Bodies in Thoubal say MU and Assembly Secretariat orders discriminatory
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, July 27 2020: Meira Paibi bodies of Thoubal, Thoubal River Conservation Committee have condemned the prohibitory orders issued by Manipur University and Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat, specifically for the people of Thoubal district amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Thoubal River Conservation Committee, in a press release, maintained that the orders issued by Manipur University on July 21 and Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat on July 22 when the State is reeling under immense hardship due to the COVID-19 are discriminatory and inhumane.

The orders have forced people of Thoubal to face unnecessary harassment during essential movements and deny admission to hospitals and clinics for emergency treatments which had even led to the death of two Thoubal district residents, said the committee while terming the orders as 'unacceptable'.

One Yumnam Nilakanta of Thoubal Kiyam Siphai, succumbed to a liver ailment after he was denied admission to a private clinic in Imphal on July 24 on the ground that he was from Thoubal.

In another fateful incident, Mohd Iqbal from Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai died on July 25 as he was denied admission to a private hospital and then RIMS after being referred by JNIMS.

Maintaining that similar more incidents are likely to surface in coming days, the committee questioned how far the orders will succeed in overcoming the spread of the contagion.

If the concerned department is sure that there is no hint of community transmission yet in the Thoubal district, why were the orders which subjected the people of Thoubal to suffer were issued, asked the committee.

Prof W Chandrababu, Registrar, Manipur University and M Ramani Devi, Secretary, Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat should clarify and publicly apologize for issuing such unjust and narrow-minded orders that have caused many inconveniences to the people of Thoubal district, demanded the committee.

Meanwhile, the Social Service And Welfare Association Thoubal Wangmataba Sorok Makha (SSAWA) has urged all concerned to revoke the orders which prohibit entry of Thoubal district residents to various departments and at Manipur University in wake of the local transmission in Thoubal district.

SSAWA expressed that such orders have caused many inconveniences and even led to the death of two individuals whose lives could have been saved had they been given required treatments.

Praying that such ugly incidents don't occur in future, SSAWA appealed to clinics and hospitals in Imphal to ensure admission and treatment of persons from the district who require medical attention.

In the meantime, Thoubal District Khunai Kanba Lup, Thoubal Wangmataba Sorok Makha Meira Paibi Lup, Women Development Waithou Meira Paibi, Thoubal Okram Leikai Chaokhat Lup, Thoubal Khunou Apunba Meira Paibi lup and Women Association for Development Kiyam Siphai have convened a joint meeting to discuss the 'ugly development' today.

The Meira Paibi bodies maintained that the orders are prejudicial as staff, students are not allowed to attend respective offices, workplaces and Manipur University and at the same time patients are denied treatments and medical facilities.

Due to the orders, even pregnant women are asked to produce COVID-19 test certificates, decry the women bodies, warning that unwanted incidents may arise if such orders are not revoked at the earliest.

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