NEFIS submits charter of demands to PM and NE CMs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 01 2020:
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) yesterday sent "North-East people's charter of demands" to the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of the eight North East States in the wake of the rising cases of the COVID-19 in the region and ensuing restrictions on economic activities which have created a chaotic situation.
Demands such as "Release special economic package for North East region", "Open OPDs immediately" and "Provide subsidy on fertilizers to alleviate the distress of the farmers" were included in the charter, said a press release of NEFIS.
The past months have shown the Governments' failure in protecting the lives and livelihood of the people in the country especially that of the poor and labour population, it said while highlighting the plight of migrant workers who had been left jobless and homeless who have been left to starve.
Plight of many migrants as well as students from the North-Eastern States, who were stuck in cities across the country, escalated due to mismanagement of the Governments and institutional apathy, it said.
Reports of racial remarks and physical attacks targeting people from North East also surfaced during the period, it continued and decried Governments' short-sightedness in preparing and strengthening health system when there was plenty of time since the imposition of the Nationwide lockdown and cases of the contagion in the North Eastern States was relatively small.
It is imperative for Central Government and Governments in the North-East States to take immediate action and pro-active measures in the interest of the public at large, it said and further asserted that timely action on issues related to life, livelihood and liberty would help the people, especially those in the North-East, to tide over the present crisis.