Jamshedpur, Oct 13: The focus of this year�s Durga Puja is on precautionary norms rather than the usual razzmatazz. The administration has asked the senior citizens and kids below 10 to stay at home during Durga Puja celebrations in view of COVID-19. �
East Singhbhum DC Suraj Kumar and senior SP, M Tamil Vanan in a joint meeting of district administration, Central Durga Puja Committee (CDPC) and Peace Committee gave instructions to follow guidelines of the State Government. During the meeting the Deputy Commissioner asked people to avoid crowding at pandals and celebrate the festival at home.
The DC said the police personnel will be deputed in large numbers to keep an eye on trouble mongers. Magistrates will be deputed at various places to make sure that peace is kept round the clock. He said that the festival is for the rituals and common people must stay indoors. At the time of rituals only seven persons are allowed to be present.
Since forcible donation from the community has been a problem for puja committees, the apex body has been asked the committees to cut down on unnecessary show off and try for simpler puja which would have the basic necessities.
�It is safety first for all the Durga Puja committees in the city. We have decided to constitute a 42-member committee that will visit all the puja pandals to check whether safety guidelines are being followed or not. The main objective of puja this year will be to make people alert and conscious about the deadly virus,� said a senior functionary of Jamshedpur Kendriya Durga Puja Samiti. He further added that all puja committees are focussed on avoiding overcrowding and following all health and safety norms.
During the meeting it was instructed that the weapons needed to beat COVID-19�sanitisers, thermal guns and medicines must be in place at the 320 puja pandals that are being constructed.
