The second phase of lockdown has not dampened the spirit of farmers and people in states of Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. As harvesting season is underway, agricultural activities are at full throttle in these agrarian states. During the  first phase of lockdown, Government of India ran a vigorous campaign on various media platforms to spread awareness about COVID-19 and appealing people to practice certain measures to avoid it’s spread.Today agriculturalists and farmers are fully following  these precautions in their day-to-day agricultural operations.

Farm equipments are being sanitized before putting them into operation as seen in Chriya Village of Charkhi Dadri district, Haryana. In the hill state of Himachal PradeshMahender Sharma, a Shimla-based farmer has already started tilling his land for the next crop. A farmer in Sangrur, Punjab while managing his machine said that he is thankful to the Government of India for relaxations enabling them to carry out their work at this crucial time of agricultural season.

https://twitter.com/PIBChandigarh/status/1251024511161339904?s=09 (Farmers sanitizing Equipments)

https://twitter.com/PIBChandigarh/status/1251028695017390080?s=09 (Mahender Sharma)

https://twitter.com/PIBChandigarh/status/1251089316551340032 (Sangrur Farmer)

To help people cope up with stress in these testing times Government of India announced a 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package last month. A comprehensive package covering healthcare workers, women Jan Dhan beneficiaries, farmers under PM-KISAN etc. it also provides free foodgrains to the poor under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana. Smt. Neera Devi, a resident of Naru village of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh expresses her gratitude to Prime Minister ShriNarendra Modi for the free ration she received under the Package. Manoj of Kishangarh in Chandigarh also confirmed receiving ration.

https://twitter.com/PIBChandigarh/status/1251011497540509697?s=09 (Neera Devi, Himachal)

https://twitter.com/PIBChandigarh/status/1251022678435090432?s=09  (Manoj, Chandigarh)

This shows the resilience of people and their confidence in Government of India. No stone has been left unturned by Government also to help them. More than 32 crore poor people have received financial assistance of Rs 29,352 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package. On April 14 Prime Minister announced the extension of lockdown till 3^rd May continuing India’s efforts in fightagainst COVID-19.

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DP/HR

 

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