Cuttack: Odisha DGP Abhay was the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine jab Saturday as the second phase of the vaccination drive commenced across the state.
The vaccination programme for police personnel was inaugurated at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack at 9:30 am.
As many as 1,92,437 frontline workers have been enrolled to take shots in the drive. Of them, 1,57,388 were police and security personnel, 25,961 were sanitisation workers and 9,088 revenue staff, it was learnt.
Informing about the police personnel to get inoculated in Bhubaneswar, Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi said yesterday that nearly 8,937 police personnel and home guards of 19 institutions like Commissioner’s office, DCP Bhubaneswar office, 7th Battalion, State Intelligence Wing, SOG and Biju Patnaik State Police Academy are expected to receive the vaccine jabs.
Similarly the number of police personnel in Cuttack to receive the jabs is nearly 6,867.
Home guards of 11 institutions including State Police Headquarters, DCP Cuttack, Crime Branch, Vigilance Directorate, Home Guards, Fire Services, and 6th Battalion are also expected to get vaccinated.
At the Steering Committee Meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra held Friday, a decision was taken that DG, Police, district Collectors, SPs and other officials are to receive the vaccine on the first day of commencement of the second phase of vaccination drive.
They were also asked to upload their photos of being vaccinated on their respective Twitter handles. It will have a positive impact on the frontline workers and help get the desired momentum.
PNN
