Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 5

In a series of new measures to ensure smooth supply of essentials to the people, the Punjab Government has set up Transport facilitation controls to maintain uninterrupted movement of trucks etc, carrying such supplies, while deciding to impose Rs. 1.85 lakh penalty against anyone found selling essential items above MRP.

While the central transport control room is headed by the State Transport Commission, the facilitation controls rooms in the districts are headed by Secretary and the RTA, according to an official spokesperson.

Under orders from Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the Transport Department has also stepped up supplies for other states which are deficient in food grains and other essentials.

The outward movement of stocks to deficient states has gone up by almost 50% over the normal, said the spokesperson, adding that nearly 20-25 rakes of wheat/rice containing 54,000-67,500 tonnes are being dispatched daily to the deficient States.

The Chief Minister, during the Cabinet meeting on Saturday, gave strict instructions to check the prices of all essential commodities and take strong action against those found hoarding/black-marketing/overcharging. Enforcement teams are working constantly to check overpricing etc and are taking stringent action against those indulging in such malpractices, especially who are selling items on higher rates than the prescribed ones.

As many as 15 establishments in Pathankot, 10 in Gurdaspur, 15 in Ferozepur, one in Ludhiana and 11 in SAS Nagar have been raided by the teams and one Gas Agency has been challenged, the cabinet was informed.

Meticulous monitoring is, in particular, is done for food items like wheat /atta and rice, dal, cooking oil, masala, vegetables, as well as masks, sanitizers etc. Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies informed the Council of Ministers that constant monitoring is being to ascertain

The difficulties being faced in the maintenance of supply line, besides collecting data from Excise and Taxation Department and establishing networks with retailers like Reliance Fresh, Walmart, Big Bazaar etc.

Constant liaison is also being maintained with the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for uninterrupted supply of essential goods. Further, Nodal Officers of Police and Food and Civil Supplies departments are coordinating and facilitating inter/intrastate movement of essential commodities.

The newly formed transport control rooms will help the truck operators and drivers to move their trucks (loaded or empty) anywhere in Punjab for essential commodities’ transportation. These control rooms will liaison with various authorities to ensure that these operators don’t face any problem.

They will also help truckers from Punjab who are facing problems anywhere in India by coordinating with the concerned authorities of those states.

Similarly, these control rooms will also help the traders, manufacturers of essential commodities based out of Punjab to engage trucks for transportation of essential commodities to its place of consumption, said the spokesperson.

The State Control Room has been established at Chandigarh with mobile numbers 9814078544 & 9023459522.

In the districts, the control rooms have been set up at Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) at Amritsar (Amritsar & Tarn Taran) mobile Nos 9814255623 & 8872383600, Bathinda (Bathinda & Mansa) 9779700074 & 7508732655, Faridkot (Faridkot, Muktsar & Moga) 9872676005 & 9914105200, Ferozpur (Ferozepur & Fazilka)8146852748 & 7889221313, Gurdaspur (Gurdaspur  & Pathankot) 7340701977 & 8288008751, Hoshiarpur  (Hoshiarpur  & SBS Nagar) 9646711100 & 8727049033, Jalandhar (Jalandhar & Kapurthala) 9872413497 & 9815256996, Ludhiana 9888405018 & 8528214311, Patiala (Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib) 8360417470 & 9501032006, SAS Nagar (SAS Nagar & Ropar) 8853400000 & 8427820090 and Sangrur (Sangrur & Barnala)9814069272 & 9814700505.

Goods Vehicle Operators/Drivers can contact these control rooms for assistance related to plying of their vehicles, for food availability and shelter on the routes, said the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, as part of the relief operations, 10 lakh food packets comprising each of 10 kg wheat, 2 kg dal and 2 kg sugar have been distributed amongst the people living on the margins and left out of the NFSA domain.

Another 1.2 lakh packets have been distributed amongst the migrant population (around 7.5 lakhs) settled in different industrial cities/towns of the State viz. Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Batala.

For supply of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders, refilling facility of 5 kg LPG Cylinders is being provided exclusively to migrant workers in Ludhiana through the retail chain and the entire cost is being borne by State Government.

Oil companies are being facilitated for uninterrupted supply of Petrol, Diesel & LPG Cylinders by ensuring smooth movement of vehicles. An additional allocation of 2.2LMT wheat & 10,800MT of Channa Dal is also being distributed free of cost to NFSA beneficiaries under PM Garib Kalyana Yojana.

