April 30, 2020

Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 143

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 Pages 6 (Online Edition)

COVID-19 cases in US crosses 1 mn mark INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 6

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Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan dies

States urged to ease movement of trucks

Y. Patton during the video conferencing with Nitin Gadkari and MoRTH ofďŹ cials.

NEW DELHI, APR 29 (AGENCIES): Irrfan Khan, one of Bollywood’s most beloved stars who had achieved considerable success in the west, died aged 53. He had been admitted to the intensive care unit of Mumbai’s Kokilaben hospital on Tuesday with a colon infection and on Wednesday morning a statement was released confirming his death.

Best known to Englishspeaking audiences as the police inspector in Slumdog Millionaire and for his roles in Jurassic World and Life of Pi, Khan was a Bollywood mainstay, acting in hits such as Haider, Piku and Hindi Medium.

Khan was born Saahabzaade Irfan Ali Khan in Jaipur, the son of a tyre seller, and went to drama school after failing as a cricketer. Initially, he struggled to make headway in the film industry.

Leaders like PM Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi and others condoled his death.

This is it!

“We too can be termed as stranded. No work, No Wage.�

K Y M C

Centre allows interstate movement of stranded migrant workers, students

Nagaland: Results of 13 awaited

On Tuesday, the health ministry warned against the use of plasma therapy for treatment of coronavirus.

The ministry went on to say that the therapy is still in the experimental stage and not yet approved. “Plasma therapy is an experimental therapy that can be used for research and trial only. Studies are on to gain a better understanding

DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and MSMES Nitin Gadkari has called upon all the States and Union Territories to take urgent action to facilitate inter-state border movement of trucks/ lorries carrying essential goods to ease public life during COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the meeting of state/UT Road Transport ministers held via video conference on Tuesday, the Union minister said that blockades of trucks and lorries at inter-state/UT borders must be cleared at the earliest possible as smooth movement of essen-

nagalandpostofďŹ cial

by ICMR and approved by Institutional Ethics Committee, with the subsequent approval of the Drug ConNEW DELHI, APR 29 troller General of India.

(AGENCIES): In a maGlobal COVID-19 cases jor relief to thousands of surpass 3 million mark migrant workers stuck in Globally, the number various states due to the corof novel coronavirus cases onavirus-induced lockdown, have surpassed 3.1 mil- the Union government on lion along with reporting Wednesday directed states more than 200,000 deaths and Union territories to faacross the world. The num- cilitate inter-state movement ber of infected people due of the stranded people, into Covid-19 in the United cluding migrant labourers.

As per the guidelines, all States crossed one million and the fatalities jumped to persons travelling from one state to another should be nearly 59,000. screened both at the source and the destination. He or she should also be kept in home or institutional quarantine arrival, said a statement STATUS REPORT AS ON APRIL 29, 2020 on issued by the home ministry.

NORTH EAST CONFIRMED RECOVERED DEATH “All states/UTs should desNagaland Nil Nil Nil ignate nodal authorities and Assam 38 27 1 develop stranded protocols for receiving and sending Manipur 2 2 Nil such stranded persons. The Meghalaya 12 Nil 1 nodal authorities shall also Mizoram 1 Nil Nil register the stranded persons Arunachal Pradesh 1 1 Nil within their states or UTs,�

Tripura 2 2 Nil the statement said.

DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Health & Family Welfare It said if a group of department Wednesday informed that of the 644 samples stranded persons wish to sent for testing till date, results of 631 samples have been move from one state to anreceived and all have tested negative. Results for the remain- other, the sending and receiving 13 samples are awaited. Altogether 1,575 persons were ing states should consult each screened on April 29 and 37 persons were under facility other and mutually agree to quarantine as on date. the movement by road.

and until it is approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), no one should use it for treatment. It would be illegal and could even risk the patient’s life,� said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the health ministry.

