The dreaded third wave of the coronavirus pandemic is in full swing across India, with over 2.5 lakh fresh Covid-19 cases reported every day over the past three days – and Odisha is no exception, having seen more than 10,000 daily cases during the same period. Today, the tally in the state has touched 11,177.
However, the Naveen Patnaik government has taken all steps possible, both on the administrative and infrastructure fronts, to protect public health from the virus and its variants.
Covid-appropriate guidelines have already been issued for the Panchayat elections due exactly a month from now, with Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena strongly advising political parties and candidates concerned to conduct their campaigns in virtual mode (on digital platforms) instead of physical mode. Everything, from roadshows and rallies to campaigns of any kind involving large groups, has been prohibited.
The instructions are as comprehensive as they are specific. For example, candidates are not allowed to carry out door-to-door campaigning with any more than four supporters at a time. Even for post-counting victory processions, the winning candidates are not allowed to be accompanied by more than two people.
The implementation of such well-thought-out guidelines will automatically check the spread of Covid-19 and eventually prevent future waves from happening frequently or persisting for a long period.
However, even amidst this ongoing third wave, general public welfare in Odisha has not taken a backseat. Positive news on that front continues to trickle in almost on a daily basis.
Take, for instance, all automobile dealers have been instructed by the State Transport Authority (STA) in Odisha to compulsorily display all details of the payments that customer needs to make for every category of vehicle at their showrooms.
The dealers now must do this on a notice board at a highly visible area – easily legible to visiting customers – at their showrooms. The STA order has also mandated that all the charges listed on the notice board be identified as either compulsory or optional, the dealers seek no additional payment from the purchaser apart from what is mentioned on their notice boards, and receipts be issued without fail for any charges made.
If executed properly, this order will facilitate a level playing field for all dealers and, more importantly, prevent the unscrupulous ones from unfairly exploiting customers. Therefore, the RTOs have been directed to inspect all automobile showrooms to ensure dealer compliance with the new rules.
The fact that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik places utmost importance on law and order in Odisha was also reflected in the trophy that the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy (BPSPA) won from Union Home Ministry yesterday as the best police training institution at the national level in the gazetted officers’ category for the year 2020-21. The BPSPA was established by none other than the five-time Chief Minister himself in 2005 as the premier police training institute in Odisha where courses are offered to direct recruit Odisha Police Service (OPS) officers, sergeants and deputy subedars.
The other heartening news from last week was about a new partnership between the Odisha government and the United Nations World Food Programme aimed at improving the food security of small and marginal farmers by boosting their resilience to climate change.
Under this initiative, these farmers will receive regular advice on how to make the right agricultural and livelihood choices so they can better adapt to current and future climate-related challenges.
With the 5T model of governance well and truly established in Odisha, it seems as if the state will shine and its people will have a bright outlook – come hell or high water.
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