Minister UG Brahma distributes cheques to 13 widows in Chirang district

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: "Though the number of COVID-positive case is still low in comparison to other districts of Assam, yet we cannot rule out the presence of the pandemic in the district. This is because already 43 persons have lost their lives due to the COVID-19 infection in the district till date.

So, we have taken the necessary measures to contain the spread of the pandemic as well as to prepare for the third wave of COVID-19." This was stated by the Minister of Handloom and Textile, Sericulture, Soil Conservation and Welfare of Bodoland Department and the 'Guardian Minister' of Chirang district Urkhao Gwra Brahma while ceremonially handing over cheques to 13 widows who had lost their husbands due to the pandemic under the Chief Minister's 'COVID-19 Widows Support Scheme' during a programme held in the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner's office at Kajalgaon on Saturday.

Distributing the cheques, the Minister said that though Chirang District was identified as the district with low COVID-positive cases (only 2,000 positive and 43 death cases) in both the first and second waves, Chirang was still not free from the COVID virus. So, he asked the district administration to continue their fight against the pandemic by taking necessary measures.

Expressing his sympathy, the Minister also said that the government was equally concerned as much as the widows who had lost their husbands. He added that the government, in its bid to provide a little support at this hard time, had decided to minimize the sufferings of the family members of the deceased with a bit of financial support.

He also said that the government had already launched the 'Sishu Seva Scheme' to secure the academic future of children who lost both their parents due to COVID-19 by extending financial assistance of Rs 3,500 monthly for their education and livelihood.

Earlier explaining the purpose of the meeting, Chirang Deputy Commissioner Narendra Kumar Shah informed that as of now in the district there were 2,000 COVID-positive cases; and of them, 43 people died.

He also shared the process for the selection of beneficiaries under the scheme. On the occasion, a total of 13 widows who were eligible as per the criteria were distributed cheques of Rs 2.5 lakh by the Minister along with other guests present — MLAs Jayanta Basumatary, Ajoy Kumar Ray and BTC Executive Members Ranjit Kumar Basumatary and Dhanjay Basumatary.

Also Read: Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass Launches CM's COVID-19 Widows Support Scheme in Barpeta

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