The entire country is currently under the grip of the pandemic – COVID-19.  The frontline workers are trying their level best to contain the situation. Both central and state government are also scaling up their efforts to handle the situation. In this post, I will give an overview of the steps that are being currently implemented by the Modi government as a response:

• A high level Group of Ministers has been constituted by Modi ji who have been given the responsibility of reviewing, monitoring, and evaluating the preparedness of the measures taken for the management of COVID-19. The government also advised all the states and union territories to invoke Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 to impose lockdowns. The government has also invoked Section 69 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005  to delegate powers of the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary is the chairman of the National Executive Committee (NEC) which is the monitoring body for disaster management. Using the provisions of this Act, the government can prepare for  work on a more exhaustive administrative framework to tackle the crisis.
• Modi government has also declared COVID-19 as a notified disaster. This ensures that assistance is available under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), which was established also under the Disaster Management Act.
• India also started the thermal screening of incoming international passengers from China and Hong Kong right from 18 January. This was much before the first case of COVID-19 was detected in India on 30 January.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also issued multiple guidelines and advisories on social distancing measures to be observed by everyone, surveillance of human infection with COVID-19,and  use of masks by public.
• The government also announced a comprehensive relief package. Rs 1.7 lakh crore package is going to  provide a safety net for many who have been hard hit on account of the crisis. The government will also provide an insurance cover for frontline medical personnel and distribute free ration and cooking gas to many.  Many will also receive cash through direct transfers for three months. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojna (PMGKY) which is a part of the relief package, it is estimated that at least 80 crore poor people will be covered. Under the scheme, such individuals will also receive five kilos of rice/wheat — over the 5 kilo they currently receive — along with a one-kilo pulse per household for a period of three months.
• The government has taken special measures to protect the interests of the senior citizens, widows, and the disabled in the country. An ex-gratia payment of INR1,000 ex-gratia payment has been announced for 30 million poor senior citizens, widows and disabled. 
• 204 million women Jan Dhan account holders will be given Rs 500 per month for the next three months. MGNREGA wages will rise to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 which will benefit 136.2 million families.
• I must also make a special mention of the efforts put forth by Shri Modi ji to tackle the crisis. He has been  interacting with over 200 people on a daily basis which includes phone calls to various State Governors, Chief Ministers, and Health Ministers to get a first-hand information on how states are fighting the COVID-19 crisis. He also reaches out to various doctors, nurses, health workers, and sanitation staff from various corners of the country in order to encourage them and also express his deepest gratitude. It is extremely heartening to know that he is taking time out amidst his extremely packed schedule to connect with the frontline workers. Modi ji has also been interacting with citizens from various walks of life through video conferencing in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19. He hosted a special episode of Mann ki Baat to share exercise routines and other tips to help maintain a positive mindset. He has also requested the members of Indian media to reduce pessimistic reporting and maintain a positive tone of communication so that the panic reduces. 
• He was also instrumental in the creation of the ‘COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force’ under the leadership of Nirmala Sitharaman ji. The Task Force in consultation with various stakeholders and experts will take decisions and be responsible for implementing those decisions to tackle the current challenges. 
• Modi ji has also announced a dedicated national fund to deal with the COVID-19 crisis called the  ‘Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’ (PM CARES Fund)’.  Various celebrities and corporate houses have pledged donation to PM CARES fund in the past few days. He has encouraged individuals to come forward and make micro-donations . This is truly an example of a leader involving everyone, right from the grassroot level to corporate, to fight a national crisis on a war footing.
• Lastly, Modi Govt has also given a huge amount of 95258.33 lakh rupees to Himachal Pradesh, specifically to tackle the menace of Coronavirus.

Steps being taken by Jairam Govt

I must also make a note of the relief measures announced by Jairam Thakur ji in Himachal Pradesh. A Rs 500-crore relief package has been announced for the poor and the needy, and Rs 30 crore for construction workers who may face financial crisis due to the lockdown. About 105,000 workers registered with the Building and Construction Workers Board will be provided Rs 2,000 as one-time relief.

Ration for two months will be provided to the targeted public distribution system card holders. The government will also release Rs 160.2 crore as first quarter pension to social security pension holders in the first week of April. Rs 3,000 as first quarter pension will be provided within a fortnight to about 534,000 social security pension holders including about 125,000 widows and disabled persons.

The condition in Devbhoomi Himachal Pradesh was completely under control before the Nizamuddin Jamaat incident came to light. Unfortunately due to the Jamaat incident, Himachal is again under the risk of Coronavirus. But be assured, Jairam Govt is vigilant and active and is leaving no stone unturned to combat Coronavirus and stop its spread.

I sincerely hope that all these efforts help us to overcome the battle with COVID-19.