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Tag: Bhupesh Baghel

  • Cut GST on COVID-19 medicines, devices: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel at PM meet

    By PTI
    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday urged the Centre to provide the required stock of COVID-19 vaccines for a week in advance and sough reduction in the GST rate on medicines and devices used in the treatment of the infection, officials said.

    Baghel made these demands while speaking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video conference meeting with chief ministers to discuss the COVID-19 situation and progress of the vaccination drive, a public relations department official said.

    In the meeting, the chief minister requested the Centre to provide one week of required vaccines stock in advance as this would facilitate smooth vaccination in remote districts, he said.

    The CM urged the Centre to reduce the GST rate on medicines and devices used in the treatment of COVID-19, saying it would reduce financial burden on coronavirus patients.

    ALSO READ: PM Modi calls for vaccine festival from April 11-14; asks states to check laxity in containing COVID

    Baghel also sought the Centres support for continuous supply of Remdesivir injection and oxygen cylinders, setting up of four virology labs and 1,000 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the state, the official said.

    Briefing about the vaccination coverage, the Chief Minister said in Chhattisgarh, the first dose of vaccine has been given to 87 per cent of the healthcare workers, 84 per cent of the frontline workers and 43 per cent of the people above 45 years of age.

    Till April 7, as many as 33.61 lakh vaccine doses have been given to people in the state, he added.

    In Chhattisgarh, 2,04,420 tests are being done per 10 lakh population, while at the national level 1,89,664 tests are being conducted per 10 lakh population, he said.

    The RT-PCR test percentage in the state was 26 per cent in October 2020, which has increased to about 40 per cent in April 2021, the CM said in the meeting.

  • Congress supports Bhupesh Baghel’s demand, says – Central Government should accept immediately

    State Congress Communications Department President Shailesh Nitin Trivedi has said that the demand of the Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to reduce the age of corona vaccination from 45 years to 18 years is the right demand. Today, the Corona infection is happening even among the youth. Seeing him, the whole family’s family is getting infected. In view of this, this is a very right demand. Time is needed. Today, the need of the hour is to provide immunization protection against corona infection to our younger generation. The central government should accept it immediately. The Congress party fully supports the demand made by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

  • Bhupesh Baghel tweeted to the Prime Minister, requested to set the minimum age of vaccination to 18 years

    Bhupesh Baghel has tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the PMO office. Chief Minister Baghel has demanded that the minimum age of vaccination be 18 years. He has said that now that the transition to Corona is increasing, we always think that the younger generation of our young country should be prepared to manage the future challenges. It is therefore necessary that the minimum age of vaccination should be set at 18 years.

  • The Chief Minister directed to increase the number of beds having oxygen facility in hospitals

    Bhupesh Baghel today discussed the situation arising out of the Kovid-19 transition with the heads of various societies and social organizations along with the members of the Council of Ministers. The Chief Minister informed the social representatives associated with the video conference from the five divisional headquarters, informing them about the worsening situation of Corona infection in the state and asked for suggestions from them. He called upon people to be motivated for corona vaccination and COVID-19 screening, as well as to avoid infection, use of masks, maintain physical distance and good hand hygiene. Health Minister Shri T.S. Singhdev, Home Minister Mr. Tamradhwaj Sahu, Agriculture Minister Mr. Ravindra Choubey, School Education Minister Dr. Premasai Singh Tekam, Excise Minister Mr. Kavasi Lakhma, Food Minister Mr. Amarjeet Bhagat, Urban Administration Minister Dr. Shiv Kumar Dahria, Revenue Minister Mr. Jaysingh Agrawal, Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Anila Bhendia, Public Health Engineering Minister Guru Rudra Kumar, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mr. Rajesh Tiwari and Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain also attended.

    Mr. Baghel appealed to all social leaders and social organizations to help the government openly to control the Corona epidemic. He said that the kind of active cooperation that was successful in preventing corona infection with the cooperation of all sections of the society in the last year. He also appealed to increase the number of oxygen-assisted beds in hospitals and covid care centers and provide financial and material support to provide food and other facilities to the needy in locked-down areas.

