With rising cases of corona within the Parliamentarians, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has reiterated his concern for the safety of the public and legislators during the ongoing pandemic.
Urging Members to wear masks, maintain safe distance, good hygiene and boost immunity, Naidu said to maintain a safe distance in the Parliament.
Naidu also informed the Members that he had held a meeting with the Home Secretary, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and D.G., ICMR and officers of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat about the measures being taken to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the safeguards and precautions that are to be taken by the members.
The Chairman Rajya Sabha also highlighted the four key measures that would help in containing the pandemic. He said that as advised in the meeting, wearing a mask during the ongoing pandemic was the best safeguard from the virus. "Wearing a mask is important whenever you meet a person outside your house, including outsiders working in your house. This is very important," he added.
The Chairman said that the second most important precaution is to maintain a safe distance. He said, "The second thing is maintaining a safe distance, surakshit doori, or, whatever you call. That is essential till this mahamari goes away."
He said the third important factor to stay protected is to maintain hygiene. He said, "The third one is maintaining hygiene - washing your hands, cleaning them with Dettol, or other soaps, from time to time and keep yourself free from any sort of infection."
The fourth safety measure mentioned by the Chairman is to boost immunity. Suggesting ways to boost immunity levels, he said, "That is possible by healthy food habits, healthy lifestyle and also some amount of exercise, whether it is walking or Yoga."
Chairman Naidu said that eating healthy food was very important. While highlighting the importance of healthy food, he said, "Remember the grandmother's prescriptions in your respective places and whatever to be done in normal course, in cooking, in eating and also in living. That has to be remembered."
The Chairman, while expressing his concern for the safety of the parliamentarians, requested them to maintain a safe distance and adhere to the six-foot limit.
Naidu also asked the Members to avoid coming to the Table of the House to talk to the officers or to the Chair, and instead send a slip.
In a lighter vein a day earlier, Naidu quipped passing slips in examination halls is not allowed but is permitted in Rajya Sabha to communicate with other members in view of COVID-19 safety measures.
"No member is expected to come to Table office when House is in session...Members are requested not to go to other member's seat and bend and whisper in their ears...Please avoid. If you have something to communicate send slips. It is not allowed in examination halls but is allowed here," Naidu said, prompting laughter in the Upper House on Friday.
