Chief Secretary reviews Independence Day preparations

Srinagar : The Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam today chaired a review meeting to take stock of preparations for celebration of Independence Day-2020, with this year’s theme of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.Administrative Secretaries of Departments of Health, School Education, Power Development, General Administration, Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir,   Additional Director General of Police, Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department, Youth Services & Sports, and Culture along-with HODs of concerned departments participated in the meeting.During the meeting it was informed that as per the guidance of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and keeping in view the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s celebration will intrinsically include preventive measures such as maintaining social distance, wearing masks, proper sanitization and allowing only limited congregations. As such, it was decided that participation from students and vulnerable persons will be restricted, besides introducing technological interventions toward e-celebrations.Chief Secretary while emphasizing the importance of maintaining social distance impressed upon the concerned departments to screen recorded cultural performances through specially installed LED screens / projectors, at all historic places of Jammu & Kashmir, simultaneously.He directed School Education and Higher Education departments to organise online quiz, poetry, essay, and similar competitions and encourage students for participation through webinars.To pay homage to the COVID warriors who have risen to the occasion and performed beyond call of duty, Chief Secretary emphasized on extending special invitations to doctors, nurses, police personnel, sanitation workers and recovered COVID patients. As full dress rehearsal for the Independence Day is scheduled on 13th August, 2020, Chief Secretary asked the health department to conduct Rapid Antigen Tests for all the participants of Independence Day celebrations to minimize the risk of spread of infection.Health department was also directed to ensure thermal screening at all entry points of the celebration venues. Additionally it was informed that the seating arrangement at the venues will be reduced to 50% capacity as per the social distancing norms.Further, Chief Secretary directed the concerned to ensure arrangements regarding various facilities including transport, parking, seating, availability of water, electricity, deployment of health, fire and emergency staff and equipment and illumination of buildings.