Letpao exhorts village heads to lead in Covid vaccination
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, July 12 2021: Minister of WR and YAS Letpao Haokip conducted a two-day tour of the remote areas of Khengjoi sub-division in Chandel district to inspect and supervise the mass vaccination and awareness programmes on Covid-19 .

Speaking during a mass vaccination cum awareness drive held at Khangbarol village on Sunday, minister Letpao Haokip pointed out that village chieftains have a huge role to play in raising awareness among the hill villagers regarding the vaccination and also for streamlining the government institutions in remote hill areas.

Letpao, who is also chairman of the District Review Committee for fighting Covid pandemic, said that getting oneself vaccinated is the most effective way to remain Covid-free as of now.

One should not doubt the efficacy and benefits of this vaccine and should not believe in misinformation and rumours that discourage vaccination, he added.

He further appreciated the full-hearted initiative of the Chandel district administration in organising mass drive that targets 100 per cent vaccination of the people in the district.

The minister also expressed that it is high time that all the government offices and institutions in hill areas be streamlined as irresponsible and unprofessional government employees have been defying their duties and have depended on hired substitutes.

This trend had failed to serve the actual purpose of setting up such offices, thereby affecting the efficiency of administration and delivering services.

He also urged the village chieftains of the remote areas not to allow and agree on such 'mutual arrangement' of rendering services by 'substitute' employees, especially in schools and health centres.

Health and education are the most basic spheres of a society and should not be compromised, he said, while adding that schools and PHCs/PHSCs should work with full staff always.

The minister also said that the hill people should not resort to cultivation of poppy cultivation but find a viable alternative livelihood means.

Many schemes of different departments, especially the Horticulture and Soil Conservation-related schemes are there, he pointed out, while assuring that he will ensure in availing the benefits of such schemes to the farmers.

Chandel DC M Rajkumar, SP L Deben Singh, SDO (Khengjoi) L Herojit, special guest Dr Jamlal, village chiefs and students and representatives of civil bodies also took part in the programme.

Later, Letpao toured the village and distributed one bag of rice each to all the households of the village.

The rice was procured by the local MLA combined with the sharing availed under the PMKY scheme.

On Saturday afternoon, Let-pao visited Joldam villages and urged the locals to get vaccinated.

SDO Khengjoi and Dr Jamlal responded to queries and cleared the doubts of the villages regarding the Covid-19 vaccine.

It may be mentioned that the mass vaccination drive in Khengjoi sub-division is being carried out by four teams led by the SDO under the leadership of the DC, and will cover every nook and corner of the sub-division over a span of eight days.

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