Salute To Naveen Pattanaik, Salute To Frontline Warriors

By Er Taraprasad Mishra

The figure of daily cases of COVID-19 infection detected in Odisha is regularly recorded low in comparison to other states in our country since the breakout of the pandemic. New positive cases of infection on this July 18, is reported to be 1648 which is much lower than that of the last week. The rate is miraculously on a trend of dropping day by day. When the bone-chilling and heart wrenching stories of COVID-19 fatalities are daily pouring in from other states, why Odisha is in a state of resilience? It is because of nothing else, but the good management, keen foresight, and prior preparedness of the Odisha government that our state has not yet seen raging of this deadly virus in a scale that other states in our country have been experiencing. The world-premier bodies like the WHO has praised the tackling of COVID-19 pandemic by the state in an article published in its website last year, “Known for its track record of effectively handling natural disasters, including the recent cyclone, the state has managed to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic quite efficiently.”All credit goes to our beloved Chief Minister Naveen Pattanaik who like a brave general leads legions of frontline warriors of our state to take on this invisible enemy. It is the bold effective strategy of his government coupled with the dedicated services of his frontline warriors deployed on the ground that has kept a tight rein on this tiny creepy creature.
We also look on in fear and in tears while hundreds and thousands of his cadets willingly laying their lives in the war-zone in order to drag away the victims from the clutch of this lethal virus. They are doctors, nurses, Anganwadi Karmis, Asha Karmis , sanitation workers, drivers, police personnel, armed forces, Journalists, teachers, staff providing essential services, revenue staff and all those who come out of their houses during this shutdown to save the precious lives of the public. Blind to the health hazards and life risk the nature of their job fall through, they rush the COVID-19 patients to the hospital, they treat and take care of them, they cremate them if they succumb to the virus, the provide door-step service, they make us aware to abide by government rules, they keep us up-to-date by giving us live briefings.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik makes it a point that their selfless services never goes unsung. He recognizes their perilous job by bestowing the honorable title of Frontline Covid-19 Warrior on them. This generous act by him proves how much he is empathetic to this community whose services are as much crucial to public welfare as to our democracy, especially in this period of growing health and economic emergency. It has also brought great joy and also a sense of self-esteem to all working in unison to scare away the pestilence, sending a message that lives of duty-bound fellows matter too.
In a grand announcement on January 1, the Chief Minister has expressed his desire to erect a majestic memorial in honor of selfless services and sacrifices of these Frontline Warriors who were martyred in fighting against the pandemic. The memorial will proudly carry the inscription of their names on its chest. Odisha is all set to inaugurate this COVID Warrior Memorial on the Independence Day this year at Biju Patnaik Park in Bhubaneswar. On August 6 last year chief minister also made all the people of our state join him in one-minute silent prayer to honor the magnificent instances of supreme sacrifice left behind by these pious souls. Besides, he has also kept open the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for providing ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to the spouse or next of the kin of the deceased persons who have fallen dead while in line of their duty. The order released by Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department reads, “ In order to instill a sense of confidence and security among all the frontline workers in the battle against COVID-19, Government after careful consideration have been pleased to decide that the claims of COVID-19 Warriors , held ineligible by Government of India and found eligible as per the Government of Odisha Guidelines will be settled out of Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. ” It is worth noting here that this proverbial financial assistance from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the deceased persons falling dead while performing was instituted in the wake of Union Government rejecting the 59 claims out of 60 proposals submitted by the Government of Odisha. This gesture of magnanimity proves that when everybody deserts you, Naveen Patnaik is here to stand by your side. Hundred Salutes to Naveen Patnaik, Hundred Salutes to Frontline Warriors.