Manipur CM urges religious leaders to play proactive role

 Our Correspondent
Imphal, June 2 (EMN): In an effort to create more awareness about Covid-19 among the masses, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday chaired an interaction with leaders of different religious organisations at the chief minister’s secretariat in Imphal.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister stated that the state government has been putting all possible efforts to ensure that nobody dies of Covid-19 in the state due to lack of medicine, oxygen, equipment, staff and other resources.

‘The government is also working hard to ensure that standard operating procedures (SOPs) are followed correctly and that as much knowledge as possible is spread about the pandemic,’ he said.

As such, the meeting had been called considering the roles that religious organisations and leaders can play in raising public awareness, he contended.

Maintaining that the religious leaders would be able to educate the masses not only on the importance of following the SOPs but also on the need for early detection of the disease through rapid testing and early treatment through vaccination, he observed that such awareness could be spread through churches, mosques, and temples.

Meanwhile, in a joint effort to combat the pandemic, it was decided in the meeting that religious bodies and leaders should take proactive roles in spreading awareness.

Further, a joint prayer of all religions was called at the western gate of Kangla at 10 am on June 7 to seek divine intervention to end Covid-19 and save everybody from the pandemic

Later in a tweet, Biren Singh wrote, “I had a fruitful discussion with religious leaders from major communities of Manipur on how the leaders can play a major role in sensitising the public about the prevailing Covid pandemic. Also decided to hold a joint prayer of all communities on 7th June at Kangla Western Gate”. Minister for Public Health Engineering, L Dikho, Minister of Consumers Affairs Food and Public Distribution, Th Satyabrata, Rajya Sabha MP, Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba, representatives from All Manipur Christian Organization, Sanamahi Temple Board, All Manipur Catholic Union, Govindajee Temple Board, Diocesan Social Service Society, Jamait-Ul-Ulama and other religious organisations of Islam faith attended the interaction session.