ENSF, WYH slam govt over sending returnees violating SOP

Accusing the state government of “discriminating” the returnees of Eastern Nagaland and forcefully despatching them to Tuensang violating all standard operating procedure (SOP) and protocols of COVID-19, the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has cautioned that the state government would be held solely responsible in the event of outbreak of law and order and widespread infection.

In a representation addressed to the state chief minister, the ENSF president Sepili Sangtam and general secretary Imtichoba Chang demanded immediate suspension of responsible officer/person(s) behind despatching returnees of Tuensang district as per relevant section of law. ENSF said that dispatching returnees from Kohima and Dimapur quarantine centres has put the future of Eastern Nagaland “in a very dark, stake and dangerous position”. ENSF sought to place on record the “discrimination” shown to Eastern Nagaland during this pandemic. 

Further, the federation demanded demand that the government immediately provide sufficient COVID-19 required equipment, ventilators, establish ICU, construct quarantine centres and post manpower in all the Eastern districts to combat the pandemic. In the event of failure to respond positively by the government, the federation said it would be compelled to take democratic steps to save the lives of people and for which the government would be held solely responsible for any eventualities.Meanwhile, ENSF has appealed the state government to “officially” acknowledge the negligence of Eastern Nagaland in all the developmental fronts since the inception of Nagaland state. 

During its visit to all the Eastern districts and tribal headquarters along with six federating units, ENSF said it was found that COVID-19 district wise fund allocation was unjust and unfair. It, therefore, demanded that equal and manageable fund must be re-allocated to all the Eastern districts at the earliest. 

The federation also demanded that the government issue “actionable Office Memorandum” and direct all its employees, particularly heads of the departments in the district to report to their respective place of posting within three days. Despite of the office memorandum issued by the chief secretary, ENSF said many officers have not reported to their place of district.

WYH asks CM to constitute probe

 Expressing shock and dismay over the “irresponsible, mismanagement and barbaric treatment” meted out to the innocent returnees belonging to Tuensang district, Western Yimchungru Hoho (WYH) has appealed to the state chief minister to constitute an inquiry and take necessary action against the persons responsible for creating the mess.

WYH through its media cell also condemned the health and family welfare (H&FW) department officials and those responsible for sending 169 Chennai returnees to Tuensang without following the proper protocol. 

Questioning the “very existence and purpose” of COVID-19 Task Force and War Room,WYH slammed “such irresponsible, in coordination and mismanagement of returnees from different parts of the country. It particularly pointed out that COVID-19 positive patient was made to travel amongst the 168 returnees in five buses without maintaining social distancing and without segregating the returnees based on Green, Orange and Red Zones.

Besides, WYH said that returnees were made to board the bus from 11:30am, but departed only after 1:30pm from the Quarantine Centre in Kohima. It also said that returnees were not provided lunch before departure or any food package for their onward journey. “Such step-motherly treatment igniting a sense of second-class citizen of the State through the action of the concerned authority of the H&FW and Covid-19 Task Force is very condemnable and numerous questions and doubt arises,” WYH stated.

WYH alleged that the intention of person/authority in-charge of sending returnees to Tuensang without proper verification of test result was “to spread the virus among the returnees and populace of the Tuensang district and also to create panic and misunderstanding amongst the tribes of the already sensitive Tuensang district.”

Further, the hoho expressed displeasure that such an unfortunate event took place under the watch of H&FW minister, saying it “clearly” indicated the lapses and unpreparedness in tackling pandemic.

WYH has appealed to H&FW minister to educate and direct his officials to impart proper SOP in dealing with the returnees from outside the State with empathy and show humane side to the returnees who were already physically exhausted and mentally depressed owing to job loss, fear of being infected, unaccepted or ostracized by family, village council and society at large.

Meanwhile, the hoho also urged COVID-19 Task Force Tuensang district to be active, saying it expected sincere participation from them in fighting the common invisible enemy.