SKOCH Award Boosts Police Plan To Combat Corona In Jagatsinghpur

SKOCH Award Boosts Police Plan To Combat Corona In Jagatsinghpur

After leading from the front in e-governance, Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district has once again secured another prestigious national-level award for better management of COVID-19 pandemic. The district administration got the SKOCH Award in SILVER category in COVID Management. District collector & magistrate, Sangram Keshari Mohapatra informed the news via a tweet.

District Administration got SKOCH Award in SILVER category in COVID Management. It is possible due to constant guidance by the Hon’ble CM,wholehearted support by the people of district in obeying all guidelines and untiring work by Officials @CMO_Odisha @MoSarakaar pic.twitter.com/jEByA3bfUp

— DM_Jagatsinghpur (@CollectorJspur) July 30, 2020

Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik congratulated the district authority for the exemplary management of COVID situation in the district.

Congratulate @CollectorJspur on receiving the SKOCH Award for excellence in #COVID19 Management. #Odisha has encouraged community participation, maximum use of technology, and decentralised decision making to contain spread of the pandemic. #OdishaFightsCorona https://t.co/OfPzm5ADU5

— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) July 31, 2020

While talking to My City Links, IPS R. Prakash, SP Jagatsinghpur Police, thanked the citizens of the district, the frontline COVID warriors and the district administration for continuous support throughout the fight against COVID 19. Stating on the preparations till date, he said that the administration had followed all the strict guidelines issued by the central & state governments ensuring the containment of the virus.

The administration has also ensured the easy transportation and management of migrant labourers coming to the district from outside the state. “We started border check posts in our district, bordering Cuttack and Bhubaneswar Commissionerate. We got information from state border check posts bordering Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh and monitored the movement of migrants by road and rail (up to Bhubaneswar). We arranged buses for transportation of migrants from Bhubaneswar/ Khurda railway station through the district administration. Upon arrival, we escorted them from our district border posts to district headquarters. They were sent to different blocks and GPs for accommodation at TMCs after due registration. Antigen tests for detection of COVID positive were also done as per the Health department’s protocol.”

“There was periodic check-up of COVID positive persons by a team of doctors, nurses and Anganwadi Karmi. Institutional quarantine was enforced in rural areas whereas home quarantine was enforced in urban areas,” he added.

Talking about the situation in the industrial area of Paradeep, he said, “All industries were encouraged to accommodate their labour in camps with social distancing and to maintain health and hygiene of their workforce. During that time, periodical medical check-ups were also done.”

Throwing light on the management and preparedness of the Police force, he said, “Police personnel above 55 years and personnel with comorbidities like blood pressure and diabetes were not deployed for field duty. Police personnel were sensitized regarding their duty from time to time over the phone, WhatsApp and field visits by senior officers were carried out. Those who return to duty after a long leave or return from other states after investigations are kept in observation and isolation. They are allowed to join duty only if they are found fit and healthy after the antigen tests.”

Delighted by the cooperation of the public, he stated, “the people of Jagatsinghpur district are very literate and cooperative. I seek the continued cooperation of people in maintaining social distance norms, wearing masks in public places, avoiding usage of community toilets & maintaining overall health and hygiene.”

When asked for the future plans to battle COVID 19 spread, Prakash said that the border police check posts bordering Cuttack district will continue. However, people are discouraged from moving out without any reason. Movement of people for essential services and medical purposes, will not be restricted.

More New Steps To be Taken For COVID 19 Fight:

– Online grievance redressal through WhatsApp.

– Encouragement to register their grievance on a WhatsApp number of district police.

– Awareness campaigns to be conducted to encourage people to carry pocket-friendly hand sanitizers, apart from wearing masks.

– A COVID care home for police personnel who may turn sick is on the cards.

Along with Jagatsinghpur district, Nabarangpur has also been awarded the same for better COVID management. 

Earlier this year, Jagatsinghpur district was also awarded the SKOCH Crucible Award for its e-governance initiatives. Jagatsinghpur became the first district in the country to go completely paperless with the launch of the e-office system in March of this year. All functions of the office have been digitised and the system envisions a paperless office. This has led to an increase in efficiency, transparency and expeditious movement of files which is benefiting the citizens.