Letpao assures essential items to border villages
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Chandel, April 23 2020:
YAS and Water Resources Minister Letpao Haokip yesterday assured that all persons above the age of 2 years residing within Chandel AC would be given 5 kg of rice per head during the current lockdown compelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also revealed that apart from the existing quarantine centres, he would push the Government to set up more quarantine facilities as the districts of Chandel and Tengnoupal are high-risk area because of their close proximity to the international-border.
Remote villages located along the Indo-Myanmar border and innermost parts of Chandel and Tengnoupal have been facing extreme hardship in procuring essential commodities owing to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Apart from rice distributed under NFSA and OMSS, he had arranged personally from his MLA Local Area Development and some additional fund from his salary amounting to Rs 9 lakh for distributing rice to over 50 thousand people of Chandel Assembly Constituency.
Yesterday, the Minister reached out to the remote villages of Chandel district such as Khambarol, Khengjoi, Sajik Tampak Kana Area and Sugnu Hill Area to distribute rice and other essential items.
Addressing media persons, Letpao said that the actual number of persons living in Chandel AC is two times the number of people listed in the electoral roll.
As such, the Water Resources and YAS Minister made certain arrangements so as to ensure that rice is available to each and every person of the Assembly segment free of cost.
He added that even if the lockdown is extended for a longer period of time after May 3, he would ensure availability of rice for his people free of cost always.
He also appealed that complaints should be made to him or the district administration if any individual or group is found demanding even a single paise for rice distributed at their respective localities.
At Khambarol village, Letpao met with MDC Members and chiefs of surrounding villages.
The meeting discussed about implementing more effective methods of tackling the pandemic of COVID-19.There, he assured that more quarantine centres would be set up, if necessary.
Letpao Haokip also said that the issue of shortages in terms of medical equipment and testing facilities faced by the health officials posted in the area would be taken to the notice of higher authorities and would be settled soon.
During the tour, he appealed to all the people to maintain social distancing and other necessary guidelines and to extend full support to the district administration, police and Medical Department officials.
It may be mentioned that Letpao Haokip had chaired a review meeting on how the issue of COVID-19 was being tackled in the two districts of Chandel and Tengnoupal.
The review meeting held at the Chandel DC complex on April 21 was attended by the DCs, SPs and DLOs concerned.