Rajasthan: Night curfew to continue after May 31; board exams in June

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has directed for continuation and strict enforcement of night curfew in the state even after May 31 to minimise the risk of a spurt in coronavirus infection.

Gehlot asked his officials to ensure that there should be no laxity in the night curfew in the state.

The chief minister directed authorities to reschedule prohibited areas as per the number of active infected cases, so that curfew is continued only in the affected area.

In a high-level review meeting at his residence on Friday (May 30) on the situation of coronavirus spread in the state, Gehlot said the health protocol should be strictly maintained, even if they relate to VIPs.

He said there should be no laxity in provisions of penalty under the Rajasthan Pandemic Ordinance.

It is very important for protecting people’s lives and public health, he said.

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The chief minister emphasised that many experts, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have warned countries of a second round of coronavirus in July-August which may create a larger crisis.

He demanded for the creation of a strong health infrastructure from district hospitals to sub-centres for people from villages to avoid travelling to cities for treatment of minor diseases.

Gehlot also asked private hospitals to fulfil their moral responsibility by adopting a humanitarian approach to provide free treatment to corona-infected patients.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, he directed that as per the Supreme Court’s sentiments, an advisory should be issued for free treatment of the coronavirus disease in private hospitals, which should have provision for action against any hospital that violates it.

In view of the changing circumstances, the chief minister opined that unnecessary expenses should be analysed and money should be saved for necessary and large public utility works, the ideas for which could be taken from retired officials having knowledge of finance.

He instructed that proper availability of maternal and child health services should be ensured in state hospitals. Due to lockdown or corona epidemic, the common man should not face any problem in medical treatment.

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Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Rohit Kumar Singh said that Rajasthan’s condition is better than those of other states due to corona infection.

The number of active infected patients is stable and the recovery rate has increased in the last 6 days in the state, he said.

Abhay Kumar, principal secretary (information technology) said the ‘Raj Kaushal Rajasthan Employment Exchange’ to be launched from Monday will enable workers to get employment easily and to ensure availability of labour for industries.

He said that the CM will hold discussions with public representatives from the gram panchayat level through video conference on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the state government also decided to conduct board examinations for various subjects of classes 10 and 12, postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Gehlot has instructed the state Education Department to make proper arrangements for conducting exams.

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After the decision, the dates of the remaining examinations for various subjects of classes 10 and 12 will be notified by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer.

The chief minister asked officials to ensure proper implementation of the health protocol released to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic during these examinations.

He said the use of masks and sanitizers by candidates and teachers should be ensured at all examination centers.

Also, there should be strict adherence to the rules of social distancing at the examination centres and during the examination, he said.

Suggesting an increase in the number of examination centres as per the requirement, Gehlot said that school buildings in which quarantine facilities are being operated, should be sanitized according to the protocol before the examination.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Education Govind Singh Dotasara, Chief Secretary D B Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Niranjan Arya, and School Education Secretary Manju Rajpal besides other officials.

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(With inputs from agencies)