Moreover, ICMR has also started a nationwide study on the efficacy of plasma therapy for Covid-19 patients. Many scientific and medical institutions have been allowed to have clinical trials where all such trials need to adhere to guidelines and protocols laid down

NEW DELHI, APR 29 (AGENCIES): With 1,813 fresh novel coronavirus cases reported in the last 24 hours in the country, India’s COVID-19 count increased to 31,787, according to the latest Ministry of Health and Welfare data. The death toll in the country also rose to 1,008 after 71 more patients died due to the highly contagious disease since Tuesday.

Late Irrfan Khan (File)

nagalandpostofďŹ cial

tial goods to various parts of the country was essential.

Gadkari also informed that he was according top priority to the development of road/highway infrastructure. He informed that he was planning to enhance National Highway construction by two to three times of the present pace in coming years. He urged the statesto expedite land acquisition as delays hamper the pace of development. Gadkari also asked them to utilise funds that were remaining unused with them to the extent of about Rs 25000 crore.

Various chief ministers, deputy CMs, ministers in charge from sates echoed

the sentiments expressed by Gadkari and requested that NH projects in their Sates/ UTs may be expedited.

Patton says, shortage of materials hampering development works: Nagaland deputy chief minister Y Patton, who also holds PWD (R&B) portfolio, had apprised union minister of road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, that developmental works in the state have resumed since April 11, 2020, but the work progress was being hampered due to shortage of construction materials like cement, rod and bitumen, which had to be imported from other states.

(Cont’d on p-3)

DNSU warns gutka, tobacco sellers in Dmu DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has alleged that some dealers were taking undue advantage of the lockdown by selling gutkas and other tobacco products at very exorbitant rates as per their whims and wishes.

Pointing out that gutkas/tobacco products were non-essential commodities and their sale was strictly prohibited as per the Central government’s directive during the lockdown, the union expressed astonishment that the dealers of Marwaripati area, which had been sealed and declared quarantine zone by the Dimapur district administration, were supplying gutkas and tobacco products.

Mentioning that it had caught some retailers and wholesalers outside the zone (Cont’d on p-3)

3,345 kms, 84 hrs: from Chennai to Aizawl NORTHEAST, PAGE 5

North Eastern states step up vigil to ďŹ ght African swine fever G U W A H A T I / SHILLONG/AGARTALA, APR 29 (IANS): Even as novel coronavirus infections in northeast India are comparatively under control so far, the eight North Eastern states are staring at a new threat -- African Swine Flu (ASF), which is suspected to be behind the mysterious deaths of hundreds of pigs.

Animal resource experts in North East suspect that the highly contagious ASF came to the region from Tibet in China through Arunachal Pradesh.

Besides Assam and Meghalaya, other states governments have sounded a high alert and asked people, especially owners of piggeries, to refrain from bringing pigs from other states.

Assam Agriculture and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora confirmed the deaths of over 2,260 pigs in state’s six districts due to suspected ASF, with authorities waiting for confirmatory reports from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal.

Bora said: “The pigs are dying of a foreign virus and we guess that it may

have come from Tibet in China...�

The Assam government had on April 25 banned the procurement and sale of pigs and pork, shut all slaughterhouses and banned movement of people associated with piggeries from one place to another place,�

Bora said. According to 2019 census, the population of pigs in various Assam farms was 21 lakh.

The Meghalaya government has already banned the transport of pigs from outside the state after the deaths of pigs in some districts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

According to animal resource experts, pigs generally are affected by Classical Fever, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), besides the ASF. In

It also warned that many business houses having their stocks hypothecated to banks dealing in goods with short shelf-life would face massive losses if the lockdown was stretched further till May Under the circumstances, CNCCI urged the chief minister to announce some relief measures for the business community too on the lines he had announced for various sections of people in distress. It requested him to take up the issue with utmost seriousness. The trade body on behalf of all its confederates assured full cooperation and support as the State continued to battle the COVID-I9 pandemic.

