Chennai: Policemen often claim themselves as friends of people. Proving this true, Royapettah Assistant Commissioner M S Bhaskar has created a WhatsApp group to keep in touch with people who are placed under home quarantine under his jurisdiction.
Bhaskar is always hailed for keeping himself well connected with people. With coronavirus pandemic spreading fast in the city, his WhatsApp intiiative has earned the accoloades of many.
Speaking to News Today, Bhaskar said, “We created the group ‘Officials and anti-Covid team’ on 1 June to instill self-confidence among quarantine people and to assure them police are there 24/7. During isolation many feel scared and regreted. We wanted to wipe it out”.
“We are in constant touch with Corporation officials and as on date there are 133 people under home quarantine. We provide them all assistance including arranging online medicine, asking them to follow Covid-19 rules and regulations, not to violate quarantine period (14 days) and we see that they are safe,” he said.
The ACP further said the people in the group are regulary updated through doctors’ voice notes, digital posters and drugs to be taken, including boosting immunity.
The WhatsApp group consists Mylapore Deputy Commissioner of Police, ACP, Police Inspectors, Greater Chennai Corporation officials, sanitary workers, volunteers and Corporation doctors. Queries raised by the people in the group are answered then and there.
Apart from the WhatsApp group, Bhaskar and his team have adopted houses at Royapettah and Ice House where Covid-19 cases are reported.
“In association with Corporation, we have adopted 20 houses each in 53 streets. We regularly monitor residents and see that they do not go out of houses. We have provided them masks, medicines prescribed by the government and Siddha department recognised kashyams. Through this measure, we wanted to contain the spread of coronavirus and ensure that the people are under our direct vigilance,” the ACP said.
With Chennai Corporation data stating that Royapuram has more number of coronavirus cases and when asked about it, Bhaskar said, “There are still lack of awareness among people and they do not know about its seriousness. We are creating awareness regularly and see that the cases would come down in the coming days.”
People in the locality have thanked the police and officials from various department for taking care of them. “Creating WhatsApp group and adopting houses of Covid-19 patients are a good move and such measures should be followed across the city, so that coronavirus infections can be controlled,” said a Royapettah resident.