Director, Department of Rural Development (RDD), Kashmir, Qazi Sarwar on Friday informed that the RDD Kashmir is presently producing and distributing 1100 masks per-day among the rural population.
He said the initiative is part of the various measures taken by the department for the containment of the COVID-19 virus among the rural population.
The Director said the department has roped in various local entrepreneurs and self-help groups (SHGs) for mass production of face-masks to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“We have roped in scores of local entrepreneurs and SHGs for mass production of face-masks in Kashmir region. The masks are made as per the set-guidelines and all the raw material is being provided to the SHGs for the production of the same,” he said.
“We are ensuring the rapid production, distribution and outreach of masks so as to achieve universal mask usage in Kashmir,” he said.
“We are able to produce nearly 1100 masks per day. Once prepared, these masks are handed over to the rural population for use,” the Director said.
He said that in view of such instructions, it has been decided to set-up District Level Task Force for placing orders, collection and distribution of the masks. He said that for the purpose, the Department is utilizing the services of NGOs, local tailor shops, boutiques, SHGs of SRLM, KVIB, KVIC, Womens Development Corporation, Handloom, Handicrafts, NABARD and community participation including PRIs.
The Director informed that one mask shall be provided free of cost to each member of household with AAY ration card, pension beneficiaries, old age homes, orphanages and children homes,” he said.
The Director said that the production of masks is undergoing in various districts and the process is monitored by the RDD officials and PRI members in coordination with the District Administration.
“So far nearly two lakh masks have been procured and about one lakh have been distributed in the rural areas,” he said.
The Director said around 92 SHGs falling under UMEED scheme have also been engaged for the production of the masks.
“The distribution of the masks is to be made through Block COVID AMCs and Panchayat COVID AMCs constituted by the government,” he said.
The Director said that RDD officials in unison with the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) members have taken up several measures to sensitize people regarding the importance of wearing the mask to spread the deadly virus.
He informed the department has also taken up various cleanliness drives in rural areas for which panchayats have also been roped in.
“Sanitization, fumigation of all the congested residential areas including lanes and bye lanes is being carried out regularly,” the Director said. “Door to door dissemination of information related to the disease vis-à-vis motivation, counseling of general public for observing social distancing and other preventative measures.”
The Director said RDD is also distributing pamphlets, putting up posters at conspicuous locations and is using public address systems to make rural population aware regarding Do’s and Don’ts about COVID-19 so that its spread could be prevented.
The Department has also ordered formation of various block level and Panchayat level Awareness Management Committees (AMCs) headed by Chairman Block Development Councils and Sarpanchs respectively who will assist the administration in their efforts to contain spread of the deadly virus.
“Needy people which include laborers from various states and destitute (wherever identified) are being provided food and other logistics,” he said.
The Director said that they are also part of the exercise of identification of persons with domestic, foreign travel history and sharing the details of such persons with the district administration, besides monitoring the facilities and other logistics in various quarantine centres established by the district administration.
He said that assessment of availability of essentials in rural areas and home delivery of ration and LPG is also carried out on regular basis, so that people do not face any inconvenience.
The Director requested people to follow the advisories issued by administrative and health department to contain the deadly virus.
