Ensure rural India is Covid free, PM Modi tells district officials

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the officials to ensure that rural India is Covid free. Addressing the district officials of 10 states in a virtual conference on Thuesday, PM Modi asked officials to spread awareness in rural districts so that the spread of Covid can be curtailed in villages. During his interaction with the district officials, the prime minister cautioned against slowing down the fight against the disease till its eradicated. "What we have learnt from the pandemic is that even if the cases have dipped the challenge it not over. It will remain as long as the infection stays even at minor levels," PM Modi said.

Modi laid emphasis on the Covid-19 management strategy based on the local experiences.  The Prime Minister said, "If Covid-19 can mutate, so should our fighting strategies. In the midst of new challenges, we need new strategies and solutions. It becomes important to use local experiences and we need to work together as a country." Lauding 54 district magistrates in the 10 states for their covid-19 management work, PM Modi highlighted the topic of vaccine wastage and said, "Wastage of a single vaccine means not being able to provide the necessary protective cover to one life. Therefore, it is necessary to stop vaccine waste."

PM Modi said that maintaining ease of living was as important as saving lives. "For that, the districts should ensure free rations for the poor, seamless supply of other vital items, prevention of black marketing, etc. All this is very important to win the war against the pandemic," PM Modi said. Thursday's meeting was the second such interaction between the Prime Minister and the district-level officials. The first meeting was on May 18, when PM Modi met 46 district magistrates from nine states virtually.