MPCC decries 'ban' on distribution of relief materials
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 16 2020: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has demanded immediate withdrawal of the Government order that cancelled all curfew passes and "banned" distribution of relief materials by individuals/organisations amidst the COVID-19 lockdown.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bahavan, here today, MPCC media panellist and retired bureaucrat Oinam Nabakishore charged that the office memorandum of the Chief Secretary which cancelled all curfew passes shows that the Government 'doesn't believe' in the District Magistrates who issued the passes.

It may be noted that the office memorandum issued by Chief Secretary, Dr J Suresh Babu today had cancelled all curfew passes citing misuse of the same and "multifarious types of passes being issued by various offices at district level" .

The office memorandum had said that, in respect of Imphal East and Imphal West districts, a counter to receive applications for curfew pass would be made operational at the Old Secretariat gate.

MPCC decries 'ban' on distribution of relief materials

All applications for curfew passes may be addressed to Deputy Secretary (Home) and all applicants should indicate their mobile numbers where the curfew pass can be sent electronically.

It had said that no physical pass will be issued and applicants should submit their applications at least one day in advance.

Curfew pass will be issued to individuals and no bulk passes will be issued.

All Deputy Commissioners except that of Imphal West and Imphal East may issue curfew passes in respect of their jurisdiction and the movement shall be limited within their district.

Further, people or organisation who desire to distribute essential commodities to people may donate the materials to the "food bank" opened by the Deputy Commissioner concerned, said the office memorandum.

Stating that the curfew passes are essential and necessary to media persons and those engaged in essential services during the curfew/lockdown due to coronavirus, Nabakishore asserted that the Government is questioning the credibility and functioning of the District Magistrates by issuing the office memorandum.

He also decried the procedure laid down in the office memorandum for procuring curfew pass in respect of Imphal East and Imphal West districts.

Even though the office memorandum avoided using the term "ban" in respect of distribution of relief materials to the people, the direction to donate the aids to 'food bank' shows 'authoritarian' nature.

Even if an organisation does donate the materials to the food bank, it is highly questionable whether the Deputy Commissioner concerned would be able to distribute the relief materials to the people intended by the organisation.

The humanitarian services, the civil society organisations have been doing amidst the lockdown that has affected all sections of society should not be banned or stopped, he said.

As the coronavirus cases have has risen to 7 with five new active cases following exponential increase in the number of returnees, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has appealed the Government for more COVID-19 tests and enhancing daily testing capacity.

MPCC vice president, Dr Kh Ratankumar said that there is an urgent need for increasing the daily capacity of COVID-19 tests as thousands of stranded natives are coming back to the State.

The daily testing capacity of the State at present is only 370 combining testing capacity (per day) of 120 at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and 250 at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).

On the other hand, the number of people waiting to be repatriated back to Manipur from cities across the country is more than 40,000 .

The daily testing capacity of only 370 tests is not enough and as such there will be more problems if the capacity is not increased at the earliest.

The State should have the capacity of conducting at least 2,500 COVID-19 tests per day to effectively screen, test and contain the virus spread before the stranded people flood the quarantine centres, he said.

Further, the Government should strictly monitor and run the quarantine centres effectively to ensure that all safety and preventive measures are followed, he said lamenting that many have complained about poor facilities and services provided to them at the centres.

Most of the inmates complained about dirty and unhygienic toilets, bathrooms, scanty water supply and toiletries, unwashed bed-sheets, towels etc, he added.

As proper hygiene is a must to avoid this virus, the Government and health authority should ensure that the inmates are provided a neat and clean quarantine environment.

Proper care and all required and necessary facilities should be given to the inmates, he said.

Commenting on the recent arrival of 1,140 people via Shramik Special train, Ratankumar said that there is need for increasing frontline workers stationed at Jiribam Railway station to effectively and smoothly screen people.

There have been reports of many waiting for more than 6 hours for screening at the station, he said adding enough health staff should be stationed there to ease the stress and inconveniences of the staff and people.

About 46,081 natives have reportedly registered themselves at www.tengbang.in for evacuation to Manipur and as a such the State should take up all necessary steps and put in place adequate measures to screen, test and accommodate them, he said adding all should be tested for the virus and those who are found negative may be sent to home quarantine to ease the stress and congestions at the Government and community quarantine centres.

Tightly packed quarantine centres will only increase the chances of contracting and spreading the virus, he added.

In addition to increasing quarantine centres to accommodate the returnees safely, the State should also open a 24x7 helpline to assist stranded individuals, their families suffering from mental stress due to COVID-19 lockdown, he said adding "all volunteers, temporary healthcare workers, nurses and sanitary workers should be rewarded and compensated in line with PMGKY scheme.