<span style="color: #222222;">Department of Rural Development, J&K has initiated slew of measures to enhance rational public health measures for containment and mitigation of Coronavirus outbreak in the remote areas of the Union Territory.<br />''<br />''Director RDD, Jammu, Sudershan Kumar said the staff of the department and elected members of Panchayati Raj Institutions including Chairpersons of Block Development Councils, Sarpanches and Panches are working in close co-ordination with District Administrations to contain the spread of Covid -19 infection. He said, Village Awareness and Monitoring Committees have been framed at Panchayat and Block Levels.<br />''<br />''He said Block level committees and Panchayat level committees are making rural people aware about the benefits of frequent and proper washing of hands with soap, use of sanitizers and maintaining cleanliness in and around the village.<br />''<br />''He said RDD with the help of District Administrations has so far distributed around 1,65,811 masks in Jammu Division.  Panchayat members along with the field staff are extending support to the administration for establishment of quarantine centers in the panchayat. They are also helping the volunteers in making arrangements and distribution of basic amenities to the needy persons including the stranded labourers.</span><br />