CHANDIGARH, MARCH 29( Wishavwarta)-To further streamline management of the Coronavirus crisis, the Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government has constituted four committees to deal with various key aspects of the state’s COVID-19 management efforts.
These are Health Sector Response and Procurement, Lockdown Implementation, Media & Communication as well as Agriculture & Food committees.
These committees would report to the State COVID-19 Management Group already notified by the Health & Family Welfare Department for taking quick decisions with respect to their subjects.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that these Committees would meet as frequently as required and report to the COVID-19 Management Group headed by the Chief Secretary.
The Health Sector Response and Procurement Committee has been constituted with ACS Governance Reforms as its chairperson, besides Principal Secretaries Finance, Health & Family Welfare, Medical Education & Research, Special Secretary Governance Reforms as members, while Secretary Health & Family Welfare and MD NHM would be the convener of the Committee. Dr KK Talwar and Dr Raj Bahadur would be associated as professional advisors to the Committee, which would assess and review all requirements of personnel, material and infrastructure of Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Departments and ensure timely procurement. The Committee would also ensure provisioning of IT support needed for COVID-19 management.
The Lockdown Implementation Committee would be chaired by ACS Home Affairs and Justice with DGP, Principal Secretary Food & Civil Supplies and Transport as its members, besides ADGP Law & Order as convener. The committee would review all arrangements related to security and enforcement of law & order and all measures that are required for effective management of curfew/lockdown in the state due to COVID-19, and will take appropriate measures to ensure the supply of essential commodities and services.
The committee on Media & Communication would be headed by Secretary Information and Public Relations with Joint Development Commissioner (IRD), Director Health Services (State Epidemiologist) as members and Director Information & Public Relations as convener. The Committee would make all necessary arrangements for preparing, compiling and disseminating information with regard to management and containment of COVID-19 in the state for all media, including social, print and electronic.
The Agriculture and Food Committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of ACS Development with Principal Secretary Food and Civil Supplies and Managing Directors of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Markfed, Punsup and Pungrain as members, while Secretary Mandi Board would be the convener. This Committee would focus on smooth harvesting and procurement of crops, including wheat, potatoes, kinnows and vegetables. The Committee would also ensure smooth and proper procurement and harvesting operations in a regulated manner keeping in view curfew/lockdown in the state due to COVID-19 as well as the precautionary measures required to be taken to prevent corona virus. Mandi-wise system of procurement by appointment would be worked out to ensure proper social distancing and to avoid any untoward situation as also to ensure that every grain produced is procured by the agencies.