Mentioning that the business community was trying its best to live up to its responsibilities and had been playing an active role in all districts as core members of district task forces

and assisting the administration of various districts in every possible manner, the memorandum said the confederates were actively involved in humanitarian works, assisting the society

and government agencies in all possible manner.

The memorandum was signed by CNCCI chairman Dr Khekugha Muru and general secretary Dr Seyievilie Mor.

Allow movement of farmers’ produce: BAN

Business Association of Nagas (BAN), which has been helping farmers to sell their produce in the market during the lockdown, has appealed to the village councils, to allow movement of farmers’ produce.

In a press release, BAN stated that many farmers were not being allowed to transport their produce to the market by village councils at village gates.

BAN reminded that the state government has also issued directives not to restrict movement of agriculture and horticulture products.

As regards, the association has appealed to the village councils to allow movement of farmers produce. It also appealed to the responsible district administration to give one window permit for transporting.

Meanwhile, BAN has informed that the agents and farmers wishing to buy and sell their produce in Dimapur could do so at state stadium (outside badminton hall) till the lockdown. For queries, BAN could be contacted at the following numbers: +91 8837428416, +91 70056 09377, +91 98626 94100 and +91 9436012590.

Nagaland bans import of pigs DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): In view of the reported outbreak of “African Swine Fever� and high mortality of pigs in the neighbouring states, the state government has imposed ban on import of pigs from outside the state with immediate effect.

College students to get full Govt reminds attendance for lockdown period citizens to follow NEW DELHI, APR 29 (IANS): The new academic session of universities across the country will start in September, a delay of 2 months due to the lockdown. The colleges will remain closed till then but the attendance for all students will be marked 100 per cent for this period.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) had constituted a special committee for when and how to start a new session in universities. This seven-member committee constituted by the UGC has submitted its report on exam-related issues and academic calendar.

In its report submitted to the UGC the committee said, “During the lockdown, the attendance of all the students was to be recorded.�

Significantly, the recommendation made by the committee can be approved by the UGC next week. The attendance of students is be-

ing recorded so that all the students can appear in the final examinations.

The committee appointed by the UGC said in its recommendation “All colleges across the country should function 6 days a week. Depending on the situation, the new session for higher education in the country should be held from September instead of July.�

The committee is in favour of continuing colleges on Saturdays as well.

The committee, in another recommendation, said “While the new academic session for first-year students starts from September 1, for second- and third-year students this academic session can be started from August 1�.

The committee said in its recommendations that “Viva be taken between May 16 and 30. Both internal assessment and Viva will be taken online.�

CNCCI seeks relief measures for business community Cement prices revised DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) appealed to the State government to come up with certain relief measures for the business community in distress.

In a memorandum to chief minister Neiphiu Rio, CNCCI comprising all district chambers of commerce and industry (confederates) said the community was in distress as almost all kinds of trade, barring essential commodities, had come to a halt for over a month now.

The memorandum stated that the business community was facing two kinds of problem, the first being difficulty in paying rents for their shop and godown spaces. Secondly, those having cash credit (CC) facility with banks were facing great difficulty as interests were compounding.

Aizawl, Mizoram Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Department officials said that the recent outbreak of PRRS disease in Mizoram has been contained. Fresh PRRS cases were reported in Mizoram in January and February after some pigs imported from neighbouring Myanmar were found infected.

DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Hardware Merchants’ Association Dimapur (HMAD) has revised rates of various cement brands.

The new rates were fixed at an emergency meeting of the association held at its office here on Wednesday. The development followed HMAD lodging a complaint with the authority on Tuesday after it received complaints of price hike from cement buyers.

Accordingly, the revised rate of Dalmia and Star brands is Rs 470 per bag, Rs 460 for Topcem and Rs 450 for others brands (inclusive of loading charges).

