Soon after the co-operators of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar came forward supporting PM’s call of Janata Curfew, the top leadership of the cooperative sector from NCUI President to Sahakar Bharati Patron to IFFCO MD got their act together asking their members to lend complete support to the idea of Janata Curfew.
NCUI President Chandra Pal Singh Yadav said this is something which must be supported across the spectrum. “I not only support PM’s call but also exhort our members to observe Janata Curfew longer than Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested”, Yadav told Indian Cooperative on the phone from Jhansi.
Chandra Pal also urged leaders of cooperatives to spread awareness on how to protect themselves from the deadly virus in their respective areas of operation. “Cooperators should reduce their journeys to a bare minimum and hold no meetings till the situation returns to normal”, urged the President of NCUI.
IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi who has a large number of followers on social media also lost no time in warning people of the dangers of taking the virus lightly. He urged people to maintain social distance, as suggested by the Prime Minister.
Supporting the Prime Minister IFFCO MD tweeted “I welcome & appreciate the initiative of #JanataCurfew announced by our Hon’ble PM. Let’s come together & support it on 22nd March2020. Together we can fight against #Corona. Let’s not panic, stay safe & follow the instructions of govt.”
IFFCO claims to have 3 crore farmers as its members and a message from MD would go a long way in educating people on the subject, said a co-operator reminding that Prime Minister in his address has also asked heads of social, religious or business organizations to contribute towards spreading the message.
Sahakar Bharati Patron and Nafcub President Jyotindra Mehta has also asked people to be careful. Calling Prime Minister Modi as the greatest Crisis-Manager in the world, Mehta asked people to follow Janata Curfew in letter and spirit.
Talking to Indian Cooperative GCMMF Managing Director R S Sodhi also supported PM’s novel strategy of fighting the virus through Janata Curfew. Assuring that India has enough food grains and milk supply to tide over the situation, he urged dairy farmers to maintain social distance.
Biscomaun Chairman, who was one of the first to lend support to the call of PM, announced leave on Saturday for his employees, threatening them with loss of job should they take the matter lightly. “Those operating lifts or serving tea or water should wear masks and keep sanitizing themselves or else they may lose their jobs”, Sunil Singh warned underlining the importance of precaution.
On the Thursday evening at 8 pm PM addressed the nation on combating COVID-19 and asked people to self-impose a ‘Janta Curfew’ on 22 March from 7 AM to 9 PM. PM also asked citizens to thank the selfless service providers of the nation at 5 PM on 22 March.
On the occasion of ‘Navratra’, the Prime Minister made nine requests to the people, which was translated into Hindi by the Biscomaun Chairman for peoples’ benefit.
The Prime Minister said that patience and resolve of all Indians is vital in fighting the pandemic. He also urged that senior citizens above the age of 60 should not come out of their homes in the coming few weeks.