Pradhan urges Odisha CM to include all political parties in fight against Covid

Bhubaneswar: Arguing in favour of combined efforts in the battle against the coronavirus disease, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan suggested the Odisha government to set up Covid Crisis Management Committees at village and municipal ward level. These committees will have members from all political parties in Odisha.

While speaking to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today, Pradhan said constituting the Covid Crisis Management Committees with members from political parties in Odisha will facilitate synergized efforts for effective management of Covid-19.

As the next 15 days are crucial to contain and control the surge of Covid19, especially in Odisha, the Union Minister suggested the Chief Minister to involve members of the civil society as volunteers and watchdogs to strengthen relief measures and containment efforts at the grassroots level.

Pradhan also briefed the Chief Minister about the efforts being taken by the Government of India to further strengthen Odisha’s response to the current and emerging challenges of Covid-19.

In a tweet, the Union Minister stated the Odisha Chief Minister during the meeting talked about enhancing availability of vaccines to the State.

Pradhan informed the Odisha Chief Minister about his discussion with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Union Chemical and Fertiliser Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on facilitating smooth supply of Covid-19 vaccine doses, rapid testing kits, Remdesivir and other critical drugs.

“GOI is working with a ‘whole of government approach’ and is doing everything possible to respond and fight back better. Working together with synergistic efforts, both Odisha and India will combat and win this fight against the pandemic. Together, we shall prevail,” Pradhan tweeted.