Door to door supply is being ensured of vegetables and other grocery items across the state. PUNSUP has been designated as the nodal agency for managing the retail chain for allocation of wheat and rice from FCI and Markfed for allocation of dal from NAFED and supply of edible oil. Sugarfed has notified control rates of sugar at which wholesalers can purchase sugar to feed the retail chains.

In interview to ThePrint, Rawat also says Quick Reaction Medical Teams (QRMTs) have been readied to mobilise at short notice to meet the requirements of civil administration.

His remarks in an interview to ThePrint come at a time when the government is increasingly utilising the resources and expertise of the Army, Air Force and the Navy to fight the coronavirus outbreak that has led to a nationwide lockdown of 21 days.

“We would like to emphasise that our main objective now is nation first – ‘Har Kaam Desh ke Naam‘,” he told ThePrint.

Gen Rawat further said the armed forces are mandated to provide assistance to civil authorities whenever requisitioned. “But we have decided to operate beyond our mandate and provide all kinds of assistance that we can provide, even if it causes inconvenience to our people, without compromising on health and hygiene issues,” he said.

The CDS, who is spearheading the military’s response to the challenges posed due to coronavirus, said the armed forces are in constant liaison with civil administration so that if there is additional requirement of assistance, they are able to respond effectively.

Asked specifically if the military should be deployed more in the war against coronavirus, he said, “Armed Forces are ready to operate beyond the stated mandate and assist the nation in the fight against coronavirus”.

Also read: It is war. Modi govt must deploy Indian military to fight coronavirus

Services strictly adhering to guidelines

Gen Rawat also said that the Services are strictly adhering to all instructions and guidelines being disseminated by the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Health and its own medical authorities.

“Viruses do not distinguish a person in uniform from others, however, our personnel follow a disciplined regime and hence are less likely to be affected,” he said.

He said the Services have taken various measures like curtailing movement by cancellation of courses of instructions, restrictions on leave, work from home wherever feasible, social distancing and ensuring proper health and hygiene of all personnel and families.

This will help in preventing the spread of the virus.

Asked if the virus has impacted operational preparedness, he said the Service Chiefs are aware of their roles and tasks in maintaining operational preparedness at all times.

“This is their primary responsibility,” he said.

Medical infrastructure to be augmented

Gen Rawat also said necessary instructions have been communicated to augment medical facilities and infrastructure including increasing the capacity for surveillance and isolation facilities at military hospitals.

“Services hospitals have been kept on standby for establishing Covid-19 hospitals in high infection identified areas. Responsive and agile Quick Reaction Medical Teams (QRMTs) are ready to mobilise at short notice to meet the requirements of civil administration.

“Also, services of military hospitals and laboratories are extended to assist civil administration on requisition,” he said.

The CDS underlined that there is excellent synergy between all organs of the government and the three services are geared to deal with any challenge arising out of the current Covid-19 situation.

“It is important to follow guidelines that will prevent the spread of the virus amongst our citizens. Mass movement of people from areas that are witnessing higher numbers of infected people, to the lesser affected regions, will only compound the problem,” he said.

He added that under such conditions, one must appreciate that it is not business as usual.

“Everyone has to be prepared for some inconvenience that is caused due to imposed restrictions, for our safety and well being,” he said.

New Delhi: The Army is in the process of setting up ad hoc isolation facilities with a total capacity of nearly 16,000 people, as India gears up to isolate and test more suspected Covid-19 patients.

According to the Union health ministry figures (updated until Friday afternoon), the number of Covid-19 cases in India has climbed to 2,301, while the death toll has risen to 56.

Sources told ThePrint that in addition to the existing quarantine facilities set up by the Army, all six commands will set up ad hoc isolation facilities, which can cater to 15,700 patients if needed.

A senior Army officer told ThePrint that field hospitals may be roped in for the purpose. Army Public Schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas and other grounds may also be used to create infrastructure for these facilities, which can be made available at short notice.

Also read: IAF airlifts 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines, hospital consumables to Maldives

How the armed forces have been helping

The armed forces have increased their assistance to civil authorities in the last few weeks, since the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Together, the Army, Navy and Air Force are running six quarantine facilities at Mumbai, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai, in which 1,737 people have been housed, and 403 released so far.

Another 15 facilities are being kept ready as standby for use, if required.

A government statement Friday said three positive Covid-19 cases — two from Hindon and one from Manesar — were referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for further treatment.

