COVID-19: President Ram Nath Kovind interacts with Governors, Lieutenant Governors

From roping in retired doctors and psychologists to enlisting Red Cross volunteers and using social media to spread awareness, Governors on Friday shared the best practices adopted by states in the fight against coronavirus during a video conference with President Ram Nath Kovind.

The President's video conference, which was attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, saw 15 Governors and Lieutenant Governors sharing their thoughts even as Kovind urged everyone to hold regular stock-taking with the state government and make contributions in a way that the battle again Covid-19 could be taken to a logical end.

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While Kovind asked the Governors to mobilise volunteers of Indian Red Cross society and voluntary and religious organisations to contain the menace at the earliest, Governors spoke about readying university campuses as isolation centres, spreading awareness among tribal population and ensuring enough food for the vulnerable sections of the society.

Speaking during the video conference, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala emphasised the collective strength of the society to fight the menace and said around 8,000 Red Cross volunteers were working in the state to spread awareness about the disease. He also spoke about a voluntary organisation Akshay Patra distributing food packets all over the state.

Incidentally, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan broke into a couplet “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. He also showcased the Kerala government's preparedness in fighting COVID-19.

Lauding the role of voluntary organisations, medical professionals, paramedics and police, who are acting in a coordinated manner to persuade people to maintain social distancing, he said the government has enlisted 1,800 retired doctors and MBBS students to volunteer with their services if the need arises.

Besides this, 375 psychologists are also roped in to give advice to those who find quarantine as a difficult phase in their lives. "This is considered to be an innovative move in Kerala worth emulating for other states," Khan said.

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Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan spoke about the extensive use of social media by the state government. She also informed that Raj Bhavan has taken initiative to provide food to about 800 families living nearby even as the Vice President suggested to her rope in artistes, film stars, writers and intellectuals to raise the level of awareness among people about the seriousness of the pandemic.

Emphasising that proximity to international border that makes Bihar more vulnerable, Governor Phagu Chauhan said the state administration has done good work while applauding the work by Red Cross for the work its volunteers are doing and providing district authorities with its ambulances.

Tamil Nadu's initiative to provide construction workers with rice and dal, Rs 1,000 to all ration card holders and subsidised food in Amma canteens were highlighted by Governor Banwarilal Purohit during his intervention.

Quarantine facilities in the State were being augmented in Gujarat, Governor Acharya Dev Brat said adding the state's cooperative spirit is invoked to launch concerted efforts by government, social and religious organisations, private sector, voluntary and cultural organisations to pool in their resources to meet the challenge.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon said Madhya Pradesh government is making food available to all daily wagers. Rajasthan, on its part, has created a fund to enable people to make donations, Governor Kalraj Mishra said.

Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases

Addressing the Governors, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu told the Governors that their leadership is crucial in this moment of crisis as they are the first citizens of states. “Your leadership is crucial and your guidance, facilitation and motivating ability can be most valuable,” he said.

He asked them to involve religious and spiritual leaders, film and sports celebrities as well as public personalities, including literary giants and artists, to promote awareness to combat COVID-19. Naidu also appealed to private hospitals to earmark some beds for COVID-19 patients.

Another point the Vice President wanted Governors, as Chancellors of universities, was exploring the possibility of conducting online classes to complete the curriculum and ensure the academic schedule was not disturbed.

He also said they could motivate Universities, Kendriya Vidyalayas and other educational institutions and religious bodies to contribute to free up spaces to allocate space for isolation wards for COVID-19 patients.