Everybody has gone and is going through sufferings, mental, physical or both during this Covid pandemic, though the cases are reducing. But he has bigger responsibilities, larger role to play and he can not excuse himself by staying away from his duties. While dealing with the situation - Covid and non-Covid both, he stayed calm, he kept himself in listening mode, he was more receptive. He listened to the suggestions, applied some of them, communicated with everybody, resolved the issues by taking quick decisions. Those who met him, carried the impression he has solution to every difficult problem. In August, Nagpur witnessed spike in coronavirus cases, during the same time, some issues came to the fore, though most of them were to be handled by Municipal Corporation, the supreme responsibility was on him as the Head of six districts. He remained unruffled in all situations. Now the Covid situation is improving. As an administrative head, he must be given its credit, though it is a team work. ‘The Hitavada’ talked to Divisional Commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar, who has to look after all six districts in Nagpur division, on several issues including his plans for second wave of Covid in case arrives, starting of non-Covid activities, his perception about this dreaded virus, his style of working etc.

 

“I trust people, I have full faith in them that they work with responsibility. They know they have to work and so they deliver their duties in a scrupulous manner. I feel, people are sincere and there is no need to scold them unnecessarily. When Covid began, people became afraid. Those who remained home considered themselves as safe, but we in administration have to work. I was constantly in touch with them. I visited hospitals, took stock of the preparedness. Apart from inspecting the arrangements, it was an act of morale boosting of my officers. I was not worried but that was necessary. Several suggestions came from the officers, visitors through my patient listening. Had I not listened to those some, probably I would have missed some important aspects,” explained Dr Sanjeev Kumar.

 

Like other divisions, Nagpur too has gone through rising cases, deaths, hospital rates, lockdown, but it remained more quiet, it has not experienced any untoward incidents, except a few. The reason was constant monitoring by the Divisional Commissioner.

 

It was this Divisional Commissioner who made around 44,000 beds ready when active cases were mere 2,000 in the division. He kept constant touch with administration, health department, hospitals, frontline healthworkers, etc.

“I kept talking with Deans of Government Medical Colleges, the officers concerned, police, administration either through video conferencing when restrictions were more stringent and later on one to one basis after relaxation in Covid norms. Communication always helps. All of us provided feedback to one another resulting in overall improvement,” expressed Dr Sanjeev Kumar.

 

Every head of the State is more focussed on Covid than any other work. Nagpur can’t be the exception and Dr Sanjeev Kumar admits that some non-Covid works were ignored or no step was taken by the administration in that regard.

 

“In rural areas, the construction work of roads came to standstill. There are some agriculture-related aspects too that got affected. But there was no alternative. Coronavirus has gripped the whole world and everybody is fighting with this tiny but dreaded virus. We have to keep ourselves accessible to even common man and we did that. The non-Covid activities have gradually started and normalcy is taking place. The fear of corona is not good, at the same time, the drastic change has taken place in people’s behaviour. They have got accustomed to the Covid norms. Everybody has started saying, they have to live with the virus. The awareness that reflects in their behaviour is a good thing,” pointed out Dr Sanjeev Kumar.

 

The cases in rural areas are less as compared to those in urban. The rural sector in Nagpur district is constantly registering single digit deaths, new cases upto 200. Dr Sanjeev Kumar feels the less cases have no relation with administrative efforts. “It is the weather, the non-congestion in rural areas. Cities are swelling, everyday, most part is very much congested with less fresh air. In rural part there is less congestion because of which fresh air keeps flowing. It is the natural effect that is making all difference. Of course credit also must be attributed to the effective implementation by the scheme ‘Maze Kutumb Mazi Jababdari’ by Maharashtra Government.

 

The Divisional Commissioner has planned expansion of Covid facilities like increasing beds in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Government Medical College and Hospital, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital and other hospitals run by Public Health Department.

 

“We are doing this because experts have predicted second wave of Covid-19 may arrive, though I personally don’t think so. It has entered in some European countries, because of the handling of the disease. Here in India we did everything very meticulously which is why there are less chances of second wave. But preparedness must be there on our part,” elaborated Dr Sanjeev Kumar.