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Dimapur, May 19 (EMN): Three Naga student unions based in New Delhi have asked Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to help ease the distress stranded citizens in the national capital are currently undergoing.
The distress calls, in the form of letters to the chief minister, arrived from the Delhi Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union; Lotha Students’ Union Delhi; and Delhi Ao Students’ Union.
The content of three letters had similar underlying sentiments: those who had been working in the private sector have lost their jobs; despite severe financial constraints, they have chosen not to return to Nagaland (heeding to calls made by various Nagaland-based organisations); and the one-time financial assistance should be provided to all stranded citizens, not only to those who have registered in the government web portal.
According to the Delhi Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union, about 62.4% of its members who work in the private sector are reported to have lost their jobs.
“Despite economic constraints, many volunteered to stay back wherever they are stranded because of the goodness of their heart not wanting to bring any risk to the people of Nagaland. Hence, the union humbly requests the government to take up this issue urgently and reconsider its standpoint,” it stated.
The Lotha Students’ Union Delhi, citing its data, stated that “around 68% of the working Lothas in Delhi-NCR have lost their jobs because of the pandemic lay-offs and are struggling to make ends meet”.
It requested the Nagaland government not to neglect those who have voluntarily chosen to stay back.
“The union has also been dealing with several death cases which have been the most challenging of all. Due to the complete inter-state lockdown, transportation and burial of the deceased bodies has become more demanding than usual, especially for those families who come from weaker economic backgrounds. We would also like to make an appeal to the government to come up with strategies to provide aid in such cases….We are struggling to pacify the agitated mass and therefore it is our most sincere request to the government to take swift actions regarding the problems as discussed above,” read its letter.
According to the Delhi Ao Students’ Union, the first financial aid provided by the state government to stranded citizens came as a relief and helped in mitigating some of the problems faced by the students and working youth.
“However, the union has received grievances from people who are yet to receive the said fund. On our part, we have been trying to help stranded citizens to the best of our abilities but we are running out of options and answers. The union, therefore humbly appeals to our chief minister to look into the matter most urgently.
“The union has also received grievances that the helpline numbers provided by the government are not always responsive and accessible to the people. During such an unprecedented global pandemic, the union feels that it is imperative that the government helpline is manned 24x7, made easily accessible and maintained with avoidable hitches,” it stated.
Further, the union requested the government not to exclude those who are voluntarily staying back in their respective cities/towns; and “to administer uniform benefits to all citizens alike”.