TSA urges CM to take action against officials
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 21 2020:
Alleging poor management in running of Institutional quarantine centre (IQC) opened at Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Gamnom Saparmaina for Saitu Assembly Constituency in Kangpokpi district, Thadou Students' Association (TSA) has urged the Chief Minister N Biren Singh to initiate stern action against the authority/officials concerned for 'failing to handle the returnees at the said ICQ as per standard operating procedure (SOP) laid down by the Government.
In this regard, a press release issued by TSA GHQ said that nine stranded Manipuris from Hyderabad checked into the EMRS IQC after their arrival to Kangpokpi DHQ screening centre via Jiribam at about 11 pm on May 19 .
One the way to the quarantine centre, one sub-inspector, along with his escort belonging to Gamnom Saparmaina Police Station stopped the bus at Koubru Laikha and followed the bus in which the stranded people of Saitu and Saikul ACs were headed for EMRS after dropping 13 stranded people of Kangpokpi AC at BIET Centre, Leikop, it said adding that on reaching the IQC there were only five police personnel who did not have any idea about the rooms, guidelines, rules, etc., of the quarantine centre.
Barring the police, four members of the returnees' families and the TSA secretary-general, there was none to receive or guide the individuals who reached the facility for the mandatory quarantining, TSA added.
Saying that on seeing the situation, TSA secretary-general Michael Lamjathang Haokip tried to alert the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kangpokpi, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kangpokpi and the Duty Magistrate for COVID-19 at Thomas Ground with the hope that the shortcomings would be promptly addressed to, TSA alleged that neither the DC Kangpokpi nor the SDO Saitu received the calls.
Pointing out that the inmates shared common toilets and there is no separate block/section for boys and girls, TSA asserted that there was no one to look after the inmates.
This shows the poor management of the IQC at EMRS Gamnom-Saparmaina and indicates a sign of sheer negligence of the stranded people coming from Red Zone, who are in high risk of possessing COVID-19 by the authority, it alleged and mentioned that ever since the beginning of lockdown, the District Magistrate had verbally entrusted the TSA team to oversee the functioning of the institutional quarantine centre (IQC) at EMRS wherein it had reported repeatedly to the authority concerned that the IQC lacks proper management.
Police personnel stationed at the IQC also complaint of a substantial number of SDM staffers showing up at the centre as and only when the SDM comes for inspection, TSA claimed and cautioned that failure to address the lapses in the quarantine centre will only serve as an invitation for agitation from the student bodies.