Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio along with Minister Planning & Coordination and State Spokesperson for Covid-19, NeibaKronu, Minister Health & Family Welfare, PangnyuPhom and other senior government officials deliberated on the district status and preparedness forCovid-19 with Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Chief Medical Officers through video conferencing at Chief Minister's official residence on 2nd April 2020.
The Chief Minister mentioned that earlier the Prime Minister of India, NarendraModi had spoken to all the Chief Ministers. So far, Nagaland has no confirmed positive cases yet we have to prepare ourselves for any eventuality, he said.
Rio specifically asked about the response to the enforcement of lock down, preparedness for Covid-19 related matters, Covid-19 hospitals and status of receiving medical equipments from the department and availability of other essential commodities in the districts. So far, the enforcement of lock down in the districts is by and large peaceful and successful. Separate places have been identified for quarantine purposes and hospitals in the districts have been kept ready in the event of any detection. Medical equipments sent by the department have already received by the districts except one or two districts which is yet to receive ventilators. The DCs also stated that the availability of essential commodities in the districts continue to remain normal.
Rio suggested on the importance and necessity of home delivery especially LPG by the agency itself in order to avoid crowding and maintaining social distancing at this crucial juncture. He also asked the law enforcing authorities to allow movement of people in the villages, keeping in mind the importance of sowing season for the cultivators. However, people coming from outside to the villages should be stopped and kept for quarantine, he added. He also mentioned about the wellbeing of the migrant workers if any, and urged the concerned authorities to support and protect them in the form of giving shelter and other essential commodities.
He also suggested that districts like Kohima and Dimapur should have colony markets for shopping in order to avoid crowding and maintaining social distancing. Rio also thanked the tribal Hohos, NGOs and other civil society organisations for actively supporting and helping the government in all possible ways.
He also informed that 10 lakhs will be given by the government as ex- gratia to any health worker(s) who in the line of duty afflicted by Covid-19.
Chief Secretary of Nagaland, Temjen Toy, IAS also asked all the DCs to work out on the status of the actual number of migrant and daily wage earners and see how many of them have been availing shelter and food.
(NongozoRikha, APRO)
