Inspired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Governor Acharya Devvrat, Gujarat’s statewide initiative, Mera Gaon, Corona Mukt Gaon (My Village, Corona-Free Village), has garnered overwhelming public participation since its launch on Gujarat Foundation Day, May 1. This ambitious campaign aims to curb the spread of COVID-19 in rural areas, ensuring the health and safety of villagers across the state.
A Fortnight-Long Drive to Combat COVID-19
Amid the escalating pandemic, this 15-day campaign has mobilized communities to take proactive measures in preventing the virus from infiltrating villages. By encouraging collective action, the initiative seeks to safeguard rural populations from infection and provide essential care to those affected.
Community-Led COVID Care Centers
During the campaign’s launch, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani emphasized the need for village-level COVID care centers to treat individuals with mild symptoms. He urged villagers to establish these facilities in every community, utilizing available resources such as schools, community halls, and panchayat buildings.
The response was swift and remarkable. Within just 48 hours of the Chief Minister’s appeal, over 10,000 community COVID care centers were set up across 14,246 village panchayats in 248 tehsils. These centers now provide more than 105,000 beds, ensuring adequate isolation and treatment facilities for rural residents.
Key Features of the Campaign
- Isolation Facilities: Villages are repurposing schools, community buildings, and vacant homes to create isolation centers for individuals displaying symptoms like cold, cough, or mild fever.
- Community Involvement: Local leaders and volunteers are stepping up to provide food, shelter, and essential medicines, including Vitamin C, Azithromycin, and Paracetamol, to those in need.
- Holistic Support: Beyond medical care, the campaign also focuses on distributing Ayurvedic kadha (herbal decoction), pulse oximeters, and thermometers to villagers lacking home isolation facilities.
Rapid Expansion Across Gujarat
The campaign’s success is evident in its rapid implementation. District development officers, tehsil development officers, and 10-member village committees have collaborated to establish 10,320 community COVID care centers across 246 tehsils in just two days. These centers are equipped to accommodate over 105,000 beds, ensuring no one is left without care.
Even in remote areas like the tribal district of Dang, 83 centers with 1,242 beds have been set up. Similarly, in Banaskantha, a border district in North Gujarat, 897 centers with 6,400 beds are now operational.
A Vision for a COVID-Free Gujarat
The Mera Gaon, Corona Mukt Gaon initiative reflects Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s vision of a COVID-free Gujarat. By isolating and treating individuals with mild symptoms at the grassroots level, the campaign aims to break the chain of transmission in rural areas.
A Mass Movement for Pandemic Eradication
This campaign is more than just a health initiative—it’s a mass movement. By leveraging community COVID care centers, Gujarat’s rural population is tackling the second wave of the pandemic with resilience and determination. The slogan “Corona Will Lose, Gujarat Will Win” encapsulates the state’s unwavering commitment to overcoming the crisis.
As the Mera Gaon, Corona Mukt Gaon campaign gains momentum, it is poised to become a model for grassroots-level pandemic response, ensuring a safer and healthier future for Gujarat’s villages.