Be mentally prepared, Kikheto Sema appeals churches, Hohos and others

APC and Dimapur incharge for COVID 19 activities, Y Kikheto Sema addressing a co-ordination meeting of District administration, Police and Convenors of empowered Committee at Commissioner's Rest House Dimapur on May 16. (DIPR Photo)

Dimapur, May 16 (MExN): Agriculture Production Commissioner andincharge for Dimapur district for COVID-19 activities from Government level, Kikheto Sema today appealed to the Tribal Hohos, churches, Colonies, Wards and villages to be mentally prepared to accommodate “their own children/people with quarantine facilities, should the facilities arranged by the State /district administration gets exhausted.”

He made this appeal in the backdrop of return of stranded citizen from various states of India to Nagaland during a co-ordination meeting convened by him on May 16 with the District administration, police and all Convenors of the Empowered Committee for reviewing the situation to contain COVID 19 pandemic.

The meeting also discussed issues for accommodating the stranded people arriving in Nagaland, a DIPR report informed. 

With all efforts, the accommodation Committee could identify for accommodation around 3500 returnees and members decided for enhancing the capacity within few days, it said. 

Out of more than 18000 registered returnees plus many unregistered stranded persons, nearly 50 percent would be Dimapur bound and therefore accommodation would be a cause of concern, members noted at the meeting. 

The meeting decided that returnees bound for Kohima, Wokha, Zunheboto, Kiphire, Longleng, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Phek will be sent to Kohima, the report informed. 

The meeting also decided that Dimapur will host the returnees bound for Peren and Mon districts where they will be segregated and after registration with their details would be sent to their respective districts, it added.  

“From the total incoming people, Dimapur district alone will comprise 50% and with Peren and Mon  it will come to around 65 to 66%, so it will be a huge challenge for Dimapur,” the DIPR report said quoting  Sema.

On complaints regarding setting up of quarantine centres
Meanwhile, observing that several complaints were being raised by the village councils/organisations etc with regard to setting up of quarantine centres in the Government established infrastructures as well as schools and college hostels, the Sema appealed to all concern to extend cooperation during such extra ordinary times while adding that the Government is “working on war footing for the welfare of everyone."

He also expressed optimism that the churches would keep their rest houses and infrastructures ready to be used as quarantined centres, if not for others but at least for their own church members. 

Similarly, all the villages under Dimapur district has been advised to arrange quarantine centres for their own villagers as has been done in other Districts and states, the report said.