HMAD president K Denis in a release said the revised rates would be effective during the lockdown period only, adding that these would be nullified as and when the lockdown was lifted. It also specified that the new rates would be applicable only for new stocks

and not old stocks procured prior to the lockdown. It stated that the rates had been revised keeping in view the Home ministry’s directive for limited production.

Mentioning that it would keep a strict vigil on regulation of the new rates, HMAD warned that stern action would initiated against any agency found not adhering to the revised rates. It was also decided to invite all cement brands interested in marketing their products in Dimapur and the state to discuss the rates for the upcoming days after the lockdown was lifted.

The association declared that it would monitor transportation cost after lockdown was lifted. The meeting discussed problems faced by transporters and it was resolved that all transporters would be affiliated to the association to assist in transporting cement.

safety norms

DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Nagaland government has appealed to the citizens to strictly adhere to safety guidelines, particularly social distancing.

While informing that several activities in the state were being gradually allowed, principal secretary Home Abhijit Sinha insisted that everyone should wear face masks in public places, and spitting in public spaces should be completely avoided.

Further, all work places and establishments should make arrangements for regular sanitisation, he added.

Meanwhile, regarding assistance in the form of cash grant to persons from Nagaland stranded or in distress outside the State due to the nationwide lockdown, altogether 6,836 applicants have been provided assistance by transferring amounts to their bank accounts, Sinha stated.

NBSE: HSLC, HSSLC results

by May end

DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has informed that the results of HSLC and HSSLC exam 2020 is expected to be declared by May end. The date of declaring the results would be intimated later, it added. In a notification, NBSE chairman Asano Sekhose said that the process of preparing the results was put on hold due to the countrywide lockdown to tackle the COVlD-19 pandemic In pursuance of the state government’s April 11 order, works have resumed with few staff, it said.

Taking note of fake news being circulated on social media, NBSE has urged all concerned to check the official website www. nbsenagalaod.com to verify and confirm any update.

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2

state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic: Mock drills, meetings, trainings & awareness

DIMAPUR: As part of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness, districts and sub-divisions task force conducted mock drills and awareness programmes across the state. Review meetings were also held to assess the COVID-19 pandemic preparedness level. Various directives, appeals and advisory have also been issued in an effort to contain the spread of the deadly virus. It may be noted that in line nationwide lockdown which came into force on March 24 midnight, the state government and its agencies have been taking all measures to enforce the lockdown while also ensuring that public get an access to essential commodities. Limited commercial activities have been permitted across the state.

KOHIMA DISTRICT

Phek DISTRICT

NYKS volunteers & NDRF team briefing vegetable Mock drill on handling COVID-19 emergency at Phek vendors on COVID-19 preventive measures.

Town. (DIPR)

Awareness programme & sensitisation drive: In view of ÇOVID-19 pandemic, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and National Disaster Response Team (NDRF) carried out awareness programme on social distancing and sensitization drive Wednesday at Kohima Town.

A press release by NDRF sub inspector, K. P. Singh (team leader) stated that a sub team of 12th BN NDRF Doimukh and NKYS volunteers briefed shoppers and vendors at High School Market areas on advantage of social distancing.

The said rescuers of 12th BN NDRF also sprayed the disinfectant mixing with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and water.

Mock drill on April 30: Deputy Commissioner Kohima and chairman DDMA, Gregory Thejawelie, who is also the responsible officer of the Incident Response System (IRS) has informed the public that the Kohima district administration and DDMA Kohima

will be conducting a mock drill on COVID-19 related activities on April 30 within Kohima town. The public have been informed not to panic.

Hospitals for non COVID patients: Citizens of Kohima has been informed that private hospitals – KOHIMAS Hospital and G1VF (Gynae Institute of Virility and Fertility), Kohima have been indentified treatment of non-COVID patients.

According to DIPR report, the hospitals will treat non-COVID patients referred from COVID Hospital (NHAK) for hospitalization will be empanelled under AB-PMJAY to provide benefits as per guidelines to the beneficiaries.

