Chandigarh April 2: Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Lal said that in view of COVID-19, the State Government is considering taking the services of AYUSH doctors also to ensure uninterrupted quality health care services to the people. For this, online training would be provided to them.

Mr Manohar was interacting with the MPs of the State, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha through video conferencing here today. The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Dushyant Chautala was also present on this occasion.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi during the video conferencing with Chief Ministers of States today emphasized the need to rope in AYUSH doctors also to meet the shortage of doctors that may arise in view of the COVID-19 situation.

While referring to the harvesting of crop and its procurement, he said that the State Government has decided to start the procurement of mustard from April 15, 2020 and of Wheat from April 20, 2020. He said that it has also been decided that instead of collectively procuring the farmer’s produce, it would be purchased in a staggered way in the mandis of the State. He said that big farmers having high yield would be requested to store their produce either in their home or any other place and added that while procuring the produce, preference would be given to the small farmers. The Government has already extended the date for repayment of crop loan by farmers from April 15, 2020 to June 30, 2020, he added.

The Chief Minister said that several migrant labourers who are putting in the relief camps have expressed their desire to work at the local level. He said that there are about 4500 combine harvesters in the State and efforts would be ensure that those combine harvesters who come to Haryana from Madhya Padesh also reach here.

He said that the Central Government has been requested to provide a relief package to the State for those farmers who take their produce in the mandis late in the season. He hoped that the government would consider the request of the State in the interest of farmers.

The Chief Minister said that all the ration card holders in the State would be provided ration by April 5, 2020. He said that an arrangement of packed ration has been made for those who do not have ration cards. The list of such beneficiaries should be prepared with the assistance of local leaders, NGOs and other social organizations, he added.

Among those present on this occasion included Chief Secretary Mrs Keshni Anand Arora, Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfare Mr Rajeev Arora, Additional Chief Secretary Home Mr Vijai Vardhan, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr V. Umashankar and Secretary, Personnel, Training, Vigilance and Parliamentary Affairs Departments Mr Nitin Yadav.