Dimapur, Aug. 23 (EMN): Peren civil society organisations (CSOs) have demanded the high power committee, government of Nagaland, to immediately replace the minister-in- charge for Peren district, Temjen Imna Along, minister for Higher and Technical Education and Tribal Affairs.
A statement issued on Sunday stated that the district wants an ‘efficient and better concerned minister’ for effective service delivery to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
It stated that failing to address the matter, the organisations shall be compelled to take react with non-cooperation against the government, till their demand is fulfilled and that the state government shall be held responsible for any consequential occurrence.
"The overall view of Peren district social scenario is depicting a down trend unlike the rest of the districts of Nagaland. The civil society organisations in its wide consultations with the public have endorsed Lamhai Youth Organisation and Rongmei Naga Youth Organisation Peren district to apprise the govt. of Nagaland of the Covid-19 pandemic related issues and situation in the district," it stated.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic with the coming of returnees to the state, the government promptly took up measures to contain the virus by delegating minister in-charge for every district in the state to look after health care and affairs of every citizen and public in the respective districts. However, it said that the minister-in-charge for the district "remain cool, slow and silent when the district was staggering and upsetting with the sending of a positive along with the 16 negative returnees to Peren district."
‘There was public grunt and grumbling over the blunder and careless attitude on the part of the district-in-charge in which the deputy commissioner of the district was pressurised to take up measure to address the issue but to no avail as the district-in-charge remained indifferent to the matter,’ it stated.
The minister in-charge not only neglected his responsibility but also failed to fulfill his commitments made to the people during his visit to the district, it alleged.
"He promised for immediate repairing of Tening Primary Health Centre and immediate up-grading of Jalukie Community Health Centre to 100- bedded Covid hospital but all his sweet promises taste sour and went void," it added.
"Putting the life of the people at risk during this wee hour and situation and helplessly combating the dreaded disease, he was absent from the scene and escaping his responsibility as minister in-charge for the district. The fact is demeaning the national mission and objectives in combating the dreaded pandemic. As the results, there were public agitations, demanding for immediate action and attention on the part of the district administration by CSOs for effective intervening service delivery. However, not a concern or the face of the responsible district-in-charge appeared in the given pandemic scenario. All along the struggle, it was the effort and afford of some of the civil officials and civic public leaders that has been in the front risked line to fight and contain the spread of the pandemic in the district so far," the statement read.
The government's intervention and assistance made so far could not suffice the needed expenses; therefore, CSOs came out contributing all possible help to the returnees for their safe and healthy stay in the respective allotted quarantined centres, it said.
It also stated that despite approaches and protests to redress the alarming issues, the government still fails to heed the failing area.
The subject matter, it said is life or death issues, which the government and citizens should take maximum seriousness.
The CSOs further appealed to the political parties to co-operate and jointly focus in fighting the Covid-19, putting aside party political interests and work together in the interest of the public.