Dimapur, May 10 (MExN): Nagaland’s Agriculture Production Commissioner Kikheto Sema on Monday appealed the churches and other institutions to open up its infrastructure and manpower to aid and assist the Government in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and such kind of pandemic drains the resources of any Governments. Nagaland is no different and despite the Government's efforts in using all resources at its disposal to fight the pandemic, there are rooms for institutions particularly the Church from whom much help can be derived from,” he stated in his appeal.
Stating that merely depending on the Government alone to tackle the entire crisis is not justifiable; Kikheto said that each citizen should own collective responsibilities in such a situation. “The ones affected by the virus are our own parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and most importantly ‘our Church members.’ In such a situation, the Church, with all its resources should now open up its infrastructure and manpower to aid and assist the Government,” he added.
Kikheto reasoned that the Church which is there for good times such as weddings, celebrations of new births, celebrations of anniversaries, disposing normal deaths, etc., should also be there for its people during bad times.
He further opined that the Church needs to work out contingency plans such as voluntary services from its members to assist the health care workers, opening up its guest/rest houses, church buildings, etc., for COVID care centres as and when required.
He also pointed out that religious groups from Gurudwaras, Temples and Churches in India are extending health care facilities such as providing oxygen and aiding in disposal of dead bodies that have died of COVID related complications, and reasoned that the Church which is an epitome of daily lives in Nagaland, “should not shy away from our responsibilities.”
“It should also usher a change in the syllabus of being less of theoretical and more of practical from now on as we never know when this pandemic will be over,” he added.
In conclusion, he stated that "No one is safe until everyone is safe," and underscored that the need of the hour is a collective effort irrespective of our background, religion, political affiliations, tribes, etc., to keep the virus at bay.
