Chief ministerNaveenPatnaik announced a three-month door-to-door survey by ASHAs and anganwadi workers from May 24 to trace people suspected of having Covid in the wake of the rising infections in villages. He has also announced the formation of a task force for Oxygen management, the mainstay of medical care in the ongoing pandemic.
The CM said the government will pay extra incentives of Rs 1,000 per month to ASHAs for the three-month drive and Rs 10,000 one-time aid to buy bicycles, cupboards, slippers, umbrellas and torches since they will also have to monitor those recuperating in Home isolation. The move comes amid a government analysis that 57% infections in the state this month were from villages.
Naveen said community involvement has been one of the main pillars of the states Covid management and announced Rs 10,000 per Gaon Kalyan Samitis (village-level committees) for undertaking Covid-related activities at the village-level involving the local communities. For this, the state would have to incur an expenditure of Rs 46 crore for the 46106 GKS.