the goan I network
MARGAO
Goa Forward Party has said it agreed with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who mentioned that the ‘lockdown’ provides just a break for the virus and does not end it
GFP Chief Vijai Sardesai said it is important that everyone in India gets this crucial message that pandemics end when people are vaccinated (this option was out of the question at present) or when 60-70 per cent of the global population is affected (this is called ‘Herd Immunity’).
Sardesai reiterated the need for a multi-disciplinary-cum-multi-departmental team (and not just a bureaucratic one). “This team, called the Covid Response Team (CRT), should be led by the Chief Secretary and not political executives like the CM to implement effective and apolitical PCR (Preventive-Containment-Remedial) measures,” he added.
Sardesai further agreed that urgent and compassionate economic measures are required to support the vulnerable sections of the population and industry.
“From day one, the GFP’s slogan in Goa has been ‘No Goan should die, either of Disease (Covid-19) or deprivation (hunger). We have advocated a balance between ensuring public health and public sustenance including measures to address the
‘collateral socio-economic damage’.”
With this in view we had suggested a C-O-V-I-D Fund (Care-of-the-vulnerable-and-in-distress fund), he added.
He also hit out at the Centre for not giving a compassionate response to the pleas of thousands of Goan seafarers stranded around the world on cruise and merchant ships.
