Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that public cooperation is vital to Jammu & Kashmir’s fight against Corona and is proving to be of immense help in containing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. He also appreciated the perfect harmony between the administration and civil society which has yielded positive dividends over the last four weeks.
Dr Jitendra Singh was speaking in over one-and-half hour long video conference interaction with public activists from different districts across the Union Territory of J&K. The districts that were represented in the video conference meet included Jammu, Srinagar, Kathua, Baramulla, Udhampur, Anantnag, Samba, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Bandipora, Kishtwar, Reasi and Budgam.
Each of the districts in the Union Territory, said Dr Jitendra Singh, had commendably discharged its responsibilities depending upon the peculiar requirements and constraints of the given district. For example, he said, while Kathua had set an example of magnanimity by offering hospitality to a sudden influx of around 4,000 people overnight in a small town immediately after the declaration of lockdown, Bandipora in Kashmir valley despite falling in risk zone had effectively pursued the task of tracing the possible Corona contacts.
During the interaction with activists and political representatives from different districts across the Union Territory, Dr Jitendra Singh not only appreciated the exemplary synergism with which the civil administration, Police authorities and the civil society had unitedly taken on the Corona challenge but also expressed the hope that the combined efforts will soon put an end to this ordeal and J&K would be able to set an example among all the Union Territories and States of the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh also noted the fact that out of 20 districts in the Union Territory of J&K, 6 had remained Corona-free till now, while two other districts of Rajouri and Udhampur were initially high risk zones but are now gradually coming out of that.
Referring to united cooperation and coordination among district administration, Police and public, Dr Jitendra Singh lauded the scientifically set up quarantine centres in remote areas like Kishtwar and Doda. While he appreciated the people of Reasi for having cooperated in suspension of Shree Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, he also at the same time appreciated the representatives from Srinagar and other districts in the valley for having cooperated with the administration to convince the people to offer the Friday Namaz from home without crowding in the mosques.
Reiterating that there is no shortage of essential supplies, Dr Jitendra Singh asked the participants to assure public that the medical equipment and the masks are also available in sufficient quantity. He, however, advised that sophisticated N-95 face masks should be reserved for high risk professionals i.e. Doctors, Paramedics and Police personnel, while most of us should use homemade masks or ordinary handkerchief made masks so that the scientific or surgical masks are spared for those who actually require these.
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