Banaskantha has emerged as the No 1 district in Gujarat with a record 98% of its 45+ population receiving at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccination by May 12 as reported in the media. This was made possible as the District Collector Anand Patel and the Commissioner, Rural Development, Vijay Nehra, who together steered the fight against the pandemic and roped in temple trusts, agricultural cooperatives and the market networks to achieve these numbers.
 

Further, the administration ensured that primary health centres and community health centres in the district were supplied a maximum number of vaccines by the health department.

According to the government statistics, Banaskantha has a population of around 40 lakh with about 6.17 lakh persons falling in the 45+ age groups. As of May 12, as many as 6.17 lakh have received at least one dose with 2.07 lakh receiving the vaccine in the first phase and 4.1 lakh getting their jab in the second phase. 

DC Patel told the media, “We had roped in religious bodies, starting with Ambaji Trust, APMCs (agricultural produce marketing committees), as well as the network of co-operative bodies, and our efforts have ensured some success.”

Nehra added, “The district administration carried out exceptional teamwork with the support of the state government. It entailed a lot of micro planning, meticulous execution and close monitoring.”