KOLKATA: Forum for Durgotsab, an umbrella body of Durga Puja committees, vaccinated close to 550 committee members on Tuesday.
According to the members, this is essential for those who actively work in organising Durga Puja every year for their respective clubs or committees.
The day-long vaccination drive at a hall in south Kolkata was organised by the forum in association with the Government of West Bengal.
“We could vaccinate only a handful of people but it is a good start.
We intend to vaccinate more in the coming weeks.
There might be some vaccination camps in the districts too for our member committees,” said Saswata Basu, secretary of the forum.
“We had requested the government and they helped us in organising the camp.” According to Basu, there is still no clarity on organising the puja this year but it’s essential to start vaccinating those who are on the frontline.
“The devastation done by the second wave has made the scale and form of festival a bit uncertain this year.
We have not had any time to think on how to go about it.
But it is important that the committee members are vaccinated before any decision is taken,” said Basu.
The forum and its member committees are also working during the second wave, from creating awareness in the community markets and sanitising public spaces to providing oxygen and other assistance in their respective neighbourhoods.
“Many members have been working on the frontline with Covid patients.
It is important that they are vaccinated so that they can continue to serve others,” said Tushar Saha, assistant secretary of the forum for east Kolkata, Dum Dum and Salt Lake.