The report said the district implementation unit of AB-PMJAY, Kohima district will facilitate the hospitals in the empanelment under AB-PMJAY. For any query, contact – State Control Room: 1800 345 0019/ 9099607609/ 7085444710. District Control Room: 8575563906/ 6909937493.

Mock drill: District Administration, Phek and District Task Force on COVID19 conducted a mock drill on Wednesday at Phek Town to test the preparedness of the DTF in handling emergency situation in the event of COVID-19 outbreak in the District.

According to DIPR report, through the conduct of the mock drill the district Task Force aims to review the COVID-19 response plan and containment strategy, enhance coordination with the various Government resources, manpower, logistics and communication.

The mock drill included reporting to the control room regarding a person showing symptoms that are associated with COVID-19, transporting of patients to COVID Hospitals, swab sample collection, sending of sample to the testing centers, handling of COVID-19 patients and quarantine of relatives.

The mock drill was followed by debriefing by the deputy commissioner and chairman of district task force on COVID-19 at DCs Conference hall where certain gaps and suggestions noted by the observers were deliberated upon.

ZUNHEBOTO DISTRICT

SVC to allow burial of COVID victims: Sürümi Village Council (SVC) has unanimously resolved to allow burial of COVID19 victims in the village/ cemetery/burial grounds of family or church after observing standard operation procedures (SOP).

A press release from the office of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Zunheboto

informed that the decision was taken in an emergency meeting on Wednesday to put to rest misconceptions that emerged regarding burial of COVID-19 victims.

The council came to this decision after the health department had made it clear that there would be no additional risk of infection after a dead body is properly treated and attended.

WOKHA DISTRICT Mock drill: District Administration in collaboration with medical department and DDMA conducted mock drill on COVID-19 at District Hospital Wokha, Wednesday.

According to DIPR report, ADC, Wokha K. Mhathung Tsanglao, while briefing the gathering before the start of the drill, said, the objective of conducting the exercise was to assess the district preparedness level while managing patients or persons coming in contact with the virus. The mock exercise was divided in to six different categories, green wardmild disease, yellow-moderate disease, orange- severe disease, red ward (ICU)- very severe disease and black ward- handling of deceased patient.

Sister Athungbeni, demonstrated on hand hygiene, doffing and donning of PPE while Dr.Weimeri highlighted on Dos & DON’Ts in ICU during the mock exercise.

MOKOKCHUNG DISTRICT

DC bans large gathering during Moatsu: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mokokchung, Limawapang Jamir has directed all the villages/ civil societies in Mokokchung District to refrain from organizing gathering in any village/ town during the upcoming Moatsu Festival that may invite a large gathering of people.

According to DIPR report, the DC Mokokchung said the order is in pursuance of the government of Nagaland order under consolidated revised guidelines that “all social/ political/ sports/ entertainment/ academic/ cultural/ religious functions and other gatherings” are prohibited across the state of Nagaland till May 3. The DC has warned that Any Person/Group acting in violation of the order shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

Sensitization programme at Changtongya: Sensitization programme on COVID-19 was held Wednesday at Changtongya Town hall which was iniatiated by Ao Senden in collaboration with Mokokchung District Task Force Covid-19.

According to DIPR report, the message on COVID-19 preparedness were delivered by ZLO, Dr. Yanger and CVO Mokokchung, Dr. Sunep.

The sensitization programme was attended by all village council chairman, pastors, teachers incharge of both private and government schools under Changtongya sub-division, all wards chairman, goan boras and Watsu unit Changtongya Town.

PEREN DISTRICT

Q.: Is the state govt justified in increasing excise on petrol and diesel?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A

B

C

A Yes. B No. C Can’t Say.

33% 56% 11%

Next poll

Q: Can the ongoing 4-lane

expansion works be completed within 2020?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

WEATHER FORECAST April 30

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala A morning thunderstorm or two 31 22 Aizawl

A t-storm in the afternoon

25 16

Guwahati A t-storm around in the a.m.

