Dr Kiyasetuo Vizo
Kohima
Congratulations to Kohima Village Council (KVC) for putting forward a very practicable suggestion to the Government of Nagaland in the best interest of the State and her people to fight COVID-19 and the Government of Nagaland for accepting the suggestion as farsighted and worthy of incorporating in the latest Standard Operation Procedure, operationalizing it effectively from 4th June 2020. Our dear returnee brothers and sisters stranded for days in faraway places can, much to their delight and desire, go to their respective sweet home districts soon after reaching the State, they hold so dear, without being toasted around facing further discomfort, inconveniences and compromising their health safety against COVID -19 pandemic. The different Hohos, Civil Societies, Village Councils etc must be, I suppose, eagerly waiting for our dear returnee brothers and sisters to receive them with open arms. Whether they are sick or healthy they are our blood. They are returning and longing to be in their home sweet home at the earliest. Our dear ones are coming home just for safety, taking home as the safest place and not with any other motives which the present day Naga society is prompt to imagine and shot out in social medias.
At this critical juncture, the KVC under the able leadership in the person of Dr Neiphi Kire, having wide experience and upto date knowledge in health care, is doing commendable job in the fight against Corona Virus. The village, being the host of the State capital, is playing the roles of a host very effectively. Her concerns for the Nagas are being expressed to the Govt. of the day without any hesitation or hidden agenda. What is practicable and what is not, are expressed freely. Without fear or favour, suggestions for the best interest of the Nagas are being flagged to the Govt for favourable consideration. One such suggestion was given to the Govt. of Nagaland in connection with the management of the Naga returnees who were being stranded in different parts of India on account of COVID-19 pandemic for which the capital host village and her people were condemned and called by different names by wide spectrum of Naga civil societies and individuals with motives best known to them. To those people I humbly request them to examine their conscience, whether they are speaking for the interst and safety of the Nagas or limited to their own tribes or for themselves only. The magnanimity of the host village which a true Naga need to appreciate is that she does not get disheartened or discouraged by the criticisms but moves ahead, playing the roles of a Capital host, having no time to counter such critics. Congratulations to KVC, the Nagas will come to understand you better, one day or the other.
In the midst of such hue and cry over the management of Naga returnees in particular and the COVID-19 pandemic in general, some individuals and parties came into the scene to exploit the situation out of proportion by taking a tribal lines. The Angamis were painted as tribalistic, selfish and people who wanted to enjoy all the facilities without shouldering any responsibility as if only Angamis are living in Kohima district,specifically Kohima Town, the Capital city of our beloved state and not any person from other tribes. Not deterred by such ugly display of rhetorism and hypocricy, the Govt of the day under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Neiphi-u Rio took a firm decision to combat COVID-19 pandemic on a war-footing in the best interest and safety of not only the Naga returnees but also the Nagas as a whole. This is what the decision says,
1) All the returnees reaching the State at Dimapur either by train/air/road will be segregated district-wise at the entry point/Agri Expo site, thermally screened and all found asymptomatic will be transferred to Quarantine Centres in respective districts.
2) As regard the persons entering State through Khuzama, the District Task Force Kohima will make similar arrangements as mentioned above.
3) All returnees showing symptoms will be subjected to medical protocol at Dimapur and Kohima; and based on the fitness, will be retained or transported to the respective home districts.
Congratulations to the Govt.of Nagaland and Mr Neiphiu Rio, a Naga to the core, a Naga Hero whose leadership is built on the foundation of Naga unity and Naga welfare.
Dear Nagas, let us read the decisions of the Govt as a Naga and not with tribal eyes and tribal pre-conceived mentality and accept, support and follow the decision in the best interest and safety of ourselves as individuals and as a Naga. Nowhere in the decision the name of any tribe is mentioned. Let us not see this decision of the Govt. through the prism of tribalism. Today we need a united Naga to defeat the unseeing enemy,COVID-19 pandemic and not a divided Naga house. Let us co-operate with the Govt. to the extent possible. For how long are the Nagas going to cultivate and nurture tribalism. Is it doing any good to the Nagas?
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