<span style="color: #222222;">Various initiatives related to COVID19 have been taken under Panchayati Raj in South Sikkim and West Sikkim districts. These include rural awareness drives, monitoring cross-border movement of people, distribution of relief materials and identification of beneficiaries under various schemes.<br />''<br />''"In February 2020, all gram panchayats bordering Nepal in West Sikkim were directed to sensitize people on COVID19 while monitoring cross-border movement. The panchayats also prepared lists of stranded labourers and below-poverty-line families, followed by distribution of relief materials.South District Zilla Panchayat Member of Perbing Nizraming Zilla Territorial Constituency, South Sikkim, Hari Gurung speaks about these initiatives.<br />''<br />''Moreover, the State Institute of Rural Development based in Karfectar, South Sikkim prepared a Nepali music video on COVID19 awareness which was shared across India and in Nepal, Bhutan and Singapore, targeting the Nepali speaking population, thereby highlighting the wide reach of such initiatives.</span><br />