Assam Rifles against COVID-19: Here's what You need to Know

Shillong, May 4, 2020:

As the COVID-19 contagion continues to spread its tentacles across the length and breadth of the country, the Assam Rifles jawans posted in the Northeast Indian states have stepped up to the occasion and are now playing a key role in the fight against COVID-19.

[caption id="attachment_58353" align="alignnone" width="660"] Jawans distributing essentials[/caption]

Visualising the gravity of the situation, the Force followed a well thought out strategy ensuring safety of its men and families. Simultaneously, the Force galvanized its troops to reach out to people across all the states of North East and have been interacting with people directly or indirectly affected by the crisis, even in the remoter regions.

[caption id="attachment_58354" align="alignnone" width="498"] AR personnel offer a helping hand[/caption]

One week or so after the announcement of the lockdown on March 24, the Assam Rifles had created a 520 bedded quarantine facility, and also established a 50 bedded COVID isolation and Treatment Centre in Assam Rifles Composite Hospital in Shukovi and conducted Joint Medical Exercises with various Civil Administrations to validate the level of preparation.

[caption id="attachment_58355" align="alignnone" width="647"] Water distribution[/caption]

In the ensuing weeks, the Assam Rifles troops on their own as well as with District Administration and NGOs have organized awareness campaign, distributed ration and medicines, decontaminated and sanitized village and towns, supplied water, assisted stranded migrants and evacuated medical emergency cases.

The jawans posted in the region have also begun the initiative of purchasing perishable organic vegetables and fruits from farmers and encouraging people to stitch masks from locally available resources. This, to a great extent, has provided economic sustenance.

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