LPG distributors plea govt. to include staff as frontline warriors

Dimapur, May 7 (EMN): Considering the high risk of contracting Covid-19 while delivering LPG cylinders to consumers, the All Kohima Indane Distributors’ Association (Akida) has appealed to the government to include all the staff of LPG distributors in the frontline workers’ list for Covid vaccination within 13 days failing which it threatened to suspend its services. 

In a representation to the Nagaland Chief Secretary, Akida appealed to prioritise vaccination to all the staff of LPG distributors as frontline Covid-19 warriors. It pointed out that the state government has not made Covid-19 vaccination available to the staff of LPG distributors of Kohima either on payment or for free till date.

To justify its claim, Akida stated that LPG distributors and their staff cater to every household in the state for LPG needs, which require physical interaction with the public and rendered them susceptible to Covid-19.

The association representation, jointly appended by president Kuolachalie Seyie and the general secretary Tseibou Dzüvichü, mentioned that 61 deaths in just the LPG sector alone has been recorded in India so far.

“Needless to say that the delivery of refills and other services, our staff continue to operate in physical proximity with scores of people and are being put at high risk category in terms of vulnerability of Covid-19 infection,” the association’s representation stated.

It went on to stated that LPG distributors and staff – administrative staff, drivers, handymen, and delivery men are facing untold miseries and at high risk for their lives and the lives of family members.

The association lamented the government’s apathy despite receipt of letters from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas addressed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, government of India, dated February 2, 2021, and from the president of North East Indian Distributors’ Association requesting all the staff of LPG distributors to be considered as frontline workers for Covid vaccination.

In the light of the above stated circumstances, Akida has appealed to the government to include all the staff of the LPG distributors as frontline list for Covid vaccination within 13 days. It further threatened to suspend all public services if the government fails to comply with its demand.