Jammu, April 6 As many as 165,811 masks were distributed among rural people in Jammu division on Monday by the Rural Development Department , officials said.
Sudershan Kumar, Rural Development Department Director (Jammu division), said the staff and Panchayati Raj Institutions members like Chairpersons of Block Development Councils, Sarpanches and Panches were working in close coordination with the district administrations to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection.
"In this regard, Village Awareness and Monitoring Committees have been set up at panchayat and block levels for creating awareness, surveillance and monitoring of coronavirus casees among the rural masses," Kumar said.
He said block-level committees headed by BDC Chairpersons and panchayat-level committees headed by Sarpanches were making rural people aware about the benefits of frequent and proper hand-washing with soap, use of sanitizers and maintaining cleanliness in and around the villages.
Coordination with district administration in taking care of special attention categories like the elderly, disabled, pregnant women and chronically-ill patients remains a high priority of the department, he added.
As many as 15,000 masks were distributed in Doda district, Jammu 12,200, Kathua 18,400, Kishtwar 19,195, Poonch 5,000, Rajouri 28,500, Ramban 2,000, Reasi 8,194, Samba 13,347 and Udhampur 43,975.
The Director said community members were told through panchayats about helpline numbers to report suspect corona cases. Panchayat members along with the field staff are extending support to the administration for settin up quarantine centres in the panchayat.
"They are also helping the volunteers in making arrangements and distribution of basic amenities to the needy, including the stranded labourers," Kumar said.
Persons in home quarantine for 14 days are monitored by panchayat members, he said.
The Director said people have been requested to inform the administration in case they come to know about any person or foreigner who had recently arrived in their neighbourhood, family, friend and social circle, in the larger interest of the public.
Field staff has been asked to put in their best to prevent the spread of the virus and asked to intensify efforts to find those who may have come in contact with suspect cases, he said.
( With inputs from IANS )