Assam: As COVID-19 Cases Spike, Cachar DC Keerthi Jalli Refuses To Go On Leave For Wedding, Groom Flies In

Keerthi Jalli, the deputy commissioner of Assam's Cachar district, chose her duties over personal commitments. She refused to go on leave for her wedding amid the coronavirus scare in the state. Jalli, who is a 2013 batch officer, told her family and friends that she would not be able to travel to Hyderabad for her wedding. However, the IAS officer tied the knot on Wednesday in a simple ceremony in Silchar when the groom, Aditya Shashikant, decided to visit her place of posting.

Jalli has been given the responsibilities of overseeing construction work of an ICU unit for COVID-19 patients in a medical college. She told her family that leaving her people when the number of cases in her district is on the rise wouldn't be appropriate. She reported that around a 100 positive cases are still showing up on a daily basis there. So after having a chat with Shashikant, she told them that she would be more than happy to get married at her official bungalow in Silchar. Her family, in-laws, especially, her to-be husband Shashikant, respected her decision.

“I just could not think of taking leave for my wedding. I understand it is the most important event of anyone’s life, but I could not imagine going away from my district where the average positive cases are about 100 and I am fighting to save lives,” Jalli told PTI after getting married following all necessary safety measures.

What You Should Know

• Assam’s Cachar DC did not take leave for her wedding as the coronavirus cases are on the rise in her district.
• Keerthi Jalli told her husband to be that she can't travel to Hyderabad.
• About 800 people attended their wedding through Zoom.

Jalli is now married to Shashikant, who is from Pune. According to reports, earlier their wedding got postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. This time, he came to Silchar in advance and followed the quarantine protocols.

Also Read: Assam Woman Priyanka Chutia Says Her Job Application Was Rejected Due To Surname

It was a very small-scale wedding with only Carnatic music playing in the background. The couple avoided decorating the place with lights or putting up a tent and not more than 15 guests were invited to bless the couple. From Jalli’s side, only her sister could attend the wedding. “I was present at the wedding and it was a very low-key event following all safety protocols. There were barely 15 guests. I came to know about the wedding just a day before the event,” said a senior district official who attended the wedding, the Hindustan Times reported. They zoom-called 800 family members and friends on both sides to be part of the ceremony. "My parents could not come from Hyderabad as they were recuperating from COVID after both of them tested positive. Only my younger sister was on my side at the wedding," Jalli said, Tribune India reported.

According to reports, Jalli went back to her duty on Thursday, a day after her wedding. She also visited the Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) to inspect the ICU unit, that is being installed for the patients. In the district, Jalli has been working to improve the situation at the medical college, other hospitals, and her core vision is to upgrade critical health infrastructure in the state. Previously, Jalli served in neighbouring area Hailakandi where she is known for her remarkable work in healthcare and women's welfare. Before that, she was posted as the Sub Divisional Officer at Titabor in Jorhat. There Jalli campaigned and initiated the scheme called 'Bhoni' (means younger sister) to enhance women's participation in the election for which she was honoured by the then President Pranab Mukherjee in 2016.

Also Read: This Doctor In Assam Is Designing Masks & Shields For Healthcare Staff At Home

Feature Image Credit: Firstpost

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