**Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan launched in 112 aspirational districts**
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June 9, 2021Video title – Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan providing support to 20 lakh citizens.
June 9, 2021Words: 377
NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation on Tuesday, June 8 launched the ‘Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan’ in 112 aspirational districts to assist the district administrations in providing home-care support to Covid-19 patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, during the launch of the campaign, said, “Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan is a significant initiative that responds to immediate needs and will provide long-term support to India’s poorest communities in the Aspirational Districts by addressing the lasting impact of Covid-19.”
**Aspirational Districts Programme**
The Government of India launched the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ programme to transform districts in India. The programme aims at convergence (of Central & State Schemes), collaboration (of Central, State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District Collectors), and competition among districts driven by a mass movement. The programme focuses on the strength of each district, identifies districts that require immediate improvement, measures their progress, and ranks them accordingly.
**To ready districts to manage Covid-19**
The campaign is expected to prepare districts to manage nearly 70% of Covid cases at home. This would further help in reducing the pressure on the health system.
According to the NITI Aayog’s press release, the campaign will also undertake capacity building of citizens for the correct usage of oxygen concentrators that have been supplied to the districts.
**Collaborative effort**
The initiative will see collaboration from local leaders, civil societies, and volunteers. District magistrates will lead the Abhiyaan in partnership with more than 1,000 local NGOs. They would work together with the district administration to address emerging problems across the key focus areas of the Aspirational Districts Programme.
The NGOs associated with the initiative will facilitate the mobilisation of local volunteers to provide home-care support to those affected based on the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
**1 lakh volunteers to be trained**
Under the Abhiyaan, over 1 lakh volunteers will be trained to connect with the patients through inbound/outbound calls. Piramal Foundation will work with district magistrates to support the training of NGOs and volunteers. Furthermore, volunteers will be trained to support 20 affected families each by educating caretakers to follow Covid protocols, provide psycho-social support, and timely updates about patients to the administration.
