Contending that the finance department’s claim of having spent Rs 245.44 crore was a big money for a small State like Nagaland with only 12 districts, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has urged the Health & Family Welfare department to substantiate the claim and let the people know district-wise utilisation, indicating work and supplies.
NPCC president K Therie in a press release insisted that data on how many hospitals were equipped with Covid beds, oxygen, ICU and ventilator facilities and how many hospitals were identified as non-Covid hospitals should also be made available.
Further, he said public should also know how many quarantine centres were there and whether Covid beds and treatment were free or not, including at designated private hospitals and CIHSR. He also wanted to know whether NHAK Kohima was still charging for ICU beds.
Demanding that people should be safe with enough facilities and there should be delivery of 100% free vaccines urgently, free medication and rations for all, Therie stressed that public funds should be spent with transparency to secure lives, and not on expensive infrastructure to profit.
Pointing out that Rs 30 crore spent could even provide infrastructure for a medical college, he called for a humanitarian approach this time.
When frontline fighters were risking their lives with no salary for months together, he termed the health & family welfare department’s clarification that it was in pipeline as far from satisfactory.
“If one is drawing salary monthly, one cannot wait even till the second week. There is no moral right to withhold salary even for one day, particularly for frontline employees who are serving 24 hrs,” he emphasised.
Congratulating the brave frontline fighters, Therie said he was so happy to read a statement from a nurse who said, “If we do not fight, who will fight, I am here to fight”. He stressed that fear was not the answer to the pandemic and asked people to put their faith in Jesus. “May the Almighty God protect and bless you all,” he added.
An honest statement from Health & Family Welfare Department for each district is what I want in the interests of the people. Just financial figures do not prove any benefits to the people.