From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 30: With the worsening situation over the spread of global pandemic of corona virus, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has appealed to the people to strictly maintain the lockdown in the State and said ending of the 21-day lockdown imposed across the country depends on how strictly the lockdown was followed.
The Chief Minister has in an official press release appealed to the people to help the government to prevent the spread of corona virus by strictly following the lockdown imposed across the country.
B S Yediyurappa
“People of Karnataka are known for tolerance and patience. They are law abiding citizens. Now corona virus lockdown is a testing time for them. It has come to test the patience of our people ,especially people of Karnataka,’’ he said explaining that Prime minister Narendra Modi himself has apologized and said "lockdown was an inevitable step taken by the government to protect people from the pandemic".
"We have to realize the predicament of a Prime Minister who always cares for the well-being of the country and people. When the developed countries performance on this front is miserable, our Prime Minister’s precautionary measures are yielding results making the country to feel proud of him and his visionary action. We have not only to feel proud of him and his work, our respect to him lies in our abidance of his diktat,’’ he said.
The Chief Minister said:"Ending of lockdown depends on how we follow it.’’
At this hour of crisis, Yediyurappa said: "It is not good on our part to come out of our houses and violate the restrictions. Ending of lockdown depends on strictness with which one follows and maintains the social distance. If one follows the restrictions strictly, lockdown period will automatically end on April 14. Whether to end the lockdown or not is in your hands. It has come to our notice that people in some urban centres are brazenly violating the rules forcing the police to act. Police are also human beings like us and don't test their patience. Already our police are under stress as they are working without any rest. Don't force them to use the force and later blame them for stern action.’’
The Chief Minister said the Government has taken all measures to maintain the supply of essentials and food to the needs.
"My sincere appeal at this juncture to people is abide by Government's decision by staying back at your houses. Even you don't allow your children to venture out of houses for one or the other reason. Consider this situation as a blessing in disguise and spend your valuable time by reading books which in turn will boost your knowledge and intellectual capacity. My earnest request to even the poor is spend your time by involving yourselves in creative activities inside your houses,’’ he said.
At the same time, the Chief Minister said "it is time for us to respect the sacrificing work of the doctors, nurses, health staff and civic workers who are working round the clock to save the lives of hundreds of people afflicted by corona virus. My appeal to you all is strictly follow the curfew rules and maintain social distance to checkmate the Covid19 disease.”
HAL pledges Rs 26.25 cr to PM CARES FUND
Meanwhile, the public sector undertaking HAL has pledged Rs 20 crore from its CSR fund to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund.
In addition, the HAL employees have pledged their one day salary amounting to Rs. 6.25 crore.
Cumulatively the total contribution from HAL works out to Rs. 26.25 crore. “This is a small step from HAL in supporting the Government’s ongoing efforts in the fight against the novel Corona virus pandemic,” said R Madhavan, CMD-HAL.
“Each employee of HAL has committed a minimum of a single day’s salary as a donation to the PM–CARES fund”, said Alok Verma, Director HR.