Dimapur, May 10 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature Party on Monday expressed disappointment at the way the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government is handling the ever-rising Covid-19 cases in the state, saying that the only option left to protect the people is by imposing a total lockdown in Dimapur and Kohima districts.
A press communiqué issued by the spokesperson of NPF Legislature Party claimed the state government seemed “to have learnt nothing from the first wave” last year and that it should not parrot the excuse “that other developed nations and Indian States are also finding it difficult to contain this virus”.
“Looking at the grim state of affairs in the State, the NPF Legislature Party fears that the people of the State will soon be faced with a huge challenge to even provide basic amenities for the Covid19 patients. Taking the case of Dimapur, which has the highest Covid cases, it has two designated Covid Hospitals which is not sufficient to meet the demand for beds with uninterrupted oxygen supply for patients who require hospitalisation. What could be the fate of other district Covid hospitals?” it asked.
Meanwhile, the party lauded the efforts of the central government in providing the equipment for setting up of oxygen generating plants in the state and the Indian Air Force for assisting in airlifting it to the State.
“With the hope that the supply of oxygen would be greatly augmented once these plants are set up, it is pertinent to designate more hospitals for taking care of the Covid patients and also improve the infrastructure at a greater pace,” it stated.
However, the NPF claimed that “there is still no significant improvement in the healthcare facilities in the State” despite funds being sanctioned “magnanimously” by the Central government in the name of Covid.
“This government seems to find enthusiasm only in attaining more personal wealth siphoning off funds and withdrawing from the State exchequer in the guise of additional funds for development thus rapidly increasing the burden of fiscal deficit in the State,” the party alleged in its statement, adding that the government “should be more proactive to tend to the needs and listen to the cries of the people rather than amassing wealth” during trying times such as this.
It also stated that “the vaccination drive though not mandatory should be immediately carried out for free as announced by the chief minister of the State”.
“There was public hue and cry against Covid cess on petrol and diesel and 15% pro rata cut in 2020-21. The same is the case with 20% pro rata cut in 2021-22 on all non-development funds for use in the fight against Covid. The amount collected and the end-result on utilisation of such revenue generated at the cost of the common men is kept hidden,” it stated, adding that it is ‘against the spirit of transparency and accountability’.
“Taking all seriousness of the impending third wave which is likely to be worse than what we have experienced thus far, we call upon the present dispensation to ramp up the required infrastructures in all the district designated Covid hospitals,” it continued.