Odisha Lockdown: Do Policing At Home, Govt Tells Women SHG Members

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday urged women self-help group (SHG) members to do policing in their homes and pursuade their family members not to step out.

“About 70 lakh women SHG members, who represent their family, should also do policing in homes just as cops in uniform do,” Commissioner-cum-Director, Mission Shakti, Sujata Karthikeyan said in a press briefing here.

She also requested them to restrain the family members from going to the market daily to purchase fresh vegetables. “We are in the habit of purchasing fresh vegetables daily. But this is not the time to do so,” she pointed out.

Praising the role of the women SHGs since the outbreak of the killer virus, Karthikeyan said SHG members under Mission Shakti have been harbingers in the awareness drive on COVID-19, taking the message of the Chief Minister far and wide within three days.

“During the lockdown, the women SHG members, assisted by the district administration have been able to provide essential commodities through 600 shops and mobile facilities. Besides, they have been instrumental in preparing 25 lakh meals for destitute and helpless people and prepared more than 10 lakh masks,” she added.