Chief Minister appeals to people to celebrate 60th Gujarat Foundation Day on May 1 with austerity
Gandhinagar: To hold video-conference with 169 nagarpalika presidents and standing committee chairmen, with Panchmahals villages heads To exhort people help government combat and contain global pandemic COVID-19 to overcome lockdown, maintaining protocol To hold district and state-level painting, essay and poetry competitions on ‘corona warriors’ for college and school students with prizes To gift 15kg food grains free-of-cost to 61-lakh middle class families with APL-1 cards from May 7 to 12, 2020
Gandhinagar, Thursday: In the wake of continued lockdown to combat and contain global pandemic novel coronavirus COVID-19, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani here today made a series of announcements as gift to 61-lakh middle class families on the eve of 60th Gujarat Foundation Day on May 1, 2020.
In a message, Mr. Rupani exhorted people of Gujarat to celebrate the state’s foundation day in a unique way with austerity, greeting exchanges online, in accordance with the prevailing unforeseen situation. He asked people to pledge to maintain health and hygiene at hashtag vija sankalp from their video-photo footage, Instagram, Twitter and such social media platform.
He appealed to people to contribute their share in government efforts to maintain vigil against and unitedly fight the dreaded virus, observing protocols like social distancing, wearing mask and washing hands after touching likely contaminated objects or surface.
While the Gujarat Government is marching ahead on the strength of its four pillars of transparency, sensitivity, decisive and progressive policies, he said,
He said that 61-lakh middle class families (covering 2.50-crore to 3-crore people), having APL-1 cards, will get 10 kg wh1 kg puleat, 3 kg rice, 1 kg pulse and 1 kg sugar free-of-cost from government recognised fair price shops from May 7 to 12, 2020. This will cost the government Rs.200-crore.
The beneficiaries having Ma Amritam and Ma Vatsalya cards, if admitted to maternity homes for delivery during the lockdown, will get free tests done at government cost.
Similarly, the Chief Minister is going to conduct a video conference with the presidents, vice-presidents, chairman of the standing committee, and chief officers of all 162 Nagarpalikas of the state at 11.30 AM.
Under ‘Gujarat@60’, a video interview of the Chief Minister taken by the noted writer Mrs. Kajal Ojha Vaidhya on the topic of measures taken by Gujarat in its fight against Coronavirus, with cooperation and firm resolve of the people of state, would be telecast on local news channels between 6:30 and 7:00 PM. The local news channels will also telecast a song ‘Yashgath Gujarat ni’ (Glory of Gujarat), depicting the achievements attained by Gujarat during its 60-years, on May 1 at 8:45 AM in the morning and will repeat the telecast at 7:30 PM in the evening.
In addition to these, essay writing, painting, and poem writing competitions on subject of ‘Coronavirus Warriors’ have been organized for the students of schools and colleges by the education department. The best three creations each competition in both primary and secondary levels would be given cash prizes of Rs. 15,000 for champion, Rs. 11,000 for runner-up, and Rs. 5,000 for third position at the district level. The students can send their creations to district education officer through email.
Among the winners of the district level, the five best creations in all three competitions in both levels would be selected at the state level competitions and would also be given a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each. In total, 45 cash prizes of Rs. 25,000 each would be given to the winners