SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 18: Beneficiaries of PDS grains in the Deoghar district will now have to show their Covid vaccination certificate to the dealer before receiving their ration quota.
For ensuring 100% vaccination at the Panchayat level, the Deoghar district administration has tagged PDS shop ration with vaccination. In this regard, Deoghar’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manjunath Bhajantri has directed the PDS dealers of the district to ensure whether the beneficiaries’ families have taken at least the first dose of vaccine before delivering the ration to them.
While holding an online meeting with 617 PDS dealers and the supply department officers of the district, the DC made them aware of how to screen beneficiaries whether they have been administered vaccine or not.
“Your role at Panchayat level keeps significance in covering 100% villagers with vaccination and their awareness about the danger of Covid infection. So whoever comes to receive ration at your PDS shop encourage him for a vaccination with family,” said the DC to PDS dealers.
He sought the help of PDS dealers in identifying and registering villagers above 18 years in their respective Panchayat who have not been vaccinated so far.
Besides first and second doses of vaccination, the DC also directed the concerned officers to ensure 100% implementation of Covid protocol, maintaining sanitation at Panchayat level so that chain of infection could be checked in rural areas.
An official of the district food supply department said that since the majority of villagers remain in direct touch with PDS dealers, tagging vaccination with ration delivery will help in covering those rural residents who have not taken jab so far.
The DC at the meeting also informed that Covid infection is taking dangerous shape in the district again. He called upon PDS dealers to associate with the vaccination campaign in the interest of society. Besides supply officer Amit Kumar, all block development officers, Ravi Kumar, Rohit Vidyarthi, and other district administration officers were present in the online meeting.
