Murmu appeals to religious leaders to spread awareness
‘Advise followers to report travel history’
TNN Bureau. Updated: 4/5/2020 10:37:41 AM

JAMMU: Asking them to advise their followers against holding any congregations, Lt Governor G C Murmu on Saturday urged the religious leaders to spread awareness about maintaining social distancing to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
"The government alone cannot fight the emerging situation unless the public participates and cooperates with the government in its efforts to prevent and contain this pandemic," Murmu said interacting with leaders and heads of various religious groups and organisations of different faiths through video conferencing here.
“The religious and spiritual leaders have a crucial role to play in order to bring about a conscientious behavioral change with regard to the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and social distancing,” he said.
Murmu urged the religious leaders to appeal to their followers to voluntarily report their travel history and participation in the religious congregation held in Delhi, and adopt the practice of 'Stay at Home-Pray at Home' during the upcoming festival season.
He advised them to utilize the potent media tools like social media, print and electronic media to spread awareness messages regarding importance of social distancing and adherence of guidelines and advisories related to the prevention of the COVID-19.
He said the Government would also rope in the religious leaders for message to the people, besides the routine official announcements regarding various advisories and other aspects.
He said coordination committees have been formed at all levels and Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies functionaries are involved for generating awareness and mobilizing the relief efforts.
The religious leaders said that all the religious places have been closed to avoid any mass gathering and assured their full support to the UT administration in the efforts to combat COVID-19 and unanimously resolved against the social gathering, an official spokesman said.
Important issues like home delivery of essential commodities in vulnerable areas and reaching out the people of rural and far off areas were also discussed during the interaction.
The Lt Governor assured the participants that the government would leave no stone unturned to reach out to the last person, and sought the public cooperation for better results in the fight against the deadly virus.


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