30 20

A morning t-storm in the area

26 16

Imphal

Itanagar Some sun with a thunderstorm 26 17 Shillong

A shower and t-storm around

20 13

Kohima

Thunderstorms, mainly early

21 14

Dimapur A morning t-storm in spots Mkg

Clearing and a stray t-storm

Tuensang A shower or t-storm in spots Wokha

Clearing and a stray t-storm

Zunheboto Clearing, a thunderstorm

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28 18 22 14 16 10 22 17 20 12

Mock drill on COVID-19 pandemic preparedness in progress at GHSS Tuensang. (DIPR)

Mock drill: Tuensang District Task Force (DTF) on COVID-19 and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) conducted a mock drill at GHSS Tuensang on Wednesday.

According to DIPR report, the mock drill exercises witnessed “development” of the actual resources personnel like medical workers, security personnel, trained volunteers and other officers and machineries and equipment like ambulance, trucks, protective gears/ PPEs, sealing ribbons etc.

Orientation/housekeeping protocol training: Orientation/ housekeeping protocol training on COVID-19 for the employees working in hotels was held on Wednesday at CMO conference hall.

According to DIPR report, resource person, MO (IDSP), Dr.John highlighted the important on hand washing, respiratory and social distancing and preventive measure against COVID-19.

OPD services at Noklak: In view of COVID-19 pandemic and also for effective screening and monitoring of patients coming to Community Health Centre, Noklak, senior medical officer (SMO), Noklak, Dr.

Victor N.C has informed that the OPD timing and screening of patients would be done in the main gate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to DIPR report, the SMO Noklak informed that COVID-19 suspected patients will be transported to the COVID-19 isolation ward after screening.

Patients without COVID-19 symptoms will be allowed to enter into the hospital along with only one attendant. It has been informed that hospital admission will be done only for the serious patients and the minor illness to be disposed off after necessary treatment.

The SMO informed that this is in order to effectively isolate the COVID-19 suspected patient from general clients and also prevent cross infection among the people.

The report further stated that no vehicle except hospital ambulance will be allowed to enter inside the hospital compound. The main hospital gate will be under lock from 2 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. however, serious patients who are unable to walk will be allowed to enter the gate after screening and the vehicle to be immediately sent outside hospital compound.

MON DISTRICT

Mock drill: As par t of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness, a mock drill was carried out Wednesday by Mon District Task Force for COVID-19 at District hospital Mon. The mock drill focused on the management of any patient coming to the hospital with the symptoms of COVID19. The drill was also witnessed by the district administration, police, medical staff, members of Red Cross Society and representatives from NGOs. GoI telephonic survey: Deputy Commissioner, Mon Thavaseelan K has informed that the government of India will be conducting a telephonic survey As part of COVID-19 preparedness, a mock drill was calling up citizens on their mobile conducted Wednesday at Stadium Colony Jalukie. (DIPR) phones across the country. DC

nagalandpost.com Poll

TUENSANG DISTRICT

said the survey will be carried out

by National Informatics Centre (NIC).

The DC has informed public that calls will be made from the number 1921 and have requested the public to participate in good measure to enable proper feedback of the prevalence and distribution of COVID-19 symptoms.

DC Mon has also asked people to be aware of any other calls by prankster or calls from any other in the guise of such similar survey.

Mobile ATM service: Deputy Commissioner, Mon Thavaseelan K has informed that Common Service Point (8974337358) representative, Abraham, will continue operating Mobile ATM Service

news in Brief DC Dimapur convenes meeting: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi has convened a meeting of District Level Price Monitoring Committee and stakeholders on April 30, 10:30 a.m. at Conference Hall of DC, Dimapur. All concerned have been requested to attend the meeting.

APO emergency meeting: Angami Public Organisation (APO) has convened an emergency executive council meeting with the advisory board on April 30, 11 a.m. at APO Hall, Kohima. All the APO executive council members and APO advisory board members have been requested to attend the meeting.

