the Dakshina Kannada district Congress Covid-19 helpline launched an awareness campaign, 'Break the Chain' here on Wednesday April 21.
Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson Ivan D'Souza said, "According to experts, the pandemic will last for one-and-half years. India is also heading towards the third phase. Hence, stopping the spread is very important. So, Congress has launched the 'Break the Chain' campaign to educate people in public places."
He also said that the Congress delegation which met the deputy commissioner (DC), urged to permit the final rites of Covid-19 victims at the crematorium in Boloor and Nandigudde free of cost. "As of now, Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 is being charged. The district administration or the city corporation should bear the cost,” he said adding that the DC has assured him of looking into the matter.
Ivan urged the district administration to publish the name and number of the nodal officer appointed to look after the cremation process of Covid-19 victims. He also said that the district administration should identify a separate land for burial of the Covid-19 victims.
He also said that that DC informed that there is no scarcity of funds to handle the Covid-19 situation in the district.
Slamming the district administration over the shortage of stock of vaccine in the district, Ivan said, “The district in-charge minister is silent. Our district has one minister but none knows where he is. BJP MLAs are busy laying foundation stones instead of taking measures to tackle the pandemic situation.
"The state government has indirectly imposed the lockdown by imposing strict guidelines for the people in the state,” he said.
On Governor Vajubhai R Vala chairing an all-party meeting on Tuesday April 20, to take stock of the Covid-19 situation, he said, “Such an incident has never taken place in the history. When the elected representatives are in the government, why is the Governor holding the meeting? It is a constitutional breakdown and ridiculous. It is the murder of democracy.”
Ivan said that the government should provide 10 kg of rice and grocery kits to BPL card holding families and re-start Indira canteens and increase the capacity of the same.
He also said that the district Congress Covid-19 helpline will hold a free vaccination drive for all the people above 45 years on April 23 at Lions Seva Mandir from 10 am to 2 pm. The vaccination will be provided to 250 people, he said.