The statement said that dedicated Covid-19 facilities including high dependency units. Intensive care unit beds are being prepared in 51 hospitals of the armed forces across the country, including at Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Dundigal near Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kanpur, Jaisalmer, Jorhat and Gorakhpur.

Five viral testing labs, which can carry out Covid-19 tests, have been operationalised, including at the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) in Delhi; Air Force Command Hospital, Bengaluru; Armed Forces Medical College, Pune; Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow; and Command Hospital (Northern Command), Udhampur.

Six more hospitals will begin testing soon.

At a recent review of the preparations by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat had said hospitals have been identified to exclusively deal with Covid-19, and more than 9,000 hospital beds have been made available.

Also read: Navy gets battle-ready for Covid-19 with low-cost temperature sensor, oxygen supply system

Help for neighbouring countries

Special flights of the Indian Air Force have evacuated people and carried medical supplies.

A C-17 Globemaster III has carried 15 tonnes of medical supplies to China and, on the return flight, airlifted 125 persons, including five children, mostly Indian nationals and few citizens from friendly countries.

The C-17 Globemaster III also went to Iran and brought back 58 stranded Indians that included 31 women and two children. The aircraft has also brought 529 samples for Covid-19 testing.

A defence ministry statement added: “The C-130J Super Hercules aircraft has ferried around 6.2 tonnes of medicines to Maldives. An Army Medical Corps team with five doctors, two nursing officers and seven paramedics was deployed in Maldives for capacity building measures and assisted in setting up their own testing, treatment and quarantine facilities between 13-21 March 2020.”

The IAF’s transport fleet is assisting in transportation of essential supplies, medicines and medical equipment.

“So far, approximately 60 tonnes of stores have been airlifted to various parts of the country. Twenty-eight fixed wing and 21 helicopters are on standby at various locations across the country,” the statement said.

Six Naval ships loaded with medical team and HADR bricks are kept on standby for assistance at Visakhapatam, Kochi and Mumbai to respond to any requests from neighbouring countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, it said. Five medical teams are also on standby for deployment in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan, it added.

Also read: Coronavirus doesn’t stop Indian Army from carrying out its annual cyber security exercise

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 5

To honour and motivate the police personnel working at the frontline of the battle against Covid-19, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has authorised the DGP to institute a new award for cops doing exceptional work and going beyond the call of duty during the current crisis.

DGP Dinkar Gupta said he had chosen ASI (LR) Bikar Singh and constable Sukhjinder Pal Singh of Moga for the ‘DGP’s Honour & Disc for Exemplary Seva to Society’. The two policemen assisted a woman of Moga’s Dharamkot in delivering a baby two days ago after she had been denied admission by many hospitals late at night.

In addition, the DGP has also selected SHO Sanjeev Kumar of Amritsar, who has been feeding the poor and hungry with a missionary zeal.

Nearly 50,000 policemen are deployed in the field, helping out people, especially the poor, underprivileged, unemployed and homeless people. At times, they also spend out of their pockets to help the needy.

In these difficult times, policemen have taken the lead in galvanising and mobilising the community to arrange for food for the less fortunate such as daily wage workers and migrant labourers. The cops are also working in close coordination with NGOs and religious organisations, especially gurdwaras, to ensure that everyone is fed and taken care of. Till date, they have fed over 3.2 crore people in the state which is more than the state’s total population.

Woman delivers baby on roadside

Tribune News Service

Moga, April 5

A woman was forced to deliver a baby on a roadside in Dharamkot town, Moga district, as no doctor was available to attend to her.

SSP Harmanbir Singh Gill said two policemen on duty called two local women, who helped Jyoti (30) deliver a baby. Her husband Harmesh Kumar, a daily wage earner, said he took Jyoti to the PHC in Dharamkot, but found no doctor there. He then took her to a private hospital, where no one came forward to help them. “Police officials came to our rescue. They also dropped us home,” he said.

Earlier on January 9, two women — Amandeep Kaur and Mamta Rani — gave birth on the floor of the maternity ward in the district hospital here.

No doctor attended to them. Nurses and paramedical staff helped the women deliver babies on the floor of the hospital.

Unfortunately, Amandeep Kaur’s child died of pneumonia later.

Dr Rakesh Bali, Senior Medical Officer, Kot-ise-Khan, said the Health Department staff, posted in the primary health centre (PHC) at Dharamkot, were away to Janer village for screening Covid suspects.

