I got an ill-prepared state... We are doing our best: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says his government is doing its best to safeguard the lives of common people in the state, which has reported the second-highest number of 50 Covid-19-related deaths in the country. Chouhan, who took oath on March 23, a day before PM Modi announced the 21-day nationwide lockdown, tells ET how he is handling the crisis. Excerpts:

There is a concerning situation in Indore with over 35 deaths. What has gone wrong there?
Indore is under our full attention and consistent monitoring. We have appealed to everyone to fully follow social distancing norms and lockdown. Indore and surrounding areas have more number of citizens travelling abroad than other regions. Infections were not detected at the initial stage due to a lack of awareness and a tendency to hide details among those who returned from abroad. For this reason, people who came in contact with them unknowingly spread this infection.


As per the instructions of the Centre, a containment plan is ready and work on Plan A and Plan B is going on. In Plan A, the infected and suspects are monitored, in Plan B tests, blood samples, etc are taken. Three types of teams are working — A team gives public awareness and consultation, B team goes home to take samples and team C provides support to people on a psychological level and tries to remove the tension prevalent in their minds. We have arranged to get samples from home instead of hospital so that infected persons can be tested in isolation. Hopefully, things will get better soon.

Was MP late in preparing for Covid-19 due to political upheaval?
This is not a time to put up a political view about anything. This is a global threat and we all are fighting against it. It is not right to blame any political party for this. I took charge as the CM on March 23 and I got a state ill prepared for Covid-19. Given the situation, we are doing our best to safeguard the lives of common man. This is a time to help each other and we should avoid blaming anyone.

Several officers in Bhopal have tested positive for Covid-19…
Our government is well prepared to fight this havoc. We are leaving no stone unturned for the well-being of our people. Some infections have been found among police officials, the health department and their families and the places where they live are now in containment zones. We are also gathering their contact history to avoid unknown and unpredictable consequences. We have prepared a second line of all important officials, so that if one officer unfortunately becomes positive, then in such conditions there should be a second line of substitute officials to look after the required duties.

Madhya Pradesh doesn’t have a full-time health minister...
This is a time like we have seen never before. For us, at the moment, the safety of public representatives is also important and apart from it, every representative is somehow a part of this fight. Our priority at such time is to fight the virus. First of all, we have to control this epidemic. Whatever decision will be taken regarding the formation of the Cabinet or minister, you will certainly come to know about it. We are all fighting together to overcome this crisis soon.

What are your preparations?
We have reached up to 1,050 tests per day. We have 25 lakh hydroxychloroquine tablets and have ordered 10 lakh more. We have also ordered 1.72 lakh PPE kits to increase the current availability of around 50,000 kits. Arrangements have been made to provide food and ration to all the needy. 5.7 lakh workers returned to the state till April 3. Recently, more than Rs 88 crore were deposited in the account of 8.85 lakh labourers. 2 lakh people are being fed daily in rural areas and 2.5 lakh in urban areas. We will provide 5 kg of free ration to the poor from corona quota, even to those not eligible under the National Food Security Scheme. If any poor, labourer or other people are stuck in any district, who do not have food, then ration will be provided to them.

So far, ration has been made available to more than 5 crore people. This is a very tough time; we are trying our best to provide supplies to the needy.