With the number of daily Covid-19 cases in Odisha firmly trending downwards over the past few days and as many as a dozen districts in the green zone now, the state government is readying to restart the unlock process in districts where the test positivity rate is lower than 5 percent.
However, it knows all too well that it must strike an incredibly tricky balance as it walks a tightrope.
What with people across the state flouting pandemic protocol even during the lockdown, health experts are fervently cautioning against an early relaxation of restrictions, lest there be disastrous ramifications in the form of a much-dreaded third Covid wave. They are also strongly recommending that the government must continue being strict with its enforcement of Covid rules until a substantial portion of Odisha’s population is vaccinated.
The relatively high death toll this year in comparison to the previous one certainly points to the possibility of greater dangers in the future if the present problem is not dealt with definitively. After all, the virus regularly claims more than 40 lives – even today, when the number of daily new cases has dropped below the 5,000 mark.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will need to dig deeper than ever before to solve this pandemic puzzle for which there seems to be no perfect answer in sight. But at least one thing is clear: he has not let the challenge prevent his administration from performing in a way that not only meets but often exceeds the expectations of his people across the state.
After perfectly executed disaster management efforts ahead of and in the aftermath of Cyclone Yaas, which led to the success of the government’s zero-casualty mission, the Chief Minister has announced a special relief package for farmers in the districts affected by the natural calamity.
In addition to minimum subsidies of Rs 2,000 for all-season crops and Rs 1,000 for other crops, farmers will receive 1.5 quintals of high-quality paddy seeds and a 25 percent extra rebate for the current Kharif season, which will be deposited directly in their bank accounts. They will also benefit from the government’s announcement of Rs 20 crore in subsidy for procurement of agriculture equipment in the cyclone-hit districts.
The government is providing financial assistance to other affected sections of the population there as well, starting from livestock owners to handloom and handicraft artisans, even as it promised employment opportunities under the MGNREGA scheme.
Patnaik’s commitment to Western Odisha was in evidence once again yesterday as he announced an additional package of Rs 25 crore – over and above the same amount given last month – for Covid management purposes (mostly for purchase of emergency medical equipment) across its 11 districts.
A day before that, he approved the widening into four lanes of the 175km-long Biju Expressway through the relatively underdeveloped districts Kalahandi and Nuapada. This step will further boost not only connectivity in Western Odisha but also industrial growth and economic development in the region.
While dark Covid clouds still loom over Odisha, developments like these serve as the proverbial silver linings.
Even though the daily covid -19 case load is declining in the state, the government should continue strict enforcement of covid protocols till a substantial population is vaccinated to prevent a much dreaded covid 3rd wave. Our beloved CM has announced an additional package of Rs. 25 crore for covid managements in western Odisha reflecting his commitment to tackle the menace in the boarder districts of the state and purchase of medical equipments.
The steps taken by our beloved CM for developments in the state really look like silver linings in the dark covid and Yaas clouds.
Bande Utkal janani.