In view of the second wave and surge in number of COVID cases in the district, the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, under its Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP), has launched Help Desk Centres in all taluks of the district to identify and treat COVID-infected patients as well as vaccinate all the tribal community members in the district. The following Scheduled Tribes Welfare Officer / Social Welfare Department Deputy Director of respective taluks have been appointed as Nodal Officers: H.D. Kote: Chandrappa – Ph: 08228-255681; Hunsur: H.C. Basavaraju – Ph: 08222-252812; Nanjangud: Safeer Ahmad – Ph: 08221-297293; Periyapatna: Siddegowda – Ph: 08223-273128 and B.M. Prakash – Ph: 0821-2427140, according to a press release.