New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind along with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday held video-conference with Governors, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of various states and union territories to find ways to complement efforts of central and state governments in meeting the challenges arising from the outbreak of COVID-19.
In his opening remarks, the President referred to the collective strength of society and urged Governors, LGs and Administrators to mobilise volunteers of Indian Red Cross society, voluntary and religious organisations to contain the menace at the earliest.
Kovind and Naidu expressed hope that Indian society's inherent strength of "sharing and caring" and government's measures would mitigate sufferings of the most vulnerable sections of the society, particularly the workers of the unorganised sectors and the destitute.
In the video-conference, 14 Governors and Delhi Lt Governor shared experiences in their territories as the witnessed more cases of coronavirus.
The video conference was conducted by the Vice President and it brought out the best practices initiated by the various state while enforcing the lockdown in the country.
The video conference began with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari outlining measures initiated by the state administration to combat the pandemic. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan lauded the role of government, voluntary organisations, medical professionals, paramedics and the police for acting in a coordinated manner to persuade people to maintain social distancing in Kerala.
He recited a couplet and said, "yun hi basabab na fira karo, kisi shaam ghar bhi raha karo" ("Don't roam around without any purpose, stay at your home") to emphasise the significance of social distancing.
MBBS students and 1800 retired doctors in the state have enlisted with the state government to volunteer with their services if a need arises. Three hundred and seventy-five psychologists have also been roped in to give advice to those who find quarantine as a difficult phase in their lives.
An official release said that the move by Kerala was considered innovative and worth emulating by other states.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala called for collective strength of the society to fight the menace. The release said that almost 8000 Red Cross Society volunteers in the state were working to spread awareness about the disease. Akshay Patra, a social organisation, is also actively involved in distributing food packets all over the state.
Haryana Governor Satyadeo Narayan Arya said that the state was fully prepared to meet all challenges.
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal said that Delhi government and all other agencies were working in perfect coordination to enforce the lockdown and yet mitigate people's problems.
Baijal noted that he and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were meeting every day to take stock of the situation. At the district level, DCs and DCPs were coordinating moves to facilitate relief work and educate people about social distancing.
Gujarat Governor Acharya Dev Vrat said that quarantine facilities in the state were being augmented. Social awakening programmes have been initiated through media to motivate people to follow guidelines. He said Gujarat's cooperative spirit was in evidence in concerted efforts by government, social and religious organisations, private sector, voluntary and cultural organisations to pool their resources to meet the challenge.