Agri Minister assures enough foodgrain
Source: The Sangai Express
CCpur, March 29 2020:
The Minister in-charge of super-vising COVID-19 related response of the Government in Churachandpur and Pherzawl has assured the people of the twin districts not to panic over scarcity of essential commodities saying enough foodgrain will be in stock to sustain the 21-day lockdown period.
Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian made the assurance late yesterday while addressing a handful of press men along with the nodal officer P Vaiphei and local officials from the two districts.
Acting on his assurances, 15 outlying villages have lifted rice for their respective villages yesterday while many of the localities within the township distributed free rice on Sunday to those in need.
Sources said the distribution would go on until all villages are covered.
The Minister also said there is no reasosn to panic since there is no COVID-19 positive case yet in the two districts, but nevertheless added that the best possible preventive measures should not be compromised.
With the Government waging a two-front battle of preventing the spread of COVID-19, and its people from going hungry, the Minister also assured sufficient medical equipment for the Health officials who are at the forefront on the fight against the deadly pandemic.
Local authorities would also re-work their strategy to ensure that groceries and other essential commodities are accessible to the public while at the same time ensuring the best possible preventive measures, he said.
Meanwhile, the health workers in the district have reportedly stitched improvised PPEs for the medical fraternity who would be on duty at the District Hospital.
They would be fumigated after every use on a daily basis, said a source.