Modiji’s intentions in declaring a lockdown were noble as well as necessary. Could his army of advisers not have anticipated this tragedy? A solution should be found to at least partly compensate for the hard time

Julio Ribeiro

Julio Ribeiro

He was only a boy, 14 or 15 years of age. On his back he carried his meagre belongings, just one change of clothes, perhaps two if he had earned enough to feed his fancy. It would surprise me if he did not possess a mobile phone! Every boy from UP or Bihar, MP or Rajasthan, who has come to the big cities as migrant labour, has to have a mobile to keep in touch with his family back home. That picture on TV will forever remain with me!

The boy was weeping! He had just been caned by exasperated policemen whose one and only concern was to keep citizens off the streets. The boy hailed from the same social background and the same economic bracket as the policeman (before the policeman was recruited in the force). But that thought, even if did arise, would not deter the policeman from using his lathi on the boy!

The thought process of a policeman would not cross the boundaries of the orders emanating from the very top. Modiji had requested every citizen to stay home. And at home he or she had to keep a social distance of 3 feet from other members of the family. The boy was not aware of Modiji’s diktat. He only knew that the coronavirus had thrown him and other migrant labourers on the road without any shelter and without the means to earn his daily wage, half of which he sent home to his impecunious parents and the other half which he spent on keeping himself alive!

For him and the other migrant labourers on the roads, egressing the city, it was Hobson’s choice. They stayed on the roads and starved to death or they walked hundreds of kilometres to their villages to the security of the family where blood ties provided love and sympathy, which human beings crave even if that does not put food in their bellies.

Such niceties are beyond the understanding of a policeman. If a sensitive police leader has failed to put such thoughts in his ears, emphasising instead the paramount duty of keeping citizens confined to their own homes to break corona’s cycle, he is going to wield his lathi on the backs and legs of the poor labourers faced by death from starvation or from the virus.

The picture of that boy crying after being assaulted for choosing not to die of starvation has forced Modiji to apologise to the migrant labourers, who for a pittance are the backbone of the construction industry, in particular. When Modiji advised us to stay indoors, we accepted his sage advice because like him we belong to the ranks of the haves and neither Modiji or his cohorts of advisers, nor we spared a thought for the unfortunate!

The boys from UP and Bihar who provide the essential domestic help to the feudal and the nouveau riche in the city of Mumbai brought the reactions of this segment of our population to my notice in a tone and tenor that made me flinch. Why did Modiji have to spring this lockdown on us in the same manner as he did when he demonetised the 1,000 and 500 rupee notes? I explained the reasons. Then, in that case, why did he order the police to beat the poor labourers? Again, I explained that Modiji had, obviously, forgotten that only ‘sahibs’ possessed flats where they and their families could make themselves comfortable for three weeks. I said I would not hold Modiji guilty on this count because I, too, with my genuine concern for the poor, had not factored in this obvious outcome of the suddenly announced lockout.

Incidentally, renovation of the exteriors of our society building was being done when the lockdown was announced. The boys staying on site were twiddling their thumbs. Some residents felt that they were a source of possible contamination and should be asked to leave. Wiser counsel prevailed and they were allowed to stay on till the contractor could move them to another of his sites not far away. The boys themselves wish to go home to Madhya Pradesh, but cannot.

Modiji’s intentions in declaring the lockdown were noble as well as necessary. Could his army of advisers not have anticipated this tragedy? Modiji had lost traction after the CAA and NRC was announced and the youth lost hope after the JNU incident. Now, the poor — who had propelled him to office because of the houses and toilets he built for them, the direct money transfers he organised to eliminate the middlemen and the village roads he got constructed — are shocked by the treatment meted out to their friends, who constitute the bulk of the migrant labour.

It is not enough to merely apologise to the wronged. The problem is not an easy one to solve, I admit. But, as I said, Modiji has a vast reservoir of thinking men and women at his disposal. He should be able to find a solution that will at least partly compensate for the hard times these poor men have faced consequent to the lockdown.

The naval dockyard in Mumbai has designed a hand-held temperature sensor while a Portable Multi-feed Oxygen Manifold was designed by personnel in Visakhapatnam

New Delhi: As the country steps up its battle against Covid-19, the Indian Navy’s Mumbai and Visakhapatnam dockyards have also turned their attention to fighting the deadly virus.

While the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai has designed and developed its own hand-held infrared-based temperature sensor for screening of personnel, the one in Visakhapatnam has manufactured a portable system that can supply oxygen to six people at a time.

India has so far seen 50 deaths and over 1,700 positive cases of Covid-19.

