Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 24 (EMN): With the announcement of the nationwide lockdown on March 24, the state government had pressed various agencies into service to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. Following the directives of the government, Kohima district task force has been providing conveyance to thousands of migrant workers to their respective destinations.
Reliable sources informed Eastern Mirror on Wednesday that about 50 stranded persons had been transported to Zunheboto, Phek and Tuensang from Kohima.
Sources informed that the transport committee and the drivers have to be forthcoming whenever transportation services are needed early morning or late night.
"We don't have much problem now unlike the earlier days when there was huge numbers of returnees," said a 50-year-old driver who had returned to Khuochiezie (local ground) after dropping some returnees to their locality.
The driver, who has a family, said he soaks his clothes in some hot water with salt and takes bath with salt, Dettol and soap on reaching home after duty. The driver added that he does not mingle with his family members at home.
When asked if he faced discrimination and stigmatisation in his colony, the driver responded that he has not received any problem so far. The driver added that he could always approach the district administration to address the problem in the event of facing any discrimination from the residents.
The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, complained on the difficulty of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) owing to the humid climatic condition. The driver added that he had to remove the PPE, gloves and caps for disposal after reaching Khuochiezie.
It has become a daily routine for drivers to drop those returnees to their respective villages after completion of institutional or home quarantine.
Staff buses from various departments as well as NST buses are requisitioned at Khuochiezie for transportation of returnees to their respective destinations.