Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) has expressed concern over the plight of Nagas stranded outside and appealed to the state government to have “an alternative plan” for them.
In a representation submitted to the chief minister through the deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur, the CNSA president Himato Yeptho and general secretary Lipemo M Tsopoe said that most of the stranded Nagas, who were working in unrecognized sectors, have not received salaries since February/March 2020.
Stating that agencies and employers were not willing to pay their dues till normalcy returns, the CNSA stated that the future was uncertain for most of them as it was unpredictable when normalcy would return. Stating that those who opted to stay back also cannot sustain on Rs.10,000, the association has urged the state government to have “an alternative plan” for them.
CNSA stated that if the citizens were not evacuated in time many could perish out of starvation and not the disease. CNSA has appealed to the chief minister to intervene and take early action.
Further, stating that the state government had “not been able to take decisions in time” due to vacuum in the bureaucracy, CNSA suggested the state government to “call back few able retired bureaucrats to help and assist the government till such time normalcy returns.”
273 stranded citizens return on May 20
Altogether 273 stranded citizens from various states arrived Dimapur on May 20 by various means of transport. According to DIPR report, 122 returned from Delhi by special train, by bus– 129 from Guwahati and 15 from Sikkim and private vehicles– six from Kolkata and one from Guwahati.
Empowered Committee Dimapur control room informed that a total of 1672 stranded citizens have reached the state so far.