For Manipur, it is not COVID-19 alone
- Imphal Times Editorial :: May 07 2020 -

2 more important issues directly related to its containment remain as the greatest challenges

The world is still living in fear as the unseen killer virus keeps on invading the human race.

Many experts from across the world including the leaders of the World Health Organisation (WHO) are working hard to protect the people from being victims of the dreaded killer virus.

With the communication tools reaching its peak and types of equipment available to almost all the people across the globe, almost all people now know what has been happening around the world.

The sad part is that instead of working out to unite the world leaders to jointly counter the invisible invader, leaders of the powerful countries started blame games with dozens of conspiracy theories to the origin of the virus.

Yes, Wuhan of China is stated to the origin of the virus. And it is a fact that one among the fastest growing city – Wuhan suffered a lot at the time when the COVID-19 pandemic spread.

As recorded by the WHO, the dreaded virus which the President of the United States called the “Chinese Virus” today killed 258,394 people across the world.

When the number of death in China, where the killer virus originated is around 4,633, the total number of people killed by the invisible virus in the United States today reaches 72,275.

The number of fatal cases in Spain has reached 25,613 and in Italy, the UK, France, and Germany the number of fatalities due to the virus is -29,315, 29,427, 25,531, and 6,993 respectively.

Almost all countries around the world are affected by the virus.

According to WHO COVID-19 trackers record India, which have the 2nd largest population in the world with over 80% of the people illiterate, the number of the positive case reported by WHO is 49,436.

Of this 14,183 have been reported recovered and 1,695 death.

Among the Indian states, the Eight states in the North-Eastern region remain as the most secure state with not many reports until March middle week.

For Manipur, it was due to the initial take-up by the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh that stringent measures have started taken up to prevent the spreading of the virus in the state since January 18, 2020.

That was the time that the Virus started hitting the Wuhan City of China and started spreading across the globe.

Well, Manipur is a COVID-Free state today with no report of fresh COVID-19 positive cases.

Even though people know that it is the seriously of the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and his cabinet colleague that makes it possible to relieve the people of the state, it is the Health workers that make things possible.

Their advisory, dedication in providing health care services are all associated to make the state free from the COVID-19 invasion. Besides, it was also the state police force that makes the government plan to protect the people from COVID -19 becomes true.

Saying so, the battle against the unseen virus is not over. For the frontline health workers, they still have to remain alert until a medicine to cure the COVID-19 is invented.

Security forces have to follow certain guidelines formulated by the district administration at the advice of the Government. To highly develop countries Scientist are working round the clock to find a cure for the deadly disease caused by the Nobel Coronavirus.

As for India, particularly for the state of Manipur, even though all measures being taken up is to break the chain of the COVID-19 Pandemic spread among the people of the state.

Two more important challenges are being faced, though directly related to the containment of the Nobel Coronavirus.

The first was ensuring all people to get their essential food items, which got criticisms from various quarters as some people or representatives of the people have taken such initiatives – a chance to play politics.

Had there not been an effective Civil Society organization, Manipur would have witnessed the worst turn out. Besides the civil bodies many Samaritans services also made possible to the government called for a complete lockdown.

After Manipur is listed in the green zone, after the two positive patients were recovered and after no new report of Coronavirus positive case has been reported, the government had already started rolling their heads to bring those Manipuris stranded at various places of India.

There are around 50,000 Manipuris including all communities and many are studying, working, or onboard for treatment at Coronavirus Red zone area.

It was a blessing that the first 84 people stranded at Guwahati Manipur Bhavan, who were brought back under the initiative of the government of Manipur were all tested negative of COVID-19. The government is planning to deport back more from other cities like Delhi, Maharastra, etc.

It is no wrong that almost all the 50 thousand Manipuri people have their own homes and need to be brought back. Bringing them at the same moment will create chaos as we have already seen the government’s inability to tackle such kind of situation.

One wonders what made the Chief Minister felt that handing of such critical situation to MLAs will help to protect the people from those sons and daughters of this soil (if in case just one of them is found positive).

Questions here wanted to raise are – How prepared is the government to accommodate all those whom the government is planning to deport.

If there is no sufficient arrangement what is the plan that the government is preparing to tackle such a situation.

District administrators are the best to deal with such a situation (Provided that no political pressures are given to them while doing their service).

MLAs have already proved their attitude at the time of distributing rice to the public that the government issued.

Having said so the role of the CSOs should be acknowledged and what the Chief Minister of Manipur should remember is that engagement of CSOs leaders both from Hill and Plain will make Manipur free from Coronavirus.

But this too is skeptical if those guarding both state and international boundaries are not sincere. The suggestion is made with full faith to the government in sealing the boundary of the state.