Sawant seeks people’s support for COVID survey

Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday appealed to people to cooperate with enumerators who will visit their houses to conduct a community survey on coronavirus (COVID-19) from April 13.

“Training for the staff engaged for conducting  the survey will begin on April 9. There is no risk in conducting the survey as the state has taken all measures, including precautionary kits for  the enumerators…,”   Sawant  said after chairing a cabinet meeting. 

He said the government has tied up with hotels to set up private quarantine centres, which will be managed by the government.

“People can pay and get quarantined in these centres. Those  coming  from abroad can also get quarantined there,” he added.

Sawant also informed that 30 per cent salary of all BJP MLAs will be  donated  to the COVID-19 fund for the entire year, adding that if other MLAs want to donate for the same then they can submit ‘willingness letters’ to the government.

He said that distribution of free rations to BPL, Antodaya  and priority ration card holders in the state has begun under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana.

The Chief Minister said  the cabinet has approved a proposal on  absorbing  1150 contractual labourers under PWD society.

The cabinet also decided to continue with financial assistance to  pre-primary schools and orphan centres belonging  to  scheduled tribe communities.

The government also  decided to make donation to the state COVID-19 fund tax free.