This is not the time to hurl allegations against each other. Need of the hour is to work in coordination with officers to defeat COVID-19 pandemic. People will not spare them if the elected representatives indulged in blame game. This is what Chamaraja MLA and Chamaraja Constituency COVID-19 Task Force Committee Chairman L. Nagendra opined while sharing his views with Star of Mysore on Corona crisis in his Constituency.

By S.B. Devaraj

Star of Mysore (SOM): How has been COVID management in your Constituency?

Nagendra: I am feeling happy about working efficiently as the Chairman of Task Force of my Constituency. People panic if they test positive. At that time they need guidance and counselling. This is the first stage of treatment and it is being done by Task Force. Creating awareness has helped in bringing down case fatality rate and positivity rate. We hold meetings daily and take stock of the situation.

SOM: What about the co-operation of Corporators, Officers and citizens for your efforts?

Nagendra: 19 Wards come under my Constituency and all of them are extending full co-operation to check the spread of Corona no matter which political party they belonged do. So far, there has been no non-cooperation from officials and they are working closely with us. Even people are responding well and we are confident of bringing this pandemic under control soon.

SOM: What about the progress of house-to-house survey, testing and vaccination?

Nagendra: The house-to-house survey has helped in identifying Corona symptoms in people. The survey is expected to complete in two days. Our team is always ready to help in case of any medical emergency. Both symptomatic, asymptomatic, primary and secondary contacts are voluntarily undergoing RT-PCR test. Awareness on vaccination has been created resulting in more and more eligible people taking the jab.

SOM: Is ‘COVID Mitra’ effective in your Constituency?

Nagendra: ‘COVID Mitra’ will examine condition of patients and decide whether they require COVID Care Centre (CCC), home isolation or COVID Hospital. If any patient requires bed, the same will be provided through COVID War Room. Patients with common cold, headache and cough will be guided suitably and given medicine free of cost. Home-isolated positive patients will be advised to avoid contact with family members for certain number of days and then to take medicine regularly. In total, ‘COVID Mitra’ was functioning well and has helped in removing unnecessary tension among people.

SOM: What will you like to say to your Constituency people in the current scenario?

Nagendra: It is my responsibility to make myself available to people round-the-clock. Citizens need not worry about the contagion. I am not working as Legislator but as son of every family in my Constituency. Don’t neglect when your turn comes to take medicine. Go to ‘COVID Mitra’ and take medicine. No other Constituency has so much of hospitals as in my Constituency. At present, there is no shortage of bed. My appeal to everyone is to wear mask, maintain social distance and sanitise hands frequently.

SOM: Your opinion on internal bickerings between elected representatives and DC Rohini Sindhuri?

Nagendra: This is the time for both elected representatives (Netas) and Officers (Babus) to work in coordination. Public will blame if both of us engaged in hurling charges against each other. I appeal one and all to fight unitedly to win the battle against the pandemic. Incidents must not create animosity among people’s reps and bureaucrats. I am only bothered about the COVID management in my Constituency and not about other things.