With the objective on how effectively the Residence Welfare Associations (RWAs), Senior Citizens’ Associations (SCAs) of Bhubaneswar and Odisha CSOs can join hands together with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC); and set up of a collaborative approach to deal with the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic crisis, CYSD played a critical role in bringing these multi-stakeholder actors into a common platform virtually on 16th May 2021.

The virtual meeting was moderated by Shri Jagadananda, the Co-founder & Member-Secretary of CYSD.  Addressing the virtual meeting, the Commissioner of BMC Shri Sanjay Singh welcomed the citizen leaders of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and appealed for the need of a multi stakeholder approach to overcome the pandemic crisis. Shri Singh, with the presence of his Zonal Deputy Commissioners, apprised the current strategy, issues and problems on the ground and the steps taken by the Municipal Corporation so far to deal with the challenges.

The CSOs leaders / representatives including NGOs; RWAs and SCAs offered their willingness for active assistance and articulated their feedback and suggestions as per the following heads:

Effective Vaccination is the need of the hour

  • Vaccination drive is on force to protect the citizens from the on-going pandemic. The vaccination centres under BMC is becoming crowded and chaotic. To avoid the large number of crowd at one place, more number of vaccination centres may be formed.
  • The Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) are ready to support the BMC officials in getting the list of eligible persons for vaccination. Simultaneously, the crowd management can also be effectively done by the volunteers of RWAs in their respective areas.
  • Door step vaccination need to be provided to the persons with disability as they find it difficult to reach the specified vaccination points.
  • Prior information on vaccination may be provided to the citizens through RWAs to make it more effective as well as to avoid vaccine wastage, if any.

Strict regulations for the essential shops is of utmost important

  • With the imposition of lockdown, the vegetable and fish markets are becoming overcrowded as it closes by 12 noon every day. To minimise the crowd and to regulate the social distancing norm, instead of large markets/haats small vending zones may be formed by blocking main roads of different areas.
  • The timing of the essential shops may be alternated to 6 AM to 10 AM and 3 PM to 5 PM.

Special attention is required towards slum dwellers, orphan children, migrant workers and construction workers

  • With the wake of 2nd wave of COVID 19 pandemic, the slum dwellers and construction workers are out of work. Some social protection measures may be planned to protect their livelihood.
  • The urban homeless and orphan children have become the most vulnerable section particularly during the ongoing pandemic. The provision of food and shelter is of utmost important which is taken care of by some NGOs. To address the issues of homeless and orphan children, the CSOs have offered to join hands with BMC, wherever necessary.

 Provision should be made to initiate special cells at BMC

  • A senior citizen cell as well as a cell for person with disability may be formed to pay attention towards the special issues all through the pandemic.

Formation of web portal and/or mobile app

  • A dedicated web portal or mobile app may be designed to update the availability of beds at the COVID care hospitals; a critical need felt by one and all.

Activation of Ward level citizen group

  • Ward level COVID 19 response committee which was active during 1st wave of pandemic may be re-activated in each ward.

Mental health of COVID 19 infected persons and their families need to be taken care of

  • The ongoing pandemic has created new issues and problems among the COVID 19 infected persons and their family members. To minimise the level of stress, mental health counselling sessions are being offered by CSOs: the need for coordinated action between CSOs and BMC was highlighted.
  • While at hospital, the anxiety and trauma of infected persons is making their situation worse. Virtual counselling and stress free services were articulated as critical need beyond the treatment.