Bengaluru : Revenue Minister R Ashoka urged people to extend all the possible help to those in need at this time of crisis.

Speaking at a programme in Padmanabhanagar constituency on Saturday,  Minister Ashoka said, “This is the reason why I had decided to stay away from birthday celebrations. Instead, I urged people to provide food kits to the poor people. We have been providing food for 6,000 to 7,000 houses every day. We have also donated close to 20,000 food kits and will continue to do so. A control room was also set up and the Covid patients in Padmanabhanagar constituency were provided free medicines and oxygen concentrators. Now, experts are warning about a possible third wave. Hence, we have set up a children’s hospital in Padmanabhanagar constituency which will be inaugurated shortly. We assure the best treatment at this hospital. I also request everyone to take vaccines. We will make arrangements to provide vaccination to all the eligible beneficiaries within two months. We will soon set up ward-level vaccination camps in Padmanabhanagar constituency.”

Minister said, “The Covid wave was so severe that many failed to claim the Covid bodies. So, we decided to immerse the ashes. I followed the due religious process which took more than three hours. Many, including my wife, were scared and warned me against doing it. However, I strongly believed that it was my duty. Now, I am left with one more religious ritual for which I need to visit either Vishnu paada in Kerala or Varanasi to perform one more ritual for the departed souls which I will do shortly. I could do all these because you people gave me a chance to serve you as an MLA.”

On the occasion,  Ashoka also appreciated the relentless work done by doctors and ASHA workers. He referred to an ASHA worker who attended the duty the next day of her husband dying of Covid as she was so committed to work. He said that the State Government was providing Rs 1 lakh financial aid to BPL families where one of the members had died of Covid. He also said that he will be visiting every house in Padmanabhanagar constituency where one of the family members had died of Covid and provide all possible help.