K.G. Kenye meet FCI, F&CS officials

DIMAPUR: Lone Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), KG Kenye, who also a member of the Parliamentary National Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Wednesday visited food and civil supplies (F&CS) directorate in Dimapur to take stock of the supply of essential commodities in the wake of the nationwide lockdown and also “to prepare for the issuing Parliamentary National Standing Committee due very soon.”

In a press release, PRO to MP (Rajya Sabha) said the MP during his visit held meeting with the officials from Food Corporation of India (FCI) Nagaland and state department of F&CS. At the meeting, Kenye expressed his appreciation to the frontline workers in the state, who were sacrificing and risking their lives to combat the virus in spite of

criticisms from certain corners. He urged them not to be discouraged as criticism and allegation were part of life.

MP lauded the FCI and F&CS department for judiciously managing with the allocation of the state’s quota. He reminded that the consignment be properly disinfected before being ferried to other parts of the State.

Kenye also expressed his deep concern for people who did not have ration cards.

Further, MP appreciated the extra efforts being taken by the Dimapur district administration, other officers and all the stakeholders. He appealed to all responsible be more vigilant in dealing with the situation.

Kenye also suggested that more consultative meeting should be held as the prevailing situation require better coordination.

Advisor F&CS Pukhayi also attended the meeting

along with commissioner & secretary F&CS and addressed the meeting. F&CS director highlighted the total allocation received for the State under various scheme and the quantity being distributed to each district. The director requested the general public not to panic as sufficient stock was available.

The chief manager of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, pointed out that the state has lesser depot capacity for petrol, diesel, SK oil and LPG compared to other north east states. He therefore requested the government to take up the matter with the ministry for enhancement of the capacity.

ADC Dimapur, DMC administrator, president and general secretary of Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association also highlighted their activities. Later, the MP inspected the FCI food storage depot.

to facilitate withdrawal and deposit of cash in all the wards of Mon Town until further orders.

The schedule for withdrawal and deposit of cash: Monday – Zuklom ward (7 a.m.-11 a.m.) and Tanlao ward (12 noon to 4 p.m.); Tuesday – Shamnyu ward (7a.m. to 11a.m.) and Wagiem ward (12 noon to 4 p.m.); Wednesday – Thamnan ward (7 a.m.-11 a.m.) and Walo ward (12 noon to 4 p.m.); Thursday – Chingai ward (7 a.m.-11 a.m.) and Techahan ward (12 noon to 4 p.m.); Friday – Jahjon ward (7 a.m.-11 a.m.) and Tompang ward (12 noon to 4 p.m.); Saturday – Shantham ward (12 noon to 4 p.m.).

The DC Mon has informed that service delivery point at

every ward will be at a place designated by COVID-19 Ward Task Force, who will be responsible for maintaining social distancing norms and other preventive measures notified by the government. The DC has informed that no fees will be charged for the service. For any complaints, one has been asked to call 8837358017/8974246573.

ADC Aboi on social distancing: Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Aboi, Ajit Kumar Ranjan has notified that in order to combat the spread of COVID19, it is important to maintain practices of social distancing by every citizen.

According to DIPR report, the ADC Aboi said since the

imposition of lock down certain places like banks and ATMs have witnessed extraordinary rush in order to avail various government benefits under PMGKY. As a result, maintaining social distancing in such places has become a challenge. Therefore, need has been felt to redesign such market places to enable automatic adherence to social distancing. Keeping this in view, Aboi Anti COVID19 task force has installed social distance queue sheds outside the Banks and ATMs and the number of permitted inside the bank are also restricted.

The ADC has asked the public as well as the departments have been asked to comply with the preventive measures.

