May 2020 \
“Centre must handhold states till economy is back on track”

With the Bhilwara Model paving way for the global world to strategise in its fight against an unseen enemy—the COVID-19 virus, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking new initiatives to fight the pandemic during a video conferencing session held with the state CMs on Monday. IANS spoke to Gehlot in an e-interview to know more about these new initiatives being introduced in the state. Gehlot who has been leading from the front in the battle against the COVID-19 crisis in the state, in the e-interview, highlighted the challenges which were successfully eliminated to make the Bhilwara model a success on the global map. He further discussed the way forward for the state economy which is in shambles following the pandemic outbreak. He talked about the initiatives taken by his Government to ensure that “no one sleeps hungry in Rajasthan”. The CM said that Rajasthan probably is the first state in the country to have announced an econo

By Archana Sharma
  • Mr Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan is being discussed all across the globe for its successful Bhilwara Model? The positive results are out, but may we please know what challenges were seen in this textile city to make this model a success and how were these challenges addressed?

Essence of Bhilwara Model is ruthless containment, strict compliance of the curfew and screening of the whole population of the district. Bhilwara challenge was unique in the sense that the corona infection was found in the doctors and other staff of a private hospital and without any knowledge, the doctor continued with patient consultations in large numbers and the source of infection was also untraceable.

The biggest challenge was screening and testing of the population of more than 3 million and to identify people who had come in contact with the infected persons and quarantine them. For this, extensive counselling of people had to be done. Ruthless containment, strict compliance of curfew and social distancing were the key features of Bhilwara Model. Around 2,000 teams carried out door-to-door survey for screening of whole population of the town and enforcing home quarantine on those who showed influenza-like symptoms and if required further testing was done.




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