    In the meeting, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel also sought suggestions from experts of AIIMS Raipur, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Smriti Hospital, Sims Bilaspur and representatives of Indian Medical Council related to the video conference. Experts pointed out the need to increase the number of beds having oxygen facility in hospitals and adequate number of human resources. He said that Corona-infected people are arriving at the hospital very late for treatment. The number of deaths due to reaching a critical stage is increasing. Representatives of the Indian Medical Council suggested that a central referral system should be created to treat serious patients. Also, standard treatment protocols should also be set up involving experts from the government and private sector.

    Experts called for the active support of social and civic organizations to control the corona infection. He said that these organizations would be very helpful in making people aware about vaccination, screening, infection prevention measures and necessary precautions. He suggested to operate Covid Care Centers in various social buildings. This will not put unnecessary burden on the patients who do not need oxygen facility.

    The Chief Minister connected the video conference from the five divisional headquarters to Muslim society, Sikh society, Christian society, Jain society, Buddhist society, Brahmin society, Kshatriya society, Sahu society, Kurmi society, Devgan society, Yadav society, Satnami society, Gond society, Nagesia During the discussion with the representatives of Samaj, Kanwar Samaj, Oraon Samaj, Pahari Korwa Samaj and other societies, this time compared to last year, people are less aware of Corona infection. People have become relaxed about the precautions to be taken to avoid this. Kovid-19 patients are being found in cities as well as villages. The whole family is getting infected. In the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the Health Department officials that wherever the number of beds with oxygen facility can be increased, increase the number of beds on priority. He said that hostels and other government buildings can be used for Kovid care centers and their buildings can also be used by talking to social organizations. He also suggested increasing the reserved number of beds with oxygen facility in private hospitals for Corona patients by 50 percent.

  • Amit Shah, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel pay tributes to jawans killed in Maoist ambush

    By Express News Service
    RAIPUR: Union home minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel paid tributes to the security personnel gunned down at the Maoist encounter at Jagdalpur in Bastar on Monday.

    Twenty-two jawans were killed in the Maoist ambush in the inhospitable terrain of an edgy district of Bijapur, south Chhattisgarh, on Saturday.

    Shah reached Jagdalpur from Delhi by a special flight on Monday morning. During his eight-hour halt, he will hold a high-level meeting with the top officials of the state, police and paramilitary forces at the circuit house before proceeding to Bijapur to meet the injured personnel admitted in the district hospital. The union minister is also scheduled to visit a CRPF camp at Basaguda where he will have lunch with the jawans.  

    In another significant development, some journalists in south Bastar received phone calls from the Maoists claiming that the Cobra battalion jawan who had gone missing after the encounter is in their captivity.  

  • Morale of jawans high, anti-Naxal operation to go on: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

    By PTI
    RAIPUR: In the wake of the deadly Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region that claimed the lives of 22 security personnel, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said the morale of jawans is high and the operation against Naxals will continue.

    Talking to reporters this evening at Raipur airport after returning from Assam, Baghel said that Maoists are fighting their last battle now and they will be eliminated very soon.

    He added that the work of setting up camps of security forces in the Naxal stronghold areas in the state will be expedited.

    “Morale of our security forces is high and they are giving a strong fight to Naxals in their den.

    In Saturday’s encounter, Naxals have suffered a huge loss,” Baghel, who had been campaigning in Assam for the ongoing Assembly election before returning to Chhattisgarh, said.

    “The area where the skirmish took place is considered a bastion of Naxals and we had planned to set up a camp of security forces there and therefore, they (Maoists) were frustrated,” he added.

    ALSO READ | Chhattisgarh attack: Maoists were armed with LMG; looted weapons of security personnel

    He further said the incident was not just an encounter, but can be termed as a ‘yuddh’ (war) that lasted for about four hours.

