Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Monday announced that the local Civil Hospital would get a state-of-the-art 50-bedded capacity exclusive COVID wing in a month, which would be equipped with ultra modern health facilities including centralised availability of oxygen etc. Stating this while reviewing the steps being taken by the District Administration to contain the further spread of COVID, the Minister informed that the said wing would have separate male, female and kids wards besides counselling room, testing labs and prayer room etc, which would go a long way in keeping the corona virus under check.Accompanied by the Political Advisor of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and MLA from Urmar Sangat Singh Gilzian and Deputy Commissioner Apneet Riyait, the Minister interacted with the Civil Surgeon and other officers to know the status of COVID and patients in the district. In a fervent appeal to the people, the Minister also advised the people to follow COVID-19 guidelines strictly to avoid resurge of this virus. She said that if the people falter in adhering the guidelines, the virus can resurge again, which should be stopped at all costs in larger public interest.Divulging details of COVID cases in Punjab, Aruna Chaudhary said that as many as 21.45 lakh COVID tests were conducted in the state so far, of which 1.23 lakh people found positive. She said that out of these positive cases 1.10 lakh had return to their homes after getting well while nearly 10,000 positive cases were still active across the state. She also pointed out that the State Government had initiated lockdown and curfew well in time which saved numerous precious lives as the death rate in the state was three percent.
Speaking about the COVID situation in the Hoshiarpur district, the Minister informed that there were 1,23,828 tests conducted so far, of which 1,18,816 found negative and 5069 positive with 184 deaths. She said that COVID sampling had been ramped up in the district with nearly 2200 tests per day. There are five healthcare facilities developed by the District Administration for COVID patients while special arrangements to look after the COVID positive patients have been made at local Civil Hospital and Sub Divisions of Dasuya, Mukerian and Garhshankar.Meanwhile, the Minister took a round of Civil Hospital and also spoke with the patients and expressed her satisfaction over the preparations, arrangements and facilities being extended under COVID care.
AKALIS TRYING TO BEFOOL PEOPLE AFTER SUPPORTING FARM BILLS
Accusing the Shiromani Akali Dal for trying to get political mileage after tendering resignation from Union Cabinet and severing ties with its political ally BJP, the Minister asked the Akalis where were they when these black bills converted into acts. She said that the Akalis were vehemently supporting these black laws till the last day and when they gauge the level of farm anger they preferred to severe ties with BJP just to secure their own vested political interests.The Minister said that the Akalis were equally responsible for these ‘Punjab Maru, Kisan Maru’ acts and now they were pretending themselves as real sympathisers of farmers but they have to face the wrath of people in coming time for their anti-farmer deeds.Reiterating that commitment of Punjab Government, the Minister said that every possible step would be taken to protect the interests and rights of farmers.
Minister Visits Rahimpur Mandi To Take Stock Of Procurment Process
The Minister along with the Deputy Commissioner Apneet Riyait also inspected the procurement process in the local Rahimpur Mandi where She got the heap of farmer Amarijit Singh of village Kharkan procured. She also spoke with the farmers, arthiyas and officers of procurement agencies about the process and asked them to ensure seamless procurement by procuring the crop, lifting and payment within stipulated time frame. She also lauded the arrangements made by the District Administration in view of COVID so that the virus could not be spread further. It was informed that against the total expected arrival of 4.41 LMT the district mandis had witnessed the arrival of 139880 MT of paddy till Sunday evening, of which 138896 MT was procured while 75069 had also been lifted from the total 108 procurement centres.