During 2019 and 2020, Kodagu district witnessed unprecedented rains which resulted in large-scale landslides. Hundreds of families lost their homes and many lost their lives. The people were helpless before the fury of nature. The chief priest and family members of the Tala Kaveri Temple also lost their lives in a landslide. V Somanna, who was the district in-charge minister of Mysuru and Kodagu, took the lead in the rescue and rehabilitation work, coming to the aid of the people. Working should to shoulder with NDRF and SDRF forces; he walked alongside them for over 10 kilometers in heavy rains and winds, filling them with confidence. In the rehabilitation process around 700 homes have been distributed to the victims of the floods and landslides.
Similarly, Somanna’s untiring efforts and quick response during the Covid pandemic won him huge applause.
When hundreds of workers of the Jubilant Generics Limited in Nanjangud were struck by Covid the entire district of Mysuru came down on its knees. District in-charge minister V Somanna took charge of the situation. Over 1,500 workers of the factory were put on quarantine to contain the spread of the virus. During the lockdown, the families of the workers were taken care of.
By following strict protocols, the spread of Covid in Mysuru district was controlled.
Noticing that people with Ration cards were struggling to procure food grains during the lockdown, Somanna initiated the revolutionary idea of providing food grains at their doorsteps. The scheme was started on an experimental basis in Mysuru and proved to be a success. The scheme was later replicated across the State.
In Bengaluru East and Govindarajnagar constituency too, Somanna handled the Covid management in a manner which set an example.
Bengaluru East consists of 44 Wards under six Assembly constituencies. Similarly, Govindarajnagar has nine Wards. So a total of 53 Wards had effective Covid management that controlled the spread of the pandemic.
Somanna initiated several measures to and effectively contained the spread of Covid including conducting regular meetings with medical officers, establishing fever clinics, Covid care centres, helplines, war room, mobile Covid test vehicles, distributing medical kits, sanitizing the entire constituency, door-to-door visits by ASHA and Anganwadi workers, counseling for patients and many other measures.