    “From both the sides, heavy exchange of fire took place while grenades and rocket launchers were also used.

    Our jawans got martyred, but they fought bravely and at the same time evacuated their injured and martyred colleagues from the spot,” he said.

    “We have also got information that Naxals had ferried their killed and injured cadres in four tractors from the encounter site.

    It can be assessed from the information that security forces have inflicted a heavy blow on them,” he added.

    When asked whether any lapses on the part of the security forces led to the incident, Baghel denied it saying, “It was not an attack on (police) camp…We had gone there to corner them.

    We have been continuously setting up camps and making inroads into the Maoist bastions from three sides Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur (south Bastar).”

    Naxals have been losing their ground and have been pushed into an area of 40X40 sq km.

    Out of frustration, they are committing such acts to show their presence, he added.

    “We had planned to set up two camps in the area (along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts) this month and we will do it.

    These strategically important camps will help the security forces in blocking Maoists’ route to Maad area (a Maoist stronghold),” he said.

    Our operation (against Naxals) will be continued and more camps of security forces will be set up.

    The sacrifice of jawans will not go in vain.

    Road connectivity will also be expanded in the region and amenities will be provided to the local public, he added.

    Hailing the coordination between the central and state forces in the fight against Naxals, Baghel said, “Maoists have been fighting their last battle and very soon they will be eliminated.”

    After his arrival, the chief minister took stock of the incident from senior administrative and police officials, a government official here said.

    Later, Baghel went to Ramkrishna Care hospital, where injured jawans are admitted, and enquired about their condition, he added.

    Twenty-two security personnel were killed and 31 others injured in the gunfight that took place between Jonaguda and Tekalguda villages along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts on Saturday afternoon.

    One jawan is still missing following the gunfight.

    Meanwhile, the opposition BJP hit out at the chief minister and said he should understand that Naxalism is a bigger challenge than the election in Assam.

    “The entire state is mourning the martyrdom of the security personnel but the CM was busy in electioneering in Assam.

    What can be more unfortunate than this,” senior BJP leader Dharamlal Kaushik said.

    “Naxalism is a bigger challenge than the election. The irresponsible attitude of the state government has proved that it has no concern for people of the state,” the Leader of Opposition said.

  • BJP slams Baghel for continuing campaign in Assam despite Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh

    By ANI
    GUWAHATI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Mangaldoi Dilip Saikia slammed Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for continuing to campaign in Assam at a time when his state saw a deadly encounter between security personnel and Naxalites and alleged that the Congress leader doesn’t care.

    “At a time when many security personnel have lost their lives, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel is busy in the poll campaign in Assam. He is camping here with government staff and misusing government machinery. Election Commission should investigate this matter,” Saikia told ANI.

    “Baghel doesn’t care about the killing of the jawans. Instead of fulfilling his duties towards Chhattisgarh, the Congress leader is camping in Assam,” Saikia alleged.

    “I pay my tribute to the jawans who laid their life on the line of duty. We stand with their families,” the BJP national General Secretary said.

    Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday expressed deep grief over the killing of five jawans in the encounter between the security forces and Naxalites near Tarrem in Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh.

    Shah also asked the Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to go to Chhattisgarh and take stock of the situation.

    Acting upon the order, Kuldiep Singh reached Chhattisgarh in the morning and looked after the operational work.

    Five security personnel were killed and around 31 sustained injuries in the encounter in Bijapur on Saturday, Chhattisgarh Police said.

    Around 21 security personnel are still missing following the encounter with Naxals, out of which seven are from CRPF.

  • This Chhattisgarh district goes under total lockdown for nine days

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: In the wake of the spike in Covid-19 cases in Chhattisgarh, the Durg district administration has declared to impose a total lockdown for nine days from April 6.

    Collector Sarveshwar Bhure said that the decision was taken owing to a consistent rise in coronavirus cases recently. Durg district is about 40 km west of Raipur.

