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Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 3 (EMN): Amid the nationwide lockdown to contain the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), the state government, organisations and individuals are coming forward to help daily wage earners, stranded people and students in Kohima by providing foods and essential commodities to them.
New Market ward in collaboration with the district administration Kohima distributed essential commodities like rice, dal and salt to daily wagers and students living in the ward on Friday, April 3.
Chairman of New Market Area Panchayat Ruokuobizo Nyusou told Eastern Mirror that New Market colony is one of the poorest colonies in Kohima town, ‘filled with daily wagers and labourers’. He informed that relief items were given to more than 2000 people.
‘To maintain social distancing, we are disbursing in five different stations,’ he said. Yhe colony panchayats visited house-to-house to identify daily wagers and students living in rented accommodation and were not able to go home due to the lockdown, he added.
“Most of the residents in our area are from other states and working as masons, carpenters, coolies and other daily bread-earners,” Nyusou said.
Colony panchayats, youth volunteers and women assisted in distributing relief materials to those in need on Friday. However, it is not known when the district administration will provide such items again.
Nyusou said the council has decided to help the poorest of the poor in the ward if there is any leftover after the distribution on Friday, because “it is heartbreaking to see that there are some families that are badly affected due to the lockdown”, and asserted that they have decide to help the needy in every small way.
He further shared that many local residents, who are not able to go for work but are self-sufficient, did not avail relief items but offered their shares to others.
Nearly 7400 people helped
The district administration and DDMA Kohima has distributed relief items to as many as 7,398 daily wage earners, stranded students and travellers at Kohima Relief Distribution Centre till April 2. An update from the DIPR further informed that such items were also given to elderly persons, orphanage homes, hostels and institutions under Kohima district.
ADC Kohima Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa informed that relief rations were given to all the wards and colonies so that its chairmen could reach out to the targeted group in their respective wards and colonies. She added that the relief items were also dispatched to all area administrative officers under Kohima district for distribution in the sub-divisions.
Nodal officer for stranded migrants
Meanwhile, the government of Nagaland has nominated Rahul Mali, joint secretary of Tribal Affairs, as the nodal officer for stranded migrant labourers and daily wage earners in the state to mitigate the problems arising because of the Covid-19 outbreak. An update from DIPR informed that Mali can be contacted at phone numbers: 9284488068 / 0370-2291122 or email to rahulias33@gmail.com.
More food supplies for the poor
Director of Food and Civil Supplies Asangla Imti has reminded all the ADSs on implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) in all the districts during the Covid-19 pandemic. She informed through a press release on Friday that more rice will be distributed to all the beneficiaries under PHH and AAY in the state via targeted public distribution system (PDS) free of cost for a period of three months (April to June) and instructed to strictly follow the order.
Conditions to be fulfilled:
* The allocation is over and above the regular monthly allocation quota of NFSA and it has to be ensured that distribution is free of cost in all FPS (urban and rural).
* Action plan for distribution of free food grains under NFSA as submitted to the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution need to be strictly followed.
* Wide publicity and awareness on the relief measure undertaken by central and state government to the call of economic response during this crucial time has to be disseminated at all level.
* If any FPS (rural and urban) is found selling/diversion/misusing the allocation meant for free distribution should be penalised by immediately reporting for cancellation of license and action to be taken as laid down in Essential Commodities Act 1955.
* Distribution has to be done using the ePoS device by the dealer as directed and manual record to be maintained separately (with counter signature of ADS and district administration) for this scheme and submit record as soon as distribution of food grain is completed.
* Co-ordinate with respective transporter(s) and ensure that food grains of the scheme reach the designated district(s)/PDC(s) in time as per the action plan.
* Any laxity on the part of district officer(s)/official(s) will be viewed seriously. She further instructs all to follow the order in strict compliance.