The State Institute of Health & Family Welfare (SIHFW) Centre at Chümoukedima has been converted into an ‘observation centre’ to house Naga students and citizens of Nagaland who are currently stranded in other states whose return was expected soon.
Head of Special Committee COVID-19, Dimapur, Y Kikheto Sema, on April 22, inspected State Institute of Health and Family Welfare (SIHFW), talked addressed mediapersons in presence of government officials, medical team and officials of Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT).
Kikheto informed that SIHFW would be able to provide shelter to around 150 people, and if needed, provisions for 50 more could be added.
Kikheto said many Naga youths outside have lost their jobs and were stranded due to the ongoing lockdown for COVID-19 and faced severe difficulties.
He said most of them were students including those who had gone for medical treatment and so it was the responsibility of the state government and the community as a whole to take care of them instead of ignoring their plight.
Kikheto said those who are to be housed in the observation centre have been under lockdown for over 30 days so colony residents near the centre need not be apprehensive about infection from COVID-19.
If at all there were any who showed symptoms, then such persons would be shifted to another secure location.
Also speaking on the occasion, President, NTUCT, Lhousito, felt that it was a time when all sections of society came together and help one another. He also urged upon the government to add as many as possible in the centre if needed.
Lhousito also said the government should act directly on such matters and need not seek any permission to provide such services in its own property.
Secretary Food & Civil Supply, Hoje Konyak, in a brief address said those societies who depend wholly on government help cannot go against it. He also said it was also a time to find fault with each other but to help one another. The team also visited the relief camp set up at new DC complex, Chümoukedima where 286 inmates have been provided shelter and food since April 17.
CDPO, Bonathung Ngullie, informed that the inmates came from many parts of the country such as- Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, Bangalore, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, etc.. He said the majority were daily wage earners, labours, cooks, beggars, mechanics and farmers.
It was also learnt that since day one, group from the Bengali community have been taking care of cooking. Some of the inmates told this Reporter that they were very happy and contented with the way the state government has been helping them during this lockdown.
A group of 14 people from Mariani, at the relief camp expressed deep gratitude for food and shelter provided to them. Around 11 people from Bihar, who were also inmates, expressed their gratitude to state government.
They said that after reaching their home state, they will tell about the humanitarian works carried out by Nagas.
CDPO said inmates are being provided two meals a day (lunch and dinner) including afternoon tea with biscuits everyday. . He also said the inmates were also given sports items to play football and volleyball.
Kikheto further urged the inmates to keep the surrounding clean and also to carry out physical exercise in order to keep them physically and mentally fit.