Dimapur, May 26 (MExN): The Nagaland Indigenous People’s Forum (NIPF) has urged the state government to ensure that no indigenous Naga is left behind during the COVID-19 crisis.
In its press statement on May 26, the NIPF urged the government to tackle the pandemic in a more constructive way to reach all the indigenous people of the state without discrimination.
It opined that if the government had brought back the stranded Nagas before the widespread of the disease in the country, “there could have been more solace in the state and we could have avoided the hurdle that we are facing now.”
Lamenting the failure of the state government to streamline proper arrangements for the safe travel of the indigenous people of Nagaland from outside the state, the NIPF also pointed out that the financial assistance which has been assured to the indigenous people of Nagaland residing outside the state has not been properly handled.
On this note, the NIPF appealed the state government to ensure proper steps and procedures to identify stranded Nagas who opt to stay back, and make sure that help reaches them “by any means.”It also urged the government to coordinate with officials of different states throughout India to this effect.
For those who opt to return but has no Union nearby to help them, it suggested that the state government could reach out and connect with them through the tribal hohos or the student body of each tribe to make sure that no indigenous people of Nagaland is left out.
The NIPF also appealed to the state government to cater to the need of all the indigenous people of the state without discrimination.
It further opined that, instead of asking for contribution or deduction of salaries, the state government should rather compensate the frontline workers who are risking their life for the safety of the people of Nagaland. “The Government of Nagaland needs to take this pandemic period as an opportunity and serve the people,” it stated.
