Thread by @CMOMaharashtra

CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray's address to the State today;

Today is 1st May, the victory day of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, the day on which Maharashtra was established. It is also marked as Labour Day. My best wishes to you on Maharashtra Day and Labour Day.

For me, Samyukta Maharashtra brings back memories of the struggle as narrated by my grandfather Prabodhankar Thackeray ji and my father HinduHriday Samrat Shiv Sena Pramukh Balasaheb Thackeray. This was also a time of struggle. We secured Mumbai after various sacrifices.

Today, I paid my respects to the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement at the Hutatma Smarak as the Chief Minister of the State.

This gave me a different rush compared to my several visits to this memorial earlier as I was paying respects to these martyrs as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. I cannot express that sentiment in words.

My grandfather, father and uncle were involved in this movement, this struggle. It brought back those memories. Our house was used for meetings and to chalk out the plan of action.

I recalled how icons like Senapati Bapat and Shahir Amar Shaikh used to come to our house and I also remembered my mother Maasaheb Meenatai Thackeray, who used to run the household efficiently. I am talking to you after paying my respects to all of them.

Maharashtra Day and Labour Day coincide. The Girni Kamgars (textile mill workers) of Mumbai put up a brave fight to ensure Mumbai remained part of Maharashtra. My salutations to all those known and unknown people who were part of this movement.

Today, Samyukta Maharashtra completes 60 years. When our Government came to power, we had decided to celebrate the diamond jubilee in a big way but we are under obligation in the present situation. But these times will surely pass.

In 2010, we had organised a celebration to commemorate 50 years of Samyukta Maharashtra. Everyone who was there will remember it. On May 1, lakhs gathered at BKC near Kalanagar.

HinduHriday Samrat Shiv Sena Pramukh Balasaheb Thackeray, Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare, and Lata Didi were there. @mangeshkarlata Didi, my salutations to you, we know your blessings are there with us.

Today, when Maharashtra completes 60 years, we are starting a primary health centre, in a pavilion at the same BKC ground, during our battle against Corona.

At Goregaon, the @ShivSena had organised a blood donation camp in 2010, where over 25,000 blood donors contributed blood in 12 hours, setting a world record.

The idea was to donate blood as a commitment for Mumbai, which had been secured by martyrs after spilling their blood. Like in BKC, a treatment centre with beds, some with oxygen facilities, and a fever clinic has been started.

Only a State like Maharashtra can show the resolve and create a world record like that for blood donation. This Maharashtra is now fighting against Corona.

It is not as if Maharashtra is only 60-years-old. It has a legacy of bravery and traditions dating back centuries. We are second to none in any sector. Maharashtra is also the pioneer in revolution, political ideology, social reform and the rationalist movement.

Maharashtra has always discarded obscurantism for modernism. There are so many names worth mentioning. Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who established Swaraj after braving intense hardships.

Aurangzeb futilely fought Maharashtra for 27 years. Maharashtra is the land of brave, courageous fighters.

As the Chief Minister of this Maharashtra, with your blessings, I am not worried about the outcome of this battle when I have tough and courageous comrades like you. I waded into the war knowing we would win.

The lockdown is in force till May 3. What after that? Many feel cases have increased despite the lockdown. I would call the lockdown a speed-breaker. The Singapore PM termed it a circuit-breaker which breaks the transmission chain.

The lockdown helped to break this transmission chain or else the virus would have multiplied faster than what we can imagine. Still, the numbers are rising because of the contacts of patients who were infected initially.

Cases are increasing in the containment zones which have been sealed. Some have been quarantined at home and in institutional facilities. A significant number of cases are increasing there.

After it has been reported that 20-25 cases increased in Hingoli, I inquired and learnt that some of these include police jawans who were infected during duty. But, they have been quarantined and are being treated.

Fortunately, among the patients, 75-80% are very mild and asymptomatic but positive cases. But, they have to be isolated to prevent them from infecting others as carriers of the virus. We are taking a lot of precautions.

Mumbai and other Municipal Corporations are using pulse oximeters on a door-to-door basis, especially in slums to examine patients in slums, to check their oxygen levels.

Over 2 lakh have been examined. This helps us know about the oxygen levels, especially among those with diabetes and hypertension, as they are more vulnerable.

After around 2 lakh examinations, we found 272 people with low oxygen and other ailments. The BMC treats them for low oxygen levels and also for their other ailments.

Plasma therapy is also being undertaken. The Maharashtra Govt. is not leaving any stone unturned.

