The Covid Free Village Program initiated by Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana (BJS) was formally launched today, Friday 24th Sept 2021 in association with Bharatesh Education Trust (BET) and other stakeholders of the district at a warm function held at Rupali Convention Center.
The Covid-free Village program seeks to empower villages for Covid risk-reduction by creating a people’s movement. It is a community-led initiative that takes ownership and responsibility for protecting villages from the pandemic, focusing on improved knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people to strengthen Covid-resilience.
Shantilalji Mutha, Founder of BJS, Rajendra Lunker, National President, BJS , Sanjay Patil, Former MLA (Belagavi Rural) and Ahishthata-Gomatesh Vidyapeeth, Kallappanna Magennavar- Former MLA (Kagwad) along with other office bearers of BJS, Rajeev Doddanavar, Vice Chairman, BET, Shripal Khemlapure, Secretary, BET, Vinod Doddanavar- Member-Managing Committee, BET and President, BJS Belagavi region and Hirachand Kalmani- President-BJS Belagavi, Vishal Phanse, Chief Executive Officer, BJS Mahaveerchand Parekh, State President – BJS, Vijay Runwal, Dr. BalkrishnaTukkar- Dist. Covid In-charge and other prominent personalities from the social, healthcare and educational sphere were present for the function. Government of Karnataka and Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana have joined hands to implement Covid-free Village program across the state to cover nearly 30,000 villages over 31 districts. The government has encouraged Gram Panchayats to participate in the program and a platform has been developed to measure their involvement and performance.
Speaking on the occasion, BJS founder, Shri Shantilal Muttha said the Covid-free Village program aims to empower villages for Covid-containment. He stressed that there is a need to reach out to rural areas at a large scale where the health care infrastructure is weak, where, by creating village task forces, villages will be able to mitigate the impact of Covid-19, he said.
Shri Muttha also gave a quick introduction to the Knowledge Management Platform developed by BJS to support the Covid-free Village program. On this auspicious occasion, an MoU was signed between Bharatesh Education Trust and Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana that aims to support the Covid-free Village program in the region. More than 400 people witnessed this historic event at the Rupali Convention Centre in Belagavi.
Several dignitaries and key stakeholders from the Belagavi region were felicitated at the auspicious hands of Shantilal Muttha. As the architect of the Covid-free Village program, he is on a 3-day trip to Yadagiri, Hosapete, Belagavi, Hubballi, Shivamogga, Mysuru, and KGF where he is addressing BJS volunteers who are gathering in large numbers.
The Belagavi meeting was coordinated and supported by BJS office bearers and volunteers from the Belgaum Chapter.
Swatee Jog and Mithun Shastri anchored the meeting and Rajiv Doddanavar concluded it with his closing remarks. Shri. Shripal S Khemalapure, administered an oath to all BJS volunteers, committing their unstinting support to the protection and well-being of people in their respective districts and talukas. Shri. Arun Yalagudri, Athani, proposed the vote of thanks.