Government prepares rural India for fight against COVID-19

*Thumbnail*- Panchayats to lead the fight against COVID-19

Rural India is stepping up and accepting the challenge posed by pandemic and Ministry of Panchayati is gearing up to address vulnerabilities of rural India in combating COVID-19 pandemic. Central government realises the need to address the vulnerabilities of the rural communities. Like last year, panchayats or rural local bodies are being facilitated towards providing leadership in meeting the challenge

*Advisory issued for guidance of Panchayats*

An advisory has been issued for the guidance of Panchayats. It includes the actions that are needed for combating COVID-19 pandemic. It suggests an intensive communication campaign for preventing COVID which should include preventive and mitigative measures. Ministry of Health has also advised this for the awareness of rural communities. The advisory also says to draw the frontline volunteers, teachers, ASHA workers for the campaign.

*What does the advisory cover?*

Necessary facilities will be provided on panchayat level. It will include equipments like oxy-meters, N-95 masks, thermal screening instruments and sanitizers

Now real-time information of bed, doctors and testing or vaccination centers will be displayed. This will lead to effective utilization of the infrastructure. IT infrastructure in the Panchayat offices, Schools, Common Service Centers can also be used for tracking and information display. Along with these, panchayats have been asked to provide institutional village level support catering to their respective.

*Isolation centers for needy*

Panchayats will improvise households as home quarantine locations, where maximum of the asymptomatic Covid positive cases can be managed. Along with this, they may set up specific isolation centers for the needy and returning migrant labourers.

It has been advised that in every village time-to-eime surveillance should be done by ASHA workers under guidance of Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC). After that, symptomatic patients will be screened at village level by teleconsultation with Community Health Officers & cases with comorbidity/low oxygen saturation should be sent to higher centres.

Asymptomatic patients who have a history of high-risk exposure to COVID patients will be asked to quarantine as per ICMR protocol.

*Finance Ministry released fund for 25 States*

With the recommendation of the Panchayati Raj Ministry, the Ministry of Finance has released an amount of Rs.8,923.8 crore to 25 states for providing grants to rural local bodies.

The first installation of the fund will be utilized for prevention measures needed to combat COVID pandemic.

*Central and State government welfare schemes*

Central and state government welfare schemes may be leveraged towards provision of rations, drinking water supply, sanitation, MGNREGS employment. Panchayats have been asked to directly get involved in dispensation of such relief.

*Plan for covering emergency requirements*

A proper inter-linkage will be maintained for district and sub-district. It will be mainly used for dealing with emergency requirements like ambulances, advanced testing and treatment facilities, multi-speciality care. This will solve all the issues in real time. Many states are already taking measures

*Preparedness for rapid coverage of Tribal areas*

For Tribal areas, strengthening community-based management through Gram Sabha should be taken. They should be involved at every stage of planning and executing COVID-care activities.

Mobile Medical Units will be used to facilitate access to public health care in tribal areas. MMUs have a team of medical officers, pharmacists, staff nurses and lab technicians

All these measures including teleconsultation facilities will definitely push the gears of India’s COVID recovery.