CPI states stand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 24 2020: Sharply reacting to Government's passivity in setting up a COVID-19 dedicated hospital despite assurance and using both the RIMS and JNIMS hospital as COVID treatment facilities, Communist Party of India Manipur State Council (CPI MSC) has demanded the Government to consider the plights of the poor and focus on saving lives.

Speaking to media persons at Irabot Bhavan, BT Road, State secretary of CPI, Laishram Sotinkumar charged that the current alarming situation has emerged because of the Government's lack of consciousness and a comprehensive policy.

Expressing concern over the rapid rise in COVID-19 positive cases and the number deaths, Sotinkumar said that common people are gripped with fear and anxiety.

What is more shocking is the mass infection of doctors, nurses and other staff at JNIMS, he said while demanding a thorough probe behind such a development.

Government's policy to continue COVID-19 treatment at RIMS and JNIMS where majority of the population seek medical attention instead of setting up a dedicated hospital shows the height of senselessness, said Sotinkumar who also went on to press for setting up of a COVID hospital with not less than 500 bed capacity at the earliest.

With winter season approaching fast, experts are expressing views of a further perilous situation in the next three months and as such the pandemic is likely to get worse, he said.

He also lamented over the poor fund allocation in the Health Sector in India and Manipur in particular and hinted that such an erroneous policy now is taking it toll and putting lives of many at stake.

Saying that COVID-19 test charges at private hospitals are exceptionally high thus adding further woes to marginalised families, Sotinkumar also urged the State Government to take up necessary measures to ensure tests at fair and reasonable rates.

He also went on to say that by-elections at such a crucial junction is unreasonable and with political parties toiling hard to ensure success of their respective candidates, SOPs have been flouted in many ways.

These parties are relying on unnecessary gatherings and feasts to lure voters, he said while alleging that these by-polls are conducted only to raise the number of BJP MLAs.

CPI has already termed the by-polls as unreasonable and untimely and thus the party has not fielded any candidate, he continued while calling on the State Government to rather focus on the crisis the State is facing.

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