I am very proud to note that after my appeal to ‘COVID Yoddhas,’ thousands came forward. Over 20,000 expressed their desire, around 10,000 said they were actually ready to work and some are being trained.

It is not as if we are only increasing the number of beds sans any doctors. Doctors and nursing staff are being prepared.

I am proud that Mumbai Mayor @KishoriPednekar tai and Kalyan-Dombivali Mayor Vinita Rane ji have shown willingness to return to their previous profession- nursing. They are also visiting hospitals. Even Mayors are rising to the occasion, as are voluntary groups and doctors.

I feel that even today, private hospitals, doctors and clinics, must take few steps forward to free people from the fear of Corona or the ‘COVID syndrome’ as I call it. People who get timely treatment can be cured, including infants aged 6 months and elderly aged around 84-85.

It is not as if all is over if one has Corona. But timely treatment is needed. We have started fever clinics. I am requesting you, please do not waste time. Report to clinics if you show any symptoms of the disease and go home contently after being cured.

People have been cured even after being put on ventilators. But, the important mantra is reporting in-time and not ignoring symptoms of the disease.

‘What after 3rd May?’ We are at home, what do we do? The economic cycle has come to a halt. The economic impact will be massive, unemployment will increase and jobs will be lost.

These concerns are partly justified. But, along with finance, the priority must be given to the real resource of any nation—its people. Lives of people must be saved so that we all can extricate the society from this battle.

Red, orange and green zones have been created based on the intensity of cases. Red zones are like an active volcano, the orange zone is a dormant volcano and the green zone is a spent volcano, which may not burst again.

But, of course, precautions must be taken even in the green zone as mistakes may prove costly.

The red zone includes Mumbai and neighboring areas like Kalyan, Dombivali, Panvel, Pune and surrounding areas, some parts of Nagpur and Sambhajinagar, where numbers are gradually rising daily. At present, it is not in our interests to restart normal activities there.

In the orange zone, which includes districts with active cases, we are planning to increase activities, barring in some areas. We are gradually removing restrictions in green zones.

Based on the Centre's permissions, those who want to leave for other states will be allowed to do so, only with due discipline and precautions and after speaking to those States.

Similarly, even those wanting to return to Maharashtra will be allowed. States are in touch with each other for this transfer of people. Transportation facilities will be provided for those wanting to leave.

Even within Maharashtra, people who had gone to their hometowns, or were out of station for tourism or work, were stuck within the state after the lockdown was imposed. They will be allowed to travel, but this will be done only gradually.

All of them will not be allowed to travel at once. Local district collectors will be consulted and priorities will be decided before arranging for their transportation back home.

But, I want to state empathically, that there were and will be no restrictions on agriculture. I know, the crop season is beginning and farmers will face no shortage of seeds and fertilisers. There are no restrictions on agricultural produce.

Goods transport has been opened. Restrictions are being removed gradually. But, in case of crowding, they will have to be re-imposed.

We will have to tread very cautiously in the red zone. You may be aware that initially, we brought down attendance in Mantralaya to 5%. Last week, we planned to increase the attendance to 25% from 5% but had to shut down the complex after few +ve cases were detected.

Things are happening gradually. There is no reason to fear. We are creating facilities in Mumbai to ensure timely treatment for those identified during health check-ups. These facilities will ensure there is no shortage of doctors and infrastructure.

We are taking aid of the AYUSH ministry and are planning to take help from Homeopathic and Ayurvedic doctors for fever clinics. Our task force doctors are in touch with them. We are implementing a good system across the state.

In the cities, Govt., Civic and Pvt. doctors are in touch with our task force doctors on telephone or video-conferencing for the course of treatment to be adopted.

We can do this only because of you. As I said last time, those in the medical establishment like doctors, nurses, ward boys, and police are working for no less than God. The police are under pressure and some have tested positive. It is our duty to cooperate with them.

Some restrictions will be eased after 3rd May based on the zones. But, there must be no haste while doing so. I know everyone has pending works to attend to.

At the same time, we must take cautious steps to ensure the infection does not flare up again and the present gains are not lost while normalcy is being restored. Normal life has to be restored carefully.

Once again, greetings on the occasion of Maharashtra Day and Labour Day. Maharashtra loves back those who love them and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has shown us, how to treat the traitors.

Maharashtra has been described in glowing terms by various people. It has shown the way ahead to the country and the world.

We are the sons and daughters of this Maharashtra. As the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, I am once again making a resolve that we will triumph. For this, I will need your continuing support.

Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra!