New Delhi, April 7 (MExN): Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Delhi has called for regional cooperation and solidarity of the North East States to “collectively fight” the COVID -19 pandemic.
This is vital given an anticipated resource constraint to combat a pandemic that does not recognize borders, NPMHR Delhi stated in a letter addressed to the Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
Stating that people hailing from the Northeast who have migrated outside the region face particular vulnerabilities, it called for joint effort towards mitigating the struggles and suffering of the people from the region living in different cities by appointing a joint nodal officer/s in every city to help people in distress.
The NPMHR in the letter further called for a similar and strict compliance of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order No 40-3/2020-DM-I (A) (dated 29thMarch 2020) for Northeast people as well.
Among others, the MHA order urged the states and UTs to note that the Supreme Court directed that the migrant workers who have been kept in relief camps and shelter homes should be provided adequate medical facilities besides proper arrangements for food, clean drinking water and sanitation.
The Ministry letter said that the “anxiety and fear of the migrants should be understood by the police and other authorities and they should deal with them in a humane manner.”
“The recent surge in racial profiling, violence, and discrimination being reported from different cities of India has put our people at higher risk of not just a food and livelihood crisis, but also of safety and security,” NPMHR added.
Further, the letter urged the CMs to “pool in existing human resources of the NGOs and Civil Societies in the fight against COVID-19 Pandemic.”
While appreciating for the NE CMs for leadership shown during this critical time and proactively working towards combating and controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the region, the NPMHR in further expressed optimism that “this letter of appeal will be sincerely received.”
“We assure you of our support and assistance to our people in need,” stated the letter appended by NPMHR Delhi Convenor, Chingri Vashum and Co-convenor Guangpuanang Kahmei.
