Morung Express news
Kohima | May 16
A day after 5 educational institutions in Kohima were requisitioned as quarantine centres by the district administration, the two private colleges have pointed out complexities over inclusion as quarantine centres.
Writing to the district administration, Japfü Christian College (JCC) administration requested to be excluded from Quarantine Centre List on humanitarian ground. In a letter addressed to Kohima Deputy Commissioner, the Chairman, Board of Management, JCC Dr Akho Yhokha and Principal Dr Visakhonu Hibo expressed that they were ‘literally shocked’ to see the circular on social media that the College was designated as one of the Quarantine Centre.
Among the 5 educational institutions requisitioned as quarantine centres, 3 amongst them are government institutions namely Nagaland University, Kohima Campus; Kohima Science College, Jotsoma and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kohima and the latter are private institutions- Japfü Christian College (JCC), Kigwema and St Joseph College, Jakhama located in Southern Angami region.
Citing a unique situation, the letter stated that the college is lodged in the heart of a village, a residential area of Kigwema villagers; an entity that exists as a community. It “being residential has permanent employees, along with their families, living together with students in a small common gate campus. The hostels are hardly 1-20 metres away from the residences,” the letter read.
As functional as possible, the college authority has informed that “Teachers are conducting Online Classes in college office everyday in their interwoven workplace/residents.”
With its residential significance, a current count of 104 residents, comprising of students, staff & teaching faculty with families/dependants, hailing from Kerala, Manipur, Assam, Bihar and various districts of Nagaland was cited. “Besides, there are many children and aged persons residing as dependents of employees, out of which 6 infant babies are present, the youngest been born on May 9; two pregnant lady staffs residing in the campus; 13 migrant workers inside the college campus,” the letter further attested.
“There is no option for relocation of our staff & families, neither any safety measure for us if we are to reside together with our quarantined citizens,” it said further.
Meanwhile, the Principal St Joseph College, Jakhama also expressed that it is delivering a letter to the DC today. One of the main difficulties of setting up quarantine centre here was that “the girls’ hostel and nun’s residence are accommodated together.” Currently there are 30 sisters in the campus apart from others full-time priests, staffs and family. “We can’t put people there, because hostellers have left all their belongings there since they had to leave in a hurry when the lockdown was called,” the Principal said. This has also put villagers in worry, he added.
Both the college authorities told The Morung Express that the same day district administration had come for inspection and took cognizance of the situation. It is apparent that the government has not given information nor made any inspection prior to requisitioning the institutions. The DC, had not respond to calls and text message till the time of filing the report.
