Amid coronavirus outbreak, Chhattisgarh to deliver 40 days’ mid-day meals to parents at schools

A 24-year-old woman, who had recently returned to Raipur from London, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday morning, making her the first confirmed case in Chhattisgarh.

Updated on: Mar 20, 2020, 11:05:51 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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The Chhattisgarh government has announced it will provide mid-day meal for 40 days to the parents of all children at schools after they were closed till further orders to check the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state.

Lentils and rice will be supplied to the parents of the children during the period when schools are closed due to coronavirus outbreak, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has said. (HT File / Photo used for representational purpose only)

Highlights

The government will provide the mid-day meal to the parents for the next 40 days

A 24-year-old woman, who had recently returned to Raipur from London, tested positive for the novel coronavirus

The government is doing everything to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state, CM has said.

A 24-year-old woman, who had recently returned to Raipur from London, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday morning, making her the first confirmed case in the state.

Raipur district administration has locked down and sanitised the area, where the woman was living.

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“The mid-day meal will be provided to the parents for the next 40 days. Each child of primary school will be provided 4kg of rice grain and 800 grams of pulses while 6kg of rice and 1200 grams of lentils will be supplied to each child of higher secondary school,” chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Thursday.

Alok Shukla, principal secretary of the state’s school education department, said the parents can come to the schools on April 2 and April 3 to collect the meals.

The Chhattisgarh government imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on Thursday prohibiting the gathering of five or more people in all municipal areas of the state to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus after the first confirmed case of the infection was reported in Raipur.

Bhupesh Baghel said in a video message said that the state government is doing everything to contain the spread of the virus in Chhattisgarh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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