Covid-19 cess initiated to support the poor, says Jacob Zhimomi

Dimapur, May 7 (EMN): Clarifying on Covid-19 cess issue raised by NGOs, PHE Minister Jacob Zhimomi said that since Nagaland has no internal revenue and dependent on GIA from the Central government, it has been initiated to support the poor, during such extraordinary times.

According to an update from the DIPR, Zhimomi was speaking at the meeting convened on Thursday at the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, with the district administration, police, medical department, Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), Western Sumi Hoho Dimapur, Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO), and Food and Civil Supplies besides the elected legislators of Dimapur district, in the conference hall of.

The meeting was called to oversee the system put in place at Dimapur district in its fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

In the meeting, Zhimomi reminded that nationwide lockdown is still on and appealed to the public to refrain from unnecessary movement in town and colonies unless urgently required for the benefit of all.

Reiterating his concern about price rise of essential commodities, he reminded the district administration and the Dimapur Municipal Council to keep track on the availability of essential commodities and also for effective regulation and monitoring of price of essential commodities.

“Nobody has to take advantage of the situation, ” he added.

Expressing satisfaction about the preparedness level in the district, he thanked to the GBs and village councils for strictly manning the border areas and also asked the district administration to continue to seal the border areas.

Sericulture, Excise and Minority Affairs Advisor Zhaleo Rio, while sharing his concern and observations dubbed Dimapur as the most vulnerable district for various reasons and expressed gratitude to all the frontline workers, administration, police, NGOs , civil societies for their participation and support in the fight against the pandemic.

Power Advisor Tovihoto, observed that irrespective of political parties, all have come together to fight Covid-19, an invisible virus and asserted that all needs to fight till the end.

Underlining the importance of social media as a strong medium for educating people, he also cautioned that it misleads people with fake information and appealed to all from misusing social media.

MLA Moatoshi Longkumer also acknowledged the efforts put in by the citizens of Dimapur by co-operating with the district administration and police in the fight against the pandemic.

Representative from the NCD reiterated their support and cooperation to the government specially Dimapur district administration.

Sharing their opinion, NCD felt that more assistance need to be given to the people stranded outside the state to ease their challenges, and to request them to stay back unless un-avoidable for the interest of the state.

Representative from CPO described the present situation as people’s war against the virus and felt that government alone will not be able to defeat.

“If Dimapur is not safe, Nagaland is not safe, and if government cannot safe Dimapur, Nagaland will not be safe” the president of CPO maintained.

The meeting also discussed for creating more awareness amongst the people for maintaining social distance.

Besides others, DC Dimapur, and CP Dimapur also spoke in the meeting.