The 285-year-old dockyard in Mumbai, of the Western Naval Command, has an average influx of 20,000 people every day. In view of the pandemic, initial screening of those entering the premises has become essential to prevent the spread of Covid-19 within the yard and the Western Fleet.

The most preliminary way to screen a probable Covid-19 patient is by checking their body temperature.

In a statement, the Navy has said that the decision to develop hand-held sensors was taken to overcome the scarcity of temperature guns and their higher price in the market due to the pandemic.

The hand-held thermometer developed by the Navy, which has an accuracy of 0.02 degree Celsius, was manufactured for less than Rs 1,000 using in-house resources. A statement by the Indian Navy also noted that the dockyard has the capability to scale up production of the temperature guns if required.

The price of temperature guns in the market start at Rs 3,000 with the more sophisticated ones costing around Rs 30,000.

The hand-held thermometre is expected to reduce the load on security guards at the gate of the Mumbai dockyard.

Also read: Coronavirus doesn’t stop Indian Army from carrying out its annual cyber security exercise

Oxygen supply system

Personnel from the Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard have developed a ‘Portable Multi-feed Oxygen Manifold’ which can supply oxygen to multiple patients. Covid-19 is known to affect the respiratory system of patients.

The instrument fits into a single cylinder and can supply oxygen to six patients simultaneously from one bottle. A typical oxygen providing facility at hospitals comprises of an oxygen cylinder feeding only one patient through a Ventimask arrangement.

The preliminary trials of the Portable Multi-feed Oxygen Manifold were conducted at the dockyard in Visakhapatnam. It was followed by rapid trails at the Naval Hospital INHS Kalyani during which the portable instrument was set-up in 30 minutes.

Following these successful trials, the Visakhapatnam dockyard has now begun manufacture of 10 such devices.

While the Union health ministry’s data shows there are 8,432 ventilators in the public sector in India, Chennai-based medical device maker Trivitron Healthcare has said that there were about 40,000 ventilators across the country — mostly in the private sector.

The Indian Army has so far only been operating out of quarantine camps set up by the armed service for coronavirus patients.

New Delhi: A medical team from the Army was deployed at the Narela quarantine camp in Delhi Friday where some of the coronavirus-infected patients from the Tablighi Jamaat eventare being kept. This is the first time the armed service has been deployed at a civil centre set up to handle the coronavirus cases.

So far, the Army’s doctors and specialists have only been operating out of the quarantine centres set up by the force.

Defence sources said none of the quarantined people misbehaved with the Army medical team after reports emerged that some Tablighi Jamaat members refused to cooperate and even harassed civil medical teams.

“This deployment consists of two doctors and two nurses. They are accompanied by a protective unit as per standard operating procedure,” said an Army source.

Also read: There is a reason India turned to Armed Forces Medical Services when it came to coronavirus

Health ministry requests for Army team

Another source said that the deployment was made at the request of the health ministry after the Delhi government appealed for it since there was a lot of pressure on the civil medical teams.

The armed forces have already been directed to augment medical resources for civil health set-ups too.

Currently, there are six quarantine facilities being run by the Army — Mumbai, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai — at which 1,737 people have been treated. Of these cases, 403 patients have been released.

The Army is also preparing dedicated Covid-19 facilities, including high-dependency units and intensive care unit beds, at 51 Army hospitals. Some of these facilities are located at Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Dundigal (near Hyderabad), Bengaluru, Kanpur, Jaisalmer, Jorhat and Gorakhpur.

Also read: It is war. Modi govt must deploy Indian military to fight coronavirus

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 5

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has called up the son and the nephew of former Hazoori Ragi Bhai Nirmal Singh, who died of Covid last week, to extend his condolences. He also assured them of the government’s support in the treatment of family members, who have tested positive for the virus.

All Covid patients would be provided proper care in line with the government’s medical protocol, the Chief Minister assured Bhai Nirmal Singh’s son Amiteshwar Singh and nephew Jagpreet Singh.

The Health Department would monitor their progress, he said, and asked them to contact him in case they needed any assistance. Capt Amarinder also enquired about the well-being of the members of the family who had tested positive.

The Chief Minister termed as “unfortunate” the delay in ragi’s cremation because of unfounded fears of Verka village residents. “I have ordered authorities that no such incident should take place again,” he said.

Capt Amarinder said he had asked the Chief Secretary and the DGP to ensure that health and other officials at the district level complied with government instructions and take action against those found violating instructions.

