2016 batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre, Mr. Vinay Goyal was already a doctor into making when he decided to drop out during his final internship- just to clear UPSC. He got into the Indian Railway Account Services in his first attempt and entered the Indian Administrative Services after clearing his second attempt securing AIR-79. He revived his “inner doctor” again when the nation got struck by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and took several steps to protect and treat his people.

All this Mr. Goyal explained in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.

PROTECTING HIS PEOPLE

During his tenure as the Sub Collector of Pathanamthitta in Kerala, along with his collector, Mr. P.B. Nooh, Mr. Goyal inspected and looked after all the containment zones, hospitals for isolating Covid patients, and keeping a check on the migrant workers who wished to reach their hometown from the city. The incoming crowds also included people who were coming back into the district from various places.

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“Pathanamthitta was one of the best-managed districts during the time. The Ministry of Health asked three districts from the entire country to give a presentation, in the presence of Cabinet Secretary, Health Secretary, and other senior government officials. We were amongst the selected ones and were asked to give a presentation on the management of Covid-19 in our district” Mr. Goyal told Indian Masterminds.

RAPID SCREENING VEHICLES

When the global pandemic struck and the nation went under lockdown, the hearts and minds of people were filled with terror as nobody had witnessed such a thing before. Nobody was allowed to leave their homes and to make it a success, Mr. Goyal came up with the idea of launching Rapid Screening Vehicles (RSV) which could test people in their homes.

According to him, when the health team visited people’s homes, they used to resist getting the tests done. Also, due to Pathanamthitta’s diverse terrain, which is hilly in some places and plain in others, and about 13% of the tribal population residing in the district, reaching every person and screening them was a big challenge.

“One-to-one screening also risked our health workers to exposure, so to prevent that, we developed these RSV. For it, we took a car that had a mounted infrared thermometer on the front, the reading of which could be read from inside the car. A microphone was attached for communicating with the patient outside and a camera was installed to take photographs of their ID cards. It was a contactless rapid screening, and the vehicle was versatile enough to be taken into any kind of area” Mr. Goyal stated.

The vehicle was named ‘Tiranga’ to inspire patriotic feelings and carried a driver, a medical volunteer and a non-medical volunteer. This team of three people sat inside the car and worked diligently.

“With the help of my friend and team, we were able to mobilize funds and launched the vehicle which proved to be successful as it could cover a large number of people very rapidly. It was also a source of IEC and wherever it went, people knew the screening team has arrived, which also helped in spreading awareness” Mr. Goyal told Indian Masterminds.

RAPID SAMPLING VEHICLE

Consequently, a Rapid Sampling Vehicle was launched that took the patient’s sample (nasal swabs) after screening. After the first vehicle’s success, the second one was launched immediately and it had the task to cover the entire population because they didn’t wish to leave even a single person.

“We got a full-fledged second vehicle, and looking at the first one’s success, lots of NGOs and officials also came forward to help. In a week’s time, the vehicle was ready which provided contactless sampling. A glass shield was placed between them and through two protruding gloves, they could take the sample” stated Mr. Goyal.

PUTTING VOTES DURING COVID

Currently posted as the District Development Commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram and the Managing Director of Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd., Mr. Goyal, under the able leadership and guidance of District Collector, Dr. Navjot Khosa, realized that Covid-19 patients under quarantine won’t be able to cast their votes in the recent Panchayati Raj Elections. To address the issue, he took a team and went around day and night for a week to deliver special postal ballots to around 10,000 people under isolation.

“There were guidelines from the State Election Commission of Kerala stating that these people will receive the special ballots, mark it, and hand it to the volunteers present in PPE kits, who will deposit it to the district. The process isn’t as simple as it looks like. Going through the list and identifying every single person was a challenge. Moreover, motivating our team to literally go inside a home that has a coronavirus patient was another test. It was herculean task but we were able to accomplish it” he said.

Mr. Goyal is a true Covid warrior and never backs out from any challenge that he is made to face.