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Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 8 (EMN): Nagaland House in New Delhi has been handing over relief rations and essential commodities to people from Nagaland who are stranded in Delhi because of the lockdown initiated to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19). Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had sanctioned INR 2, 00,000 from the CM Relief Fund to Nagaland House for exigency expenses to combat Covid-19.
Kethosituo Sekhose, deputy resident commissioner for Nagaland House, New Delhi, on Wednesday informed Eastern Mirror over phone it has received many "distress calls" from people of Nagaland staying in the national capital.
He apprised that with the help of various tribal Naga student bodies in Delhi and tribal units, Nagaland House is providing essential items like rice, dal, oil, onion, potato to the needy in different parts of Delhi. The items were delivered through staff from Nagaland House and also agencies and student volunteers in Delhi. However, individuals with genuine reasons are only entitled for the facility, he informed.
Sekhose mentioned that in order to cater to the needs of the deprived people, the job of delivering goods is also distributed between Nagaland House and Naga Students' Union Delhi (NSUD). He said NSUD was also receiving many distress calls as much as Nagaland House. He also lauded various tribal student bodies of Nagaland that "are going beyond their call of duty" in extending support to the fellow Nagas in Delhi. The students have also extended help to many people from their own capacity.
Apart from getting such "distress calls" from people, who are in need of food items, Nagaland House also received calls from patients seeking help on health issues. For this, Dr. Hentok Phom, senior medical officer who is attached to Nagaland House, was said to be dealing with their problems while giving them medical care.
The deputy resident commissioner stated that many private hospitals have also been assisting in providing free ambulance services for the needy patients to the health centres as other vehicles are restricted to ply due to the lockdown. "So far, we are able to help six patients with the ambulance service," he added.
He also acknowledged many junior and resident doctors from Nagaland, who have been helping patients who seek help.
When asked how long Nagaland House has been involved in reaching out to the needy, Sekhose said that they have been distributing relief materials since their rescue operation started on March 22, the day when Janta Curfew was observed."
A total of 13 Nagas, including one from Goa, two from Jaipur, and 10 from Haryana were stranded in Delhi since the nationwide lockdown was imposed.
'Since the rescue operation started, we have been helping these 13 people, we let them stay here in Nagaland House; provide them shelter and food everyday,' Sekhose stated.
When queried about Nagas who are unable to pay house rent due to the lockdown, he informed that both central and Delhi governments have ordered all the landlords in Delhi not to take any rent from the tenants for one month. He termed the move from the government as a "very big help for our people."
On Wednesday, many of the staff in Nagaland House were busy packing fresh batch of Covid-19 medical supplies, which will be airlifted to Nagaland soon, it was informed.
So far, three loads of medical supplies have been airlifted to Nagaland through Indian Air Force aircrafts and one through Air India.