    “We are working out on which activities will be permitted and regulated during the lockdown duration that will continue till April 14. It will be issued soon”, Bhure said.

    Chhattisgarh recorded 4,617 Covid cases on a single day on Thursday which is only next to Maharashtra with 43,183 infections on that day.

    With the fresh cases consistently on the rise, CM Bhupesh Baghel has appealed to all eligible citizens to visit their nearest immunization centre and get vaccinated. 

  • Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel chairs meet to review situation amid COVID-19 surge

    By PTI
    RAIPUR: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday asked officials to increase the vaccination coverage in districts where infection numbers are high.

    Chairing a meeting here on the outbreak situation, he also ordered district collectors to declare areas where cases are steadily rising as containment zones and impose necessary restrictions, an official said.

    The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers, senior administrative and police officials while collectors and functionaries of commerce and industries’ associations joined online, he said.

    Speaking about discussions held in the meeting, state Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said the administration was not in favour of a lockdown, but in almost all cities and containment zones, a ‘no man’s land’ concept will be enforced from 9pm to restrict unnecessary movement of people.

    “It means all shops and commercial installations will be closed down at 9 pm. Only hotels and restaurants will be allowed to sell food parcels,” he said, though he did not disclose when the plan will come into force.

    “The state government is not in the mood of imposing lockdown as of now, nor have we any intention to influence the business activities, but people will have to follow COVID-19 guidelines seriously,” the minister added.

    The state government will focus on three fronts, namely vaccination drive, recruitment of health staff and strict compliance of COVID-19 guidelines to fight the current situation, he said.

    “The chief minister has said there should be no dearth of manpower, and walk-in-interviews should be held to appoint doctors and paramedical staff. He also directed collectors to arrange for beds with oxygen facility in sufficient numbers,” Choubey informed.

    Meanwhile, Baghel, in a statement, said he will not celebrate Holi this year due to the spike in cases and asked people to celebrate on Monday by staying home and exchanging wishes through social media.

    In view of spike in cases, CrPC section 144, which bars assembly of four or more people, has been imposed in some districts, including Raipur, Durg, Bastar, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur.

    PTI TKPC’garh CM chairs meet to review situation amid COVID-19 surge Raipur, Mar 28 (PTI) Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday asked officials to increase the vaccination coverage in districts where infection numbers are high.

    Chairing a meeting here on the outbreak situation, he also ordered district collectors to declare areas where cases are steadily rising as containment zones and impose necessary restrictions, an official said.

    The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers, senior administrative and police officials while collectors and functionaries of commerce and industries’ associations joined online, he said.

    Speaking about discussions held in the meeting, state Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey said the administration was not in favour of a lockdown, but in almost all cities and containment zones, a ‘no man’s land’ concept will be enforced from 9pm to restrict unnecessary movement of people.

    “It means all shops and commercial installations will be closed down at 9 pm. Only hotels and restaurants will be allowed to sell food parcels,” he said, though he did not disclose when the plan will come into force.

    “The state government is not in the mood of imposing lockdown as of now, nor have we any intention to influence the business activities, but people will have to follow COVID-19 guidelines seriously,” the minister added.

    The state government will focus on three fronts, namely vaccination drive, recruitment of health staff and strict compliance of COVID-19 guidelines to fight the current situation, he said.

    “The chief minister has said there should be no dearth of manpower, and walk-in-interviews should be held to appoint doctors and paramedical staff. He also directed collectors to arrange for beds with oxygen facility in sufficient numbers,” Choubey informed.

    Meanwhile, Baghel, in a statement, said he will not celebrate Holi this year due to the spike in cases and asked people to celebrate on Monday by staying home and exchanging wishes through social media.

    In view of spike in cases, CrPC section 144, which bars assembly of four or more people, has been imposed in some districts, including Raipur, Durg, Bastar, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur.

  • Rahul a ‘fighter’, only acceptable name in Congress for party chief: Baghel

    He also asserted that the Congress is fighting the assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry with full force and is confident of doing well.