Dimapur authorities to prosecute areas, villages obstructing front line workers, essentials

Dimapur, April 21 (EMN): The Dimapur administration will prosecute, or 'register cases' against colonies and villages that are obstructing the movement of front line workers or essential services providers.

The deputy commissioner of Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi, convened a meeting of the Dimapur district task force members on April 20 in Dimapur, to discuss the matter, among others, updates stated.

The department of Information and Public Relations (IPR) gave a report on Tuesday offering details about the administrative authority’s meeting.

The administration expressed serious concern at the continued barring of entry or exit of people working ‘in the frontline’ or those providing essential services, by several colonies or villages.

This obstruction by the areas or villages continues in spite of repeated appeals made by the district administration, the IPR stated.

The administration warned of strict action against those responsible. Cases will be registered against those obstructing movement of the front line workers.

Workers are asked to report such instances, the IPR stated. 

Village, community leaders told to educate people  

Reminding that the social organisations have significant roles to play during such situations, Anoop Khinchi appealed to the NGOs, GBs/village councils to sensitise and educate the people in their respective colony or village, the IPR stated.  

"Instead of people guarding the village/colonies in groups, it is always better to stay at home and maintain social distance and be safe,” the IPR quoted the deputy commissioner as having advised the communities.

Medical and health officials also expressed similar sentiments. Officials from the Dimapur chief medical office (CMO) expressed concern that medical workers are being barred by villages and colonies.

'As Dimapur district hospital has been converted into Covid-19 hospital, patients with other health problems have to depend on the private hospitals. However, private hospitals are also finding it hard to function as their workers are facing movement problems.'

'If this continues, private hospitals will be bound to close down. Then, what will happen to the other patients,” an official from the Dimapur CMO, unnamed in the IPR report, was stated to have lamented.

The Covid-19 is a new disease. For this matter, the members felt that the people need to be educated more in order to remove apprehensions about it, and matters such as burial in case of death of Covid-19 patients, the IPR stated.  

“In this regard, CMO Dimapur explained the protocol of burial of such cases to the members so that people can be educated on this issue. CMO clarified that dead bodies after bring disinfected by the medical team can be taken by the relatives for burial or cremation,” the IPR stated.

“The only restriction is that the dead body should not be touched by the family members. Once all  burial protocols are followed, there is nothing to worry,” CMO informed.

Wholesale system to continue

In other matters, the district authority has decided that the wholesale system will continue till further orders.

The deputy commissioner has expressed satisfaction at the way the lockdown is being enforced in Dimapur. He said all precautionary measures are being taken to ensure that the coronavirus pandemic would be prevented from entering the state.

With cooperation from all the sections of the society, the Covid-19 can be defeated, Anoop maintained, according to the IPR’s updates.