JSU requests govt to partially lift curfew in Jaintia Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 24, 2021

The Jaintia Students Union (JSU) has appealed to the district administrations of West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills to partially ease the curfew promulgated in the two districts due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued on Monday, JSU president Jersom Shylla said the curfew has created a very difficult situation for the general public especially those hailing from rural areas.

“Therefore, we feel that partial removal of the curfew should be considered by the government,” he said while urging the government to instead impose more stringent restrictions.

“Imposing a total curfew is also quite the opposition to the earlier decision taken by the state government and announced by the deputy chief minister that it will not impose total lockdown except to declare containment zones in areas affected by COVID-19,” he added.

He also suggested that the government should consider conducting random test in villages. “If none tested positive then these villages can be declared as COVID free villages or marked safe from COVID-19. People from such villages can then be allowed to carry on with their daily activities such as farming, constructions etc so as to be able to earn livelihood,” Shylla asserted.

The general secretary of the Union, Treiborlang R Suchen said that the government should review its decision to impose a total curfew keeping in mind that 98 per cent of West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills is mostly rural land and farming is important.

He also urged the people not to take the second wave of COVID-19 lightly by strictly adhering to protocols and advisories issued by the state government.