C’garh braces for migrants, Singh Deo tells US diplomat
Chhattisgarh will face a challenging time ahead with more and more migrant workers returning from different states, Health and Family Welfare, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister T. S. Singhdeo on Wednesday told the US Consul General in Mumbai, David J. Ranz.
The Minister briefed the diplomat about Covid-19 related issues in the state.
He said that preparation to battle the coronavirus pandemic began in January. Now the state will have four laboratories for RT-PCR tests, up from just one earlier. With procurement of 75,000 RD kits by the state government, there is better surveillance, he said.
“The state will face a challenging task ahead with continued arrival of migrant workers from different states of the country in future,” the Minister said.
Chhattisgarh has developed around 8,000 beds to treat Covid-19 positive cases. Already 36 positive patients have recovered after treatment. There is also coordination with the central government, he said.
On a query from the Consul General regarding economy, Singhdeo said that enhancement of livelihood works had been undertaken on priority under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and National Rural Livelihood Mission. Better organic resources are being promoted, leading to more employment in the villages.
