To encourage testing for Covid, Punjab chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday announced distribution of free food packets to poor families who do not want to get themselves tested for fear of isolation, which will impact their earnings.
The CM said, “Distributing free food packets will encourage poor families to go for early testing, which is imperative to check and control the spread of the pandemic.”
The programme will commence in Patiala, one of the worst affected districts, he said. He has directed other districts to make similar arrangements for distribution of free food packets to poor Covid patients in home isolation so that they do not live in fear of losing their earnings during this time period.
Accepting the suggestion of Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, the CM said that the District Congress Committees (DCCs) and local MLAs will help the district administration in the distribution of these packets.
The Chief Minister stated this while chairing a virtual meeting with elected representatives.
Yesterday, Punjab government had decided to do away with the posters stuck at the houses of quarantined patients to eliminate the fear of stigma.
