Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu: Dhinakaran for extension of lockdown if needed

TNN | Apr 7, 2020, 05.37 PM IST

CHENNAI: AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran on Tuesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to extend the lockdown beyond April 14, if needed, to contain the spread of Covid-19. However, he asked the government to first ensure that the interests of the poor and the needy are taken care of before taking any decision to extend the lockdown.

Expressing anguish over the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state, with Tamil Nadu placed second and next only to Maharashtra over the past few days, Dhinakaran wanted the state government to make the door-to-door surveillance - for Covid-19 affected people – more efficient. “Instead of merely noting down what the people inform the health workers, the surveillance teams should be equipped with handheld devices to check the health conditions of suspected people,” Dhinakaran said.

He recalled the hardships being faced by the downtrodden societies due to the lockdown, with several homes yet to receive the state government’s Rs 1,000 dole. “Before deciding on extending the lockdown period by one or two weeks, the state government should ensure that the needs of the poor and the needy are taken care of. Further, to mitigate the problems of the affected people during the lockdown, state government should operate mobile Amma canteens for the benefit of the needy,” Dhinakaran said.