Nagaland has spent INR 139 cr. on Covid-19 related activities, says Rio

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 13 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday informed that INR 139 crore has been spent on Covid-19 related activities in the state.

The total expenditure, taking both the medical and non-medical interventions towards Covid-19, comes to around INR 139 crore, out of which the state government from its own sources has spent about INR 112 crore, including around INR 3.35 crore from the chief minister's relief fund, Rio said.

He was presenting a statement during the discussion of Covid-19 pandemic situation in the state at the sixth session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly in Kohima.

The state government has spent more than INR 62 crore for improvement of medical infrastructure, equipment, manpower etc., in the fight against the pandemic. Out of INR 62 crore, the assistance received from the government of India and other sources is about INR 10 crore.

The remaining amount, around INR 52 crore, is from the state's own resources, he added.

In regard to various other non-medical interventions such as relief to stranded people, distribution of food and dry rations to migrants, needy people; preparation of quarantine centres and the entire quarantine arrangements, transport arrangements for bringing returnees, IEC activities etc., the total expenditure as of now stands at around INR 74 crore. The assistance from the government of India in this is about INR 14 crore, Rio updated.

The chief minister said that getting resources has been tough, given the overall constraints and reduction in revenue due to the pandemic and lockdown.

According to him, several measures are being taken up, such as cutting down of non-essential expenditure by 15%. The state government has also mobilised additional revenue by levying Covid cess.

“But we have done all this in the best interest of our people,” he said.

In fact, the state’s response has been much better than many other more-resourceful states and many of the initiatives have been a model for other states to follow, Rio pointed out.

The chief minister iterated that Nagaland is a revenue-deficit state and does not have enough resources. However, that has not stopped the government from doing whatever it could do to combat the Covid-19 and keep the people safe, he added.

Rio assured the people that the state government is doing all it could to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic.

He appealed to the people not to panic, or stigmatise those who are infected with the virus and the frontline workers. Further, the chief minister appealed to the people to take all necessary health precautions and follow the government advisories.

Recounting the steps taken by the state government against the Covid-19 pandemic, the chief minister said that while the preparatory measures began in January, Nagaland went into full disaster management mode from March 18, when the provisions of Disaster Management Act 2005 were invoked in the state.

Since then, frontline workers, doctors and nurses, district administrations and police, NSDMA, municipal authorities, other essential service departments have been working 24x7 to deal with multiple challenges brought on by the pandemic, he said.

The state government is working in close co-ordination with the tribe hohos, mass-based civil society organisations, church organisations and countless volunteers who are giving their invaluable services to handle the crisis, he added.

“The robust response to this challenge by our people once again proves the effectiveness of our community spirit and strength. It also gives us hope that no challenge is big enough when the people resolve to act with unity of purpose,” Rio said.

Besides creating 'sufficient testing capacities in record time', the state government has “substantially augmented the number of doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel” and has roped in private hospitals to supplement the government's effort in dealing with the crisis, Rio added.

During the session, the chief minister also launched the first issue of a bi-annual journal of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, entitled ‘The Naga Assembly Chronicles’.