Amaravati: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy underlines need to erase corona stigma

Amaravati: AP Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy told Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Monday that the removal of fear among the people of coronavirus and thereby the stigma attached to it was primary to rolling back the country to normalcy.

At the videoconference of the PM with the Chief Ministers, Jagan Reddy said that though the lockdown was effective and AP was able to make the best use of the suggestions and guidelines of the Centre in fighting the Covid-19, unless people volunteered for the tests and self-quarantined themselves without fear, it would be difficult to handle the virus.

Due to the stigma attached to it by society, those afflicted by it were not coming forward for tests fully. Governments must work towards educating the people that 98 per cent of the cases were curable. Hence it was necessary that society as a whole work together to tackle the virus.

Similarly, a standard operating procedure (SOP) should be in place in the country in future to enforce wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing, etc, to prevent the spread of the virus. Shopping complexes, wholesale markets and transport should be allowed to open only with due procedures to improve the economy. Sanitizers and masks should become part of the daily life and practice.

Seeking long term loans to improve the health care systems at either low or no interests for the State, Jagan Reddy said the long term fight needed upgradation of the health care systems from the mandal level to the State headquarters levels. Healthcare should be a round the clock affair in the States and each of the Parliamentary constituency needed a medical college. The facilities, including the research labs and testing labs, should be of national standards and the country should take this as an opportunity to spend money on it now.

Rural sanitation should be given top priority while the small and medium industry and transport of goods should be given special attention, he said, seeking removal of restrictions in various states for the movement of goods, especially agri produce.

He sought waiver of interests on MSEME loans for at least six months as these were primary to protecting the jobs to people. He urged upon the Centre to extend the MSP to more horticulture produce as well increase procurement from 30 per cent to 50 per cent.