Dimapur, March 24 (EMN): As Nagaland intensifies the fight against the novel
coronavirus (Covid-19), Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has appealed
to all political parties to come together and save the people from the global
pandemic. It stated that as ‘fear and panic has gripped people with the start
of lockdown, the plight of those especially from least privileged sections of
the society are increasing day by day’.
In a press release issued on Tuesday,
the Congress has urged the “PDA government to be truthful to the people and
understand the plight of those waging battle against Covid-19 especially
healthcare workers who are facing the brunt of deep neglect.”
“Lack of good health infrastructure and
the situation where health care workers are put to work without much protective
gears and equipments is a cause for serious concern. It is also learnt that
monthly salaries of nurses employed on contract basis are still pending which
is appalling. Moreover, thousands of daily wage earners and small scale
business owners are staring at bleak times,” the press release read.
The NPCC has suggested several action
plans, which it said, were to substantiate the government's effort in
containing the Covid-19:
- Enforce total lockdown in urban areas across the state with exemption only to essential goods and services; direct village/colony councils to prevent unnecessary movements within respective jurisdiction; village councils of villages located near the porous boundary of neighbouring states must be empowered to check movement of people in the absence of state police personnel.
- The message of “Stay Home Stay Safe” along with basic hygiene routine must percolate down to lowest level, understood and followed by all people.
- Order people with recent travel history to affected countries to report and get tested or face punishment.
- Urge government of India to set up Covid-19 testing laboratory with experts on urgent basis in Nagaland.
- Priority procurement of medical equipments to fully arm healthcare workers and refurbish existing medical infrastructure on war footing especially quarantine facilities rather than indulge in adhoc arrangements outside existing medical facilities.
- Apart from healthcare workers, police and other emergency/essential service workers have to be fully protected with face mask and clothing gear that meets prescribed requirements. Special monetary allowance must be granted to those working in frontline against Covid-19. * During lockdown period, free rations as per scale must be issued to every deserving household through existing delivery mechanism.
- Certain fixed amount must be sanctioned to daily wage earners and workers who are facing the brunt of lockdown.