Taksalis hit out at govt

Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) president Ranjit Singh Brahmpura on Sunday criticised the Capt Amarinder Singh government for alleged negligence in the treatment of Bhai Nirmal Singh. In the four-minute audio clip, which is being circulated, Bhai Nirmal Singh is heard telling his son Amiteshwar Singh about the poor facilities in the isolation ward and that he may not survive. “The Health Department’s preparedness for Covid has been exposed,” Brahmpura said in a statement. The former MP added, “Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh should order an inquiry into the ragi’s death.” TNS

He said that the army, navy and air force have moved into action by dedicating 17-18 hospitals to care for the infected, and the total bed capacity in the forces has been ramped up to 15,000 so far.

ndia’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat believes that India must break the Covid-19 virus chain by April 14, through the lockdown and social distancing, or be prepared to weather the long-term consequences of the pandemic.

“The military dictum is ‘prepare or perish’, but in these times of Covid we have refined it to ‘prepare or suffer’. We must arrest the spread of the virus through a 100% lockdown and social distancing by April 14. With the harvesting season around the corner, India cannot afford the numbers to go up. The military is totally prepared to stand up to the demands made by government and the people,” Gen Rawat said in a phone interview.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

He said that the army, navy and air force have moved into action by dedicating 17-18 hospitals to care for the infected, and the total bed capacity in the forces has been ramped up to 15,000 so far. “We have hospitals ready even in far-off places like Dimapur and Zakhama in Nagaland, even though the virus has not spread in North-east India. We have now two to three hospitals ready in each zone to treat, manage and control the infection,” he said.

Also Read: Coronavirus: How world reached a million cases in 93 days

The CDS said that the military and its doctors were constantly in touch with the Union health ministry, and he, as secretary of military affairs, was attending meetings with PK Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, and cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba.

Gen Rawat said that one ward in each hospital, including places such as Delhi where the base hospital is normally crowded, will be dedicated for Covid-19 patients. “We have created isolation and quarantine facilities in Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jhansi to accommodate 500 patients each for treatment, to add to the capacity of para-military facilities, such as the one in Manesar,” he said.

The single-point military advisor to the government said that since army, navy and air force schools are closed due to the lockdown, the premises can be prepared as quarantine centres. “We have three army public schools, one navy school and one air force public school in Delhi. It has been decided that these schools should be made ready to be made quarantine centres, if required. Even though the capacities of these schools is about 1,500 patients each, only 200 will be put up in each school due to proper sanitation requirements. The same model is being readied in other parts of the country if there is a requirement, or in a worst-case scenario.”

Also Read: Covid-19: What you need to know today

Gen Rawat also said that the defence ministry has made an important change in the procurement manual by allowing advance payments to be made to the manufacturers of medical equipment such as ventilators, masks and protection suits. “We have already placed an order of 370 ventilators with the DRDO {Defence Research and Development Organisation} and are asking ordnance factories also for manufacture of masks and PPE {personal protective equipment} suits. The power to make advance payments has been given to director generals of armed medical services, army commanders, corps commanders and brigade commanders so that there is no shortage of any medical supplies, both for troops and the public,” he said.

The CDS also said that two naval medical ships were ready to help neighbouring countries in case of a medical emergency. The air force, which recently flew a 14-member team to the Maldives, is prepared to ferry medical supplies in and out of the country.

Although Gen Rawat is optimistic that India can contain the virus, he is “keeping his fingers crossed” and hoping that “social distancing, lockdown, and the Indian summer heat” will end the threat.

Amit Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 5

From providing medicines and ration to getting their wheelchairs fixed and taking them for a health check-up, the UT police have come to the service of senior citizens in all possible ways during the lockdown.

Understanding the need for keeping in touch with the elderly, especially when there are restrictions in the city, police personnel started making calls through the control room on March 31 and till April 5, 4,480 senior citizens were called up of whom 2,328 attended their calls. The police said 105 of them sought police assistance.

UT SSP Nilambari Jagdale said senior citizens had sought help for delivering medicines, ration, vegetables and fruits. “A Sector 21 resident also asked to get her wheelchair repaired,” the SSP said.

She said the SHOs concerned were being apprised of the need and they were doing the needful on priority.

The police said a few senior citizens were also taken for a check-up to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, besides banks and ATMs to withdraw money. “We will continue providing assistance to them in future as well,” the SSP said.

“We are taking special care of senior citizens who are staying alone,” the police official said.

The police are also making calls to pregnant women to ensure their well-being. “Those in need can call the emergency number 112 for assistance and we will send our team for help,” said a police official.