Need constituency COVID-19 committee: GCCM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 16, 2020

The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) on Friday suggested the need to constitute a constituency COVID-19 committee to assist the government in quarantining returnees and in the fight against the spread of coronavirus in the state.

In a letter to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, GCCM Chairman John F Kharshiing said that Manipur government is quarantining all returnees as a mandatory and it appears they have one individual who had tested covid-19 positive yesterday and who and has been transferred to the Covid-19 designated hospital.

He said this detection and effective containment has been possible as the Manipur government quarantined all the returnees for 14 days.

Kharshiing said similarly if Meghalaya government can also adopt the same policy as it is not yet late given that a number institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, churches and their assets, hotels, play grounds etc are available and where some of the Dorbar Shnong have facilitated setting up of the community quarantine center while some are only verifying the quarantine space available in the individual place of residence. 

“A coordinated effort is required and in this regard we would like to suggest that a “Constituency Covid19 Committee”  be constituted at the earliest to be  chaired by respective MLAs and to include the MDCs the traditional heads (Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Wahadar, Doloi, Nokma, Village Chiefs) within the 60 MLA Constituencies to help in the facilitation and support to the community quarantine centers through their respective MLA & MDC schemes this will be most helpful in coordinating inputs especially relating to the returnees and to building confidence and awareness between the various agencies at the village, C&RD Block, District and State Level Committees,” he stated in the letter.

He further added that this step is necessary in the long term as latest reports and indication from WHO scientist suggest that containing coronavirus could take 4 – 5 years as the vaccine being developed currently may not be a guarantee.