Punjab government issues precautionary advisories for wheat harvesting and procurement to prevent spread of corona virus

Chandigarh: The Punjab Government to begin wheat procurement from April 15, 2020. In view of the threat of corona virus in the state, the Rural Development and Panchayat Department has issued precautionary advisories for the farmers, commission agents and labour, which should be strictly taken care off while working in the fields and grain markets to prevent spreading of corona virus.
The Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Mr. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa in a press statement issued here today said that to protect ourselves and our families from the deadly corona virus spreading throughout the world at this time, we have to strictly take all precautionary measures in farms and grain markets. He said that the rural development department has launched a massive campaign at village level to raise awareness among the people. To aware people posters are being pasted in villages, besides this people were being made aware through social media platforms and WhatsApp messages.
As per the instructions issued by the Punjab Government, the wheat harvest timing would be from 6am to 7pm. The workers should maintain atleast two meters distance from each other while working in thefields, wash hands properly after short span of time, avoid putting hands on face, eyes and nose, keep nose and mouth covered while working, maintain proper distance from each other while eating and drinking, do not spit in the fields and markets as spitting increases the risk of spreading the corona virus and if possible use labour of the same village in the farms.
Apart from these, only those farmers should bring wheat to the grain markets, who have a hologram slip issued by the commission agent, without hologram slip wheat would not be allowed to enter the grain market, wheat taken to the grain market should be unloaded at a specific allotted spot, only driver would be allowed to sit on the tractor, minimum labour should sit in the trolley maintaining proper distance.
In the grain markets people should not gather at the eatable shops, shopkeepers should also cover their face and nose, people should use their own utensils for eating and drinking, if anyone feels suffering from fever, cold or cough should immediately visit the nearby government hospital.
The Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Mr. Tript Bajwa has appealed to the farmers, commission agents, labourers and employees to strictly compliance with the advisories issued by the government.