Kohima citizens want clarity in SOPs

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 20 (EMN): The changes in the directives issued by the Kohima district administration are supposedly confusing citizens while new orders are not reaching to the nooks and corners of the district.

As per the directive from the High Powered Committee (HPC) during their last meeting, the district task forces were asked to issue additional relaxations after considering the ground reality of their own jurisdiction.

However, there appears to be a communication gap as many are still unfamiliar with the new instructions, more so because the information does not reach them.

“The general public are confused with the state SOP and the SOP which is to be decided by the district task forces as it varies from district to district,” observed a citizen while speaking to Eastern Mirror on Sunday evening.

“The administration is also lacking the responsibility of announcing such directives through the public addressing system,” he said, adding, “You cannot expect every section of people in the society to listen to radio, read newspapers or browse through the internet to avail information issued by the government”.

“The district administration should be responsible to educate the people on the number of SOPs or directives issued from time to time with the extension of the lockdown which should have been publicised through PA system,” he shared.

“The authority concerned is not even bothered enough to announce in every locality because of which people are confused,” he asserted, reiterating that changes in the SOP or directives given by the district administration are not reaching the general public.

“They (authority) are supposed to go to every colony and make announcements,” he said.

Meanwhile, another citizen also observed that the new directives are “very confusing” as such orders are issued one after the other. “The authority should properly decide and examine before giving out such an order,” she said.

She also opined that for many who are not familiar with the internet, changing of directives repeatedly will only lead to more confusion.

“Issuing an order yesterday, one today and another tomorrow with new changes will only invite confusion,” she said, suggesting that “it is better to give one concrete instruction for at least a month”.

The district administration had issued additional directives on June 16, 17 and the 18th following the announcement of the extension of lockdown to June 30.

Meanwhile, the public addressing system in Kohima which is carried by the district administration does not reach the general public.

The public announcement made from the rooftop of the deputy commissioner’s complex does not reach the majority of the wards in Kohima except those citizens who live nearby.

“The sound is not audible from my colony; I only hear murmuring instead of announcement,” a woman said.

It was learnt that the last announcement by the district administration through its PA system was made during the containment period in Kohima following a surge in Covid-19 positive cases.