Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Stepping up its fight against Covid-19, the state government has put a complete ban on all public gatherings, while restricting social gatherings to 30 for weddings and bhog ceremonies and up to five persons for any other occasion. Wearing masks would be compulsory at all gatherings, workplaces and meetings.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had, on Sunday, announced to impose new restrictions since residents were not acting responsibly in the fight against the pandemic. Apart from rise in the cases, a number of frontline officials have contracted the virus in public meetings.
As per the revised guidelines, mandatory FIRs shall be filed against those found violating the total ban on public gatherings. A detailed notification issued by the government says joint teams of the police and civil administration shall strictly enforce the restrictions on social gatherings (restricted to five under Section 144 imposed in all districts) as well as weddings and social functions.
The management of marriage palaces/hotels shall be held responsible and shall face suspension of licence in case of violations. Further, the marriage palaces, hotels and other commercial spaces will have to certify that adequate arrangements for ventilation of indoor spaces have been made.
The state government has also partnered with IIT-Chennai experts to intensify surveillance, using technology in order to identify super-spreader gatherings in the past that have resulted in the spread, to guide future action.
Wearing of masks has been made compulsory at workplaces, offices and other closed places, as per the new guidelines, which also seek strict enforcement of the Health Department advisory on air conditioning and ventilation/air circulation. Public dealing in offices may be curtailed to cater to need-based and urgent issues, according to the guidelines, which say that the online public grievance redressal system recently approved by the Cabinet should be extensively popularised and used.
