Corona Warriors’ Including Doctor, Nurse Among Guests For Delhi government’s Low-Key Independence Day Event

New Delhi: The AAP government has decided to invite ‘corona warriors’, including a doctor, nurse and a plasma donor, for its Independence Day event to be held at the Delhi Secretariat instead of Chhatrasal Stadium due to COVID-19 pandemic. Delhi Minister Gopal Rai, who also heads the general administration department, said like last year, there will be no cultural programmes during the Independence Day function.

Also Read: Delhi’s Coronavirus Fight: Active Coronavirus Cases Now Below 10,000

The Independence Day celebrations of the Delhi government will be a low-key affair this year as a list of only 80-100 guests, which includes cabinet ministers, all city MPs, MLAs and top bureaucrats, has been prepared.

We will invite limited number of guests for the August 15 event due to coronavirus. ‘Corona Warriors’, including a doctor, nurse, a police personal, sanitation worker, ambulance driver and plasma donor, will be invited as a mark of respect for their contributions to the fight against COVID-19, Mr. Rai told PTI.

The minister said the chief minister will hoist the national flag at the main event to be held at Delhi Secretariat. This year, there will be no event at the Chhatrasal Stadium in North Delhi. For years, the Delhi government has been holding a grand event at Chhatrasal Stadium on the occasion of Independence Day.

The Chief Justice of India and Chief Justice of Delhi High Court are also among those who have been included in the guest list for the Independence Day event. During Independence Day celebrations, anti-COVID-19 measures such as social distancing will strictly be followed, Mr. Rai said.

The Delhi Secretariat houses offices of the chief minister, cabinet ministers, chief secretary and other top bureaucrats.

Also Read: Delhi Model Is Being Discussed In India and Abroad: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal On Decreasing Coronavirus Cases Trend In National Capital

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.