“Though the grand event of Dhammachakra Pravartan Din at Deekshabhoomi is not being held this year due to COVID-19 situation, those who have taken both doses of vaccine are being allowed to visit. People are welcome to Deekshabhoomi. They should follow COVID-19 protocols in own interest and help the administration in maintaining discipline,” said Dr Nitin Raut, Guardian Minister of district. Dr Raut was speaking to mediapersons after visiting Deekshabhoomi on Thursday, and paying tributes to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Through media, he appealed to the people to avoid crowding, and avoid bringing senior citizens and children to Deekshabhoomi considering COVID-19 situation.

 

He also took stock of the administrative preparedness, and asked the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Police Department to work in co-ordination. Further, he took stock of the arrangements at Deekshabhoomi, Dragon Palace Temple at Kamptee, and Shri Mahalaxmi Jagdamba Sansthan at Koradi. Prajakta Lavangare Verma, Divisional Commissioner; Amitesh Kumar, Commissioner of Police; R Vimala, District Collector; Aswathy Dorje, Joint Commissioner of Police; Radhakrishnan B, Municipal Commissioner; Manojkumar Suryawanshi, Chairman of Nagpur Improvement Trust; Dr Sudhir Fulzele, Secretary of Deekshabhoomi Smarak Samiti; Vilas Gajghate, Namdeo Sukey; Naveenchandra Reddy, Special Inspector General of Police, were present during the review meeting. The administrative officers informed the minister that people above 65 years of age, children below 10 years of age, pregnant women would not be allowed at Deekshabhoomi on Friday. Only the people who have taken both doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed. People cannot stay in Deekshabhoomi premises. Food stalls, book stalls, idol stalls have not been allowed. NMC has set up COVID-19 screening and vaccination centres. People from districts with high number of active cases of COVID-19 should not visit Deekshabhoomi, the administration urged.