https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Beating Omicron In Nagpur

Zonal DCP, Nagpur, Lohit Matani, is sensitizing truck drivers, delivery boys and street vendors of the city to follow Covid guidelines. His initiative is aimed at slowing down the spread of the virus, as these are the people who can potentially become super spreaders. He is taking help of various social groups of the city to aid him in this cause.
Indian Masterminds Stories

It doesn’t seem that the Covid19 virus is going to say goodbye anytime soon. With the arrival of new variants every now and then, the ongoing pandemic has been making life difficult for people for the last two years now. The recent Omicron variant of the virus has been spreading rapidly in the country. Out of the 3,89,03,731 active Covid19 cases in the country, 10,050 cases are of the Omicron variant, according to Union Health Ministry Department.

Because the Omicron variant shows symptoms similar to a common cold or flu, people are not getting themselves tested, resulting in the further spread of the virus. To spread awareness about the variant and sensitize people to follow all the Covid rules, Zonal DCP of Nagpur, Maharashtra, Lohit Matani, IPS, reached out to those sections of people who are at high risk of becoming ‘super spreaders’ in the city and sensitized them about the virus. 

In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer talked about his initiative and how it may be helpful in limiting the spread of the new variant.

IPS Lohit Matani sensitizing people regarding Covid appropriate behavior

SENSITIZING HIGH-RISK SECTIONS

Concerned about the economic fallout of a lockdown on the people at the grassroots level, the Union government as well as the state governments have decided to avoid a complete lockdown and go for cluster-wise containment zones instead. Due to this, people are seen to be moving around fearlessly and carelessly without adhering to Covid appropriate behavior.

With the same scenario playing out in Nagpur as well, DCP Lohit Matani decided to target those sections of the society that are generally not following the Covid19 protocols and are vulnerable to the virus.

“First and foremost, we decided to target truck drivers who usually live a very non-sanitized life, roam around freely, sleep on the side of streets and interact with numerous people in a day. They are not in the habit of wearing good quality masks and most of them completely avoid wearing one,” he said.

He targets people who can be ‘super spreaders’ of the virus

SOCIAL GROUPS

Rather than only using the police department in this initiative, Mr. Matani decided to involve various social and institutional groups as well, like cadets from NCC, Truck Driver’s Association, doctors, physical trainers, fitness groups, etc.

“We held a meeting with the truck drivers and raised awareness regarding the new variant, among them. Further, we distributed good quality masks and sanitizers to them and asked them to use these regularly,” he told Indian Masterminds.

The IPS officer is specifically targeting that section of society that can unknowingly spread the virus among a larger section of society, such as truck drivers, Zomato and Swiggy delivery boys, street vendors, etc. 

Mr. Matani has formed social groups for his aid

TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION

Apart from this, a direct one-to-one conversation with these people helps the officer in understanding their problems as well. This enables him to guide them and provide solutions for their problems.

“They may have problems regarding policing or the administration, and we try to address them on the spot and think of ways in which we can provide a solution to them,” he said.

During his meetings with the people, the officer also shares ways in which their immunity can be improved. He has formed a team of people that work in this area and so is able to guide people on health and fitness matters.

The initiative helps in better understanding of the common people’s problems as well

BOOSTING IMMUNITY

The officer and his team sensitize people to follow a proper diet and go for physical training and exercises to keep their immunity strong, which will be helpful in fighting off the virus better. 

Truck drivers tend to eat anything from the streets since they travel long distances and cannot always carry meal boxes from their homes. Secondly, they are in a habit of excessive drinking and smoking which is injurious to health. The officer guides them about what to eat and at what time and, also, the kind of physical training that they should do to boost immunity.

“The Omicron variant has cases in which immunity plays a good role. People with high immunity face low blows of the virus and vice versa. Therefore, we are giving proper training to them and teaching them ways with which they can boost their immunity. Further, we are organizing vaccination drives by calling the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to a given location and vaccinating all the people from the target sector who are not vaccinated,” Mr. Matani told Indian Masterminds.

The officer is trying to make a coordinated effort involving all stakeholders to address the issues related to Covid19.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
shastri-bhawan
CSS Forum Backs Officer Deepak Khoda After Suicide Attempt Over Alleged Workplace Harassment by IAS; Demands High-Level Probe in Letter to Minister
Gandhinagar: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R
14 Million Seedlings and Counting: Gujarat’s Centres of Excellence Drive Horticulture Innovation with Global Backing
Siyan Gudis old age homes Chhattisgarh
CM Sai Announces 'Siyan Gudis' for Elderly in 4 Chhattisgarh Cities, Launches Welfare Measures on International Day of Older Persons
Sardar Patel 150th birth anniversary celebrations
Gujarat CM Reviews National Unity Day Arrangements Ahead of Sardar Patel’s 150th Birth Anniversary at Sardar Sarovar Dam
Pushkar Singh Dhami CM
Uttarakhand CM Flags Off Free Ambulance for Senior Citizens on International Day of Older Persons
KVS
Cabinet Approves 57 New Kendriya Vidyalayas Across India with ₹5862 Cr Outlay, 4600+ Jobs to Be Created
bureaucracy news
Ambica Anand Appointed Director in Ministry of Steel, Neeraj Surendran Named Deputy Secretary in MSDE
PiyushGoyal-resized
India-EFTA Free Trade Agreement (TEPA) Comes Into Force, Boosting Trade and Investment Opportunities
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
shastri-bhawan
CSS Forum Backs Officer Deepak Khoda After Suicide Attempt Over Alleged Workplace Harassment by IAS; Demands High-Level Probe in Letter to Minister
Gandhinagar: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R
14 Million Seedlings and Counting: Gujarat’s Centres of Excellence Drive Horticulture Innovation with Global Backing
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT