C'garh: Lockdown violation fine amount to help buy PPE, masks

Balodabazar, May 11 () The Balodabazar districtadministration in Chhattisgarh has decided to use the fineamount collected from lockdown violators to buy personalprotective equipment kits and masks for health workers andimproving facilities for patients in government hospitals.

Keeping local health centres strong during thecoronavirus pandemic is essential for people's health,district collector Kartikeya Goyal said on Monday.

"Generally, the fine collected is used by thedepartment concerned, but in view of ongoing fight againstCOVID-19, we have decided to exclusively spend it for healthpurposes, including buying personal protective equipment (PPE)kits, masks and other medical equipment," he said.

The money will also be used for ensuring certainfacilities to patients in community health centres, he said.

Since this decision was taken on May 8, variousgovernment departments, including local civic body, revenueand police, have recovered penalties worth around Rs 3 lakhfrom those not wearing masks in public places, floutingquarantine protocols or other prohibitory orders, he said.

All the departments concerned have been directed toissue a challan receipt in the name of Jeevan Deep Samiti sothat the fine amount can directly be transferred into itsaccount, he said.

The Jeevan Deep Samiti is a committee which managesthe functioning of community health centers in the district.The collector is the chairman of the committee and the blockmedical officer is its secretary.

"Health care workers and other frontline warriorsdealing with the pandemic are susceptible to infection andtherefore, they are more in need of PPE kits, masks and othersafety gears," Goyal said.

The funds of the committee are spent on renovation ofhospitals, their maintenance and improving health facilities.Now, consolidating funds in the time of crisis will addimpetus to the committee's activities, he added. COR TKPGK GK