Karnataka: Covid captains to monitor every gram panchayat in Chamarajanagar

MYSURU: In a first of its kind experiment in the state, Chamarajanagar district administration has appointed one captain for every gram panchayat (GP) to monitor the Covid-19 situation in the villages affiliated to the GP.
These captains will work between 8am and 8pm every day.
“It is our micro-management strategy,” said DC MR Ravi.
According to the data, the district has 130 GPs.Each GP has an average 3-4 villages attached to it.
“All these days we could not focus big time on the issues plaguing villages. Our idea is to gett the real picture from every village on a day to day basis. High school headmasters and PU college lecturers are being appointed as Covid-19 Captains,” he explained.
“Empowering the people is the main objective,” the DC added.
According to the authorities, each Covid-19 captain is given a vehicle with medical kits, public announcement (PA) system, PPE kits and emergency medicines. These captains along with ASHA workers and medical officers will visit villages.
“The Covid captains basically serve as a friend, philosopher, and guide to Covid patients, in particular, and villagers in general,” said Ravi.
Covid captains will be assisted by the respective panchayat development officers and medical officer of the primary health centre concerned. They will tour extensively throughout the panchayat visiting houses and interacting with people.
According to the plan, the captains will be entrusted with the task of supervising and monitoring activities relating to testing, tracing, quarantine watch, vaccination and Covid Care Centres at the GP levels.
All village families will be given the mobile numbers of these captains. In case of any emergency, the residents can contact them.
“The activities of Covid captains are monitored by the taluk nodal officer and district nodal officer everyday,” Ravi stated.