Lockdown peaceful in Southern Angami areas

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 21 (EMN): With massive support and co-ordination from the public, situation in the Southern Angami areas under Kohima district has been peaceful during the nationwide lockdown, which was imposed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

Speaking to Eastern Mirror on Tuesday, Zakieleto Tsükrü, president of Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) said every member of the youth organisations and village councils are keeping their eyes on the public and vehicular movement in their respective jurisdiction in the Southern region, which comprises of thirteen villages.

He stated that there is massive support and co-operation from every quarter. He added that youth are enforcing restriction on the movement of people and vehicles in their respective villages.

While groceries and essential commodities are made available in the shops for the convenience of the people at the villages, he said social distancing are being emphasised and enforced among the customers whenever they go out to buy their needs.

Tsükrü also informed that the relief distribution from the government reaches to the needy ones.

It was learnt that each village has set up a quarantine centre while the entry and exit gates are manned by the youth of their respective villages. It was also informed that villagers are allowed to go to their fields with certain guidelines.

While the government have allowed unrestricted movement of transport vehicles carrying essential goods, the villagers have expressed concern over reports of the drivers and occupants of the inter-state goods carriers and trucks gathering and eating together on the National Highway 29 along the Southern areas.

In this regard, the villages have decided to oversee the situation and ensure that trucks and goods carriers are not stranded in the middle of the road and wreak unnecessary havoc.

For the safety of the villagers, drivers and other companions coming from Imphal are screened at Khuzama village by medical personnel while their trucks are allowed to ply towards capital city between 7 pm to 12 midnight.

There have been occasional reports of few villagers ferrying people in their private vehicles on the way to the villages. In this regard, the villages have been alerted to be watchful of such unwanted activity.

Non-availability of safety kits

The youth president have raised a major concern pertaining to the non-availability of safety kits for health workers and poor facility at the scanning booth at Khuzama check gate.

He informed that youth bodies and chairmen from various villages have complained about health workers coming from different places and taking turns every day in discharging their duty at the check gate without PPEs and other sufficient safety materials.

Tsükrü said they have not received any response from the authority despite that matter been notified the government. In this regard, the Southern region has appealed to the government to supply adequate equipments and safety items for the safety of both the frontline workers and the public.