Follow lockdown norms, stay at home: Mamata

Kolkata: In a unique initiative, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday went out in a car fitted with public addressing system requesting city dwellers to follow the nationwide lockdown norms and stay home.

Banerjee visited various places, including Park Circus, Tiljala, Rajabazar and Mathpukur areas. Residents were completely taken aback when all of a sudden they heard her voice.

They came out on their balconies to find Banerjee sitting on the front seat of the SUV, urging people to follow the lockdown norms through the public addressing system.

Her car halted at all the five locations and she spoke in Bengali, Hindi and English to convey her message.

She first went to Park Circus where she urged people to stay at home. "I understand that you all have to face a bit of an inconvenience. But this is the first time when lockdown has been imposed in the country. So we have to follow its norms for our own safety and for the sake of our family members and neighbours."

Banerjee also assured people that there is no scarcity of essential commodities in the state and the police have been briefed up to extend all sort of support to you all in this situation. She urged residents of the areas to contact police in case of any need.

In the same breath, Banerjee also informed that only four to five people will be allowed to visit markets at a time.

While returning from Mathpukur, Banerjee directed to stop her car finding some conservancy workers busy cleaning the roads. She distributed masks and hand gloves among them. She also taught them the proper way of using masks and told them to use hand gloves while working.

Banerjee, who took several steps in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, is also the first Chief Minister to visit hospitals and marketplaces to create awareness among the masses. She also visited ration shops at Bhowanipore and spoke to the people there to know if they were facing any problem.

The Global Advisory Board for COVID Response Policy in Bengal with Nobel laureate Dr Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee as a key member had recommended involvement of community in the entire process of fighting the pandemic in the state. On Tuesday, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said it has been followed. The next meeting of the Board will be on Thursday.