Mukul urges govt to provide relief to affected people due to COVID-19 outbreak

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 26, 2020

 Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has asked the state government to provide immediate relief to the affected people especially the most vulnerable group of the society in the state in view of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The state government need to immediately comply with all the provisions under clause (h) of section 39 of NDMA, 2005 to make resources available to the district disaster management authorities (DDMAs)/district authorities under district disaster mitigation fund to take up immediate general relief to the affected people across the state keeping mind the most vulnerable group of the society which includes- the daily wage labourers, single mothers, orphans, elderly people without dependents, etc,” Mukul said in a letter to the chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday.

He said the coronavirus outbreak has been announced as “notified disaster” by Government of India and thus invoking the provisions of National Disaster Management Act (NDMA), 2005.

He said since the complete lockdown across the country has brought all activities to standstill thereby sudden disruption of all economic activities.

“…various measures as per the provision of the NDMA 2005 need to be put in place immediately and compliance from all concerned thereof is required,” the leader of opposition added.

Mukul, who is also the former chief minister, suggested the need for the state government to review the situation arising out of overcrowding in the markets in Shillong, Tura, Ampati and other places across the state.

“I firmly believe that the measures put in place with the advisories issued by the government and the implementation thereof requires urgent review…,” he said.

Suggesting few measures to prevent panic buying and overcrowding, the Congress leader said dedicated grocery shops, retailers, or doorsteps delivery, supply chain specific to respective neighbourhood/localities be created by the delegated officers in consultation with the grocery shop owners, local retailers, entrepreneurs and the local authorities (Rangbah shnongs, headmen, development committees etc).

He also suggested similar measures for the supply of vegetables & fruits, which according to him are important nutritional requirements for physical well-being and strong immune system. He said doorsteps delivery can be organized for supply of baby food, milk, eggs and meat.

Meanwhile, the former chief minister also urges the state government to provide support for residents of Meghalaya who are stranded outside the state.

“Number of residents of the state are stranded in other parts of the country. There is an urgent need to provide emergency and dedicated numbers for continuous communication, particularly in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and other metros and provided them with immediate support for check-up, treatment and relief wherever needed,” he said.

Mukul said that this is necessary as he has received inputs that residents stranded in Delhi, who have developed symptoms and taken to Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi were only subjected to check up and was not admitted while the hospital authorities failed to provide ambulance or other means of transport for the patient to return home.

He requested the government to take the measures as suggestions.

“With integrated and comprehensive measures in place, complimented by the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Plan 2016 with adequate resources made available to district administrations and continuous review with stringent monitoring at the level of the Chief Secretary as the ex-officio chairman of the state executive committee and at the level of the State Disaster Management Authority of which you are ex-officio Chairman and the collective resolve and commitment of all friends, who are at the frontline and the people as a whole, I am of firm belief that the state, along with the nation as a whole, shall be able to overcome this unprecendented challenge,” the leader of opposition stated.