Mumbai: Experts across the country have been warning the governments to prepare for the third wave of coronavirus. Acting on these warnings, Kolhapur in Maharashtra has rolled out a children awareness program across the city, to encourage children & their parents to take precautions and react scientifically to the pandemic. Kolhapur's Guardian Minister & MoS for IT & Home for Govt. of Maharashtra has requested Maharashtra Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad to implement this drive across the State.
The drive, which is the brainchild of legislator Jayant Asgaonkar, is being rolled out on Sunday with the help of the local administration. The drive, named ‘Corona: Children Awareness Program’, will first have teachers and professors on board to raise awareness about the potential risk among students and their parents. The drive will inform the students on various aspects including precautionary measures, the potential risks of the third wave and the steps to be taken for testing and treatment if infected. Separate guidelines are being prepared under the guidance of a district task force of doctors. The drive is being implemented for the students from Nursery to Class 12th.
After MLC Asgaonkar shared the concept with Minister Satej Patil early this week, the Minister announced to roll it out immediately from Sunday.
“The potential third wave which may hit Maharashtra and other states in August-September is likely to affect children more as predicted by the experts from the health sector. The awareness among the school-going children who were largely unaffected so far is crucial to reduce the impact. By using the technology which they have been using for their online learning for more than a year, the drive will be implemented more effectively. The online awareness drive will also help us to avoid gathering of the students, teachers and their parents at one place,” said Minister Patil.
The Minister has also requested Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad to enforce the drive across the State.
“Kolhapur district administration is starting the implementation of Children Awareness Program at district level from Sunday. We want it to be implemented in other districts with participation from doctors, counselors, locally elected representatives and education department officials along with teachers. I believe this will be helpful in reducing the impact of the third wave and promote scientific temper among the people of Kolhapur and Maharashtra” said Minister Satej Patil.
