OPCC President Lauds Odisha Govt’s Measures to Contain COVID-19 Outbreak, Donates Rs 10 Lakh to CMRF

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik on Wednesday lauded the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha Government for its measures to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and minimize the impact.

The OPCC president has also contributed Rs 10 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help the Government in supporting the unprivileged people of the State.

“I take this opportunity to commend your government for the measures it has taken to contain the COVID-1 9 outbreak and minimize its impact”, Niranjan Patnaik mentioned in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“I reckon that India’s best chance in overcoming this global pandemic lies in social distancing and the ongoing lockdown is the most desirable recourse”, he said.

“While Odisha has swiftly moved to be one of the first states to enforce it, I am concerned about the hardship being faced by certain sections of the society, the daily wage earners such as the construction workers, rickshaw pullers, street vendors and migrant labourers. They need the government to come to their rescue. I understand a few measures, including cash pay-outs, have been announced” , the OPCC president said.

He said, “While these initiatives are welcome, more needs to be done. I believe, more can be done if the government and the citizens of the state come together. The latter can strengthen the former’s ability to intervene”.

“To this end, I hereby contribute a sum of Rs.10 lakh (Ten Lakh Rupees) to the ‘Chief Minister Relief Fund of Odisha’ to help provide the necessary safety net that the unprivileged people of Odisha need today”, Patnaik added.

He also appealed the citizens to come forward and contribute.