Bengaluru: Co-operation Minister S.T. Somashekar, who represents Yeshwanthpur Assembly segment in Bengaluru city, said that he will be donating Rs. 1 lakh as personal relief to the family of every person who has died of COVID in his Constituency.

Speaking to presspersons after Adichunchanagiri Mutt Seer Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji inaugurated the relief distribution programme at Kengeri Ward in his Constituency on Saturday, Somashekar, who is also Mysuru District in-Charge Minister said that he will be distributing Rs. 1 lakh to the family of each of the COVID dead in his Yeshwanthpur Assembly segment. 

Pointing out that on the first day on Saturday, 27 families coming under BBMP Ward 159 (Kengeri) have been distributed Rs.1 lakh each, he said that COVID patients who have been admitted in hospitals too would get relief of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 depending upon the nature of admission. Patients admitted in Hospitals through BBMP will get Rs. 25,000, while those who get admitted in Private Hospitals without Government reference will get Rs. 50,000, Somashekar said adding that about 5,000 homes in the Constituency is being sanitised out of his own funds. Also many poor and needy families have been distributed food kits and medicine kits, he said.

Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji, in his address, lauded the initiative of Somashekar. Noting that the deadly pandemic is causing untold havoc across the globe, he said that the second wave of the virus attack is more deadlier than the first one as more people are losing their life for the killer contagion. The Seer said that he was always appreciative of the Minister’s efforts in mitigating the sufferings of the people in this critical time.

Maintaining that Somashekar is doing excellent work in Mysuru district also, Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji said that the Minister is very responsive to public grievances and complaints. He wished the Minister more success in his social service and responsibilities as a Minister.

Stressing on the need for all eligible persons to get vaccinated for the deadly virus, he observed that the vaccine will considerably reduce the intensity of the virus attack. The Seer also appealed everyone to adhere to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour such as wearing of face mask, maintenance of physical distancing and regular hand hygiene.

Later, Somashekar went on a Ward-wise visit of Yeshwanthpur Constituency, during which he interacted with residents and heard grievances from members of the public. 

Appealing the public not to get panicky over the surge in COVID cases, Somashekar asked the citizens to stay indoors and not to venture out unnecessarily. He emphasised on the role of each citizen in battling the deadly virus, which is causing untold havoc across the globe.