Longleng Community assistance & WC, NNPGs condoles police seize relief during lockdown DIMAPUR: Working As the nation- Mokokchung battalion brown sugar DIMAPUR: Committee of the Naga wide COVID-19 pandemic of Assam Rifles joined

DIMAPUR: In a delayed report, Longleng police has informed that a duty party seized 150 grams of brown sugar worth Rs 10 lakh (approx) on March 8 and arrested two persons.

In a press release, senior superintendent of police (SP) Longleng informed that the drugs was seized from the possession of P Moba Phom son of Pankong, resident of Yongam and Yohan son of Lowang village of Yongam presently residing at Oushok Longleng.

SP Longleng informed that the drugs was concealed in ten soap cases and hidden in a “woofer speaker”.

According to police, the preliminary investigation revealed that the consignment was sent to the duo by a woman. The woman delivered the drugs at NST station, Dimapur which was then smuggled to Longleng.

In this connection, police said a case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and further investigation was on.

lockdown continues for over a month, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) villages and clubs across the state have come forward and offered assistance to those in need.

ARUD: Aghunato Area Union Dimapur (ARUD) handed over grains and essential commodities to to Eastern Sumi Students Union (ESSU) for distribution to students stranded in Dimapur.

Thekrejuma village: Thekrejuma Villagers provided organic vegetables to medical staff of Community Health Centre Medziphema.

Thenyizu village: Different Self Help Groups (SHGs) from Thenyizu village of Phek district under the aegis of NSRLM, BMMU Chetheba block provided organic vegetables and other food items to Chetheba administration.

ANTA Wokha: All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA) Wokha Wednesday distributed essential food items to its members, comprising mostly private taxi drivers, here at ANTA Wokha office.

Mokokchung Bn:

hands with the district administration and provided improvised masks and PPE for further distribution to frontline health workers and policemen deployed for prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

CBCMHK: Chakhesang Baptist Church Ministers’ Hill, Kohima as part of its goodwill mission distributed organic vegetables to the people at free of cost at the PHQ Junction, Kohima, Wednesday. The church said several families in the 16 colonies were identified and vegetables were home delivered.

Mezoma: Mezoma COVID 19 Committee donated organic green vegetables to Kohimal Municipal Council (KMC) on Wednesday.

N-MUSC: NagalandManchester United Support Club Tuensang unit provided refreshment to the frontline workers on COVID-19 duty in Tuensang.

ABCTT: Ao Baptist Church Tuensang Town provided food to the COVID-19 duty screening team at the check gate Tuensang.

National Political Groups (WC, NNPGs) has expressed deep sadness at the demise of Andrew Clark, a member of the Quakers, who passed away on April 23.

In a condolence message, convener of WC, NNPGs, N. Kitovi Zhimomi said, “For over a decade, he was a great friend of the Nagas and on a number of occasions travelled to India and South East Asian countries to promote and encourage Reconciliation and Unity amongst Naga revolutionary leaders.”

WC, NNPGs said late Andrew lived a life of a true Christian and exhibited inner light of the soul.

“He devoted his time and energy to peaceful principles in true Quakers belief, and encouraged the Naga revolutionary leaders to seek a common objective in the political struggle,” read the message.

Further, WC, NNPGs has conveyed heartfelt condolences to family and colleagues of late Andrew and prayed that “Almighty God welcome His son with open arms into His kingdom of peace”.

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national/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020

‘Next Parl session depends on ground situation’ Government must protect salaries,

NEW DELHI, APR 29 (AGENCIES): Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday told members of Rajya Sabha that the next session of Parliament depends on the situation on the ground and hoped for a normal schedule saying efforts to contain coronavirus were showing results, according to sources.

Naidu, who is the Rajya Sabha chairman, was interacting with the MPs as part of his ‘Mission Connect’ during which he has been talking to a large number of parliamentarians as well as former presidents and prime ministers, present and former chief justices of India, governors and chief ministers, besides leaders of political parties since the lockdown began.

The sources said when some members of Rajya Sabha asked Naidu about the next session, he told them that it “depends on the situation on the ground”. He further said that with intensive virus