Nagaland govt directed to set up helpdesks
Dimapur, November 5 (MExN): The Gauhati High Court has directed persons who have not received their travelling expenses from their work place to the State of Nagaland during the height of the pandemic, to approach the concerned District Task Force (DTF), more particularly, Kohima, Wokha and Mokokchung District Task Force so that they get the benefit.
The Court was hearing a PIL filed by Mhasikhonu Phinyo espousing the grievance of some of the migrant workers who returned to the State from their place of employment elsewhere when the pandemic-COVID-19 hit the country in 2020.
The main grievance as submitted by N Koza, counsel for the petitioner was that some of the migrant workers of the State, who returned to the State, were not reimbursed their travelling expenses as per the scheme notified by the State government and no help desks were in place in the State as per the direction of the Supreme Court in its order on June 9, 2020 and May 28, 2020.
In response to the submission of the petitioner, Keknriengulie Additional Advocate General appearing for the State of Nagaland submitted that the persons who have not received reimbursement of the expenses incurred by them for their journey back to the State from their work places can approach the District Task Force of their respective districts by producing their travel tickets and other documents in support or their claim. On doing so, the District Task Force will do the needful and they will be able to get their reimbursement, he informed.
The Additional Advocate General also submitted that a portal has been opened by the State of Nagaland Covid-19.nagaland.gov.in through which any person needing help for getting any information regarding the schemes may get the required information.
Further, he submitted that a core committee on economic affairs headed by the Development Commissioner was also formed and many people have been helped through various schemes of the Government. According to the State government’s counsel, 4542 stranded students were helped to come back with the expenses borne by the government and, 1732 persons working elsewhere were also given Rs 4000 each during the height of the pandemic. He also submitted that 223 patients who were undergoing treatment outside the State were given Rs 20,000 each and a sum of Rs 10,000 each was also given to all those who had decided to stay back at their respective work places and, under that scheme, 16,135 people availed the benefit.
Having considered the submissions and the facts and circumstances, the Kohima bench of the Gauhati HC comprising of Justice S Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema was of the view that the PIL can be disposed of with a direction that the persons who have not received their travelling expenses from their work place to the State of Nagaland during the height of the pandemic, should approach the concerned District Task Force, more particularly, Kohima, Wokha and Mokokchung District Task Force so that they get the benefit.
“We also further direct that the State Government should keep the help desk in place anywhere it is needed, if it has not been done already,” the Court stated in its order on October 22.
