Context: Recently,The Indian Army has launched its anti-COVID-19 campaign code-named as “Operation Namaste” in order to help the government in its fight against the pandemic.
About Operation Namaste

• Under the operation, the army will help the Government of India fight against the deadly disease.
• Under the operation, Indian Army has established 6 quarantine so far. Also, Command wise help line numbers have been established.
• Facilities for the families of the army men have been arranged to visit nearest camps in case of emergency while they are away serving the country.

Steps taken under “Operation Namaste”

• Soldiers are advised to follow the lockdown, wherever they do not have any operational role, and stay fit. They are assured that their families will be well taken care of.
• Leave extension of those on leave as well as curtailment of leave to bare minimum have been imposed.

Setting up of Quarantine and Hospital Facilities

• Segregation facilities have been set up to observe troops already back from leave from various states.
• So far six quarantine facilities have been established where people evacuated from coronavirus-affected countries have been accommodated.
• 28 Armed Forces hospitals have been earmarked as COVID hospitals.
• These hospitals will include armed forces patients as well as civilian patients transferred from state health authorities.
• Five hospitals from the Army, Navy and the Air Force are conducting coronavirus tests using the RT-PCR methodology and more hospitals will be equipped soon with the resources.

Contributions by Other Forces

• Indian Navy also contributed by delivering 60,000 face masks ordered by Indian Medical Association, Goa which were stuck in Delhi due to the lockdown. Ilyushin 38 SD (Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircrafts) departed for New Delhi and returned on the same day with the masks.
• Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also came forward to help by developing ventilators and providing other Medical Equipment.
• Soldiers are advised to follow the lockdown, wherever they do not have any operational role, and stay fit. They are assured that their families will be well taken care of.
• Leave extension of those on leave as well as curtailment of leave to bare minimum have been imposed.