Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on tackling the dual problems of Covid-19 and Naxal violence in the state
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel
Chhattisgarh is witnessing a surge of Covid-19 cases with nine of its districts under complete lockdown for 10 days. On Tuesday, it added 13,576 fresh cases and 132 fatalities, with the death toll now mounting to 5,031; since April 1, 861 people have died in the state. In a conversation with Forbes India, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel speaks about his plan to tackle the rising number of cases, the recent Naxal attack in which 23 security personnel were killed and the state’s approach to industrialisation and infrastructure development. Edited excerpts:
Q. Nine Chhattisgarh districts have gone under 10 days of lockdown. How is the state controlling the rising number of Covid-19 cases, along with the shortage of ventilators and vaccine?
It is true that during the Covid-19 peak in Chhattisgarh last year we had about 3,800 cases per day. At present, about 9,000-10,000 cases are coming each day, but not all are serious. We are doing maximum testing, about 40,000 every day. On a daily basis, we are vaccinating around three lakh people and till now we have vaccinated 36 lakh of a total population of 2.80 crore. At the national level, at 12 percent, we are one of the states where maximum vaccination has been completed. Eighty-four percent frontline workers have been vaccinated, of which 87 percent are health workers, and 43 percent between 45-60 years of age.
We are constantly increasing the number of oxygen beds. Oxygen is manufactured in Chhattisgarh and then sent to Maharashtra, but definitely our priority is to make sure that there is no shortage of oxygen to us. We have also recently requested the Prime Minister to minimise the GST and tax of certain medicines so that people can be treated at a nominal rate.
We know that lockdown is not a solution, but it can definitely slow down the spread of the virus.
Q. How is the state controlling the regular Maoist attacks? Last week, 23 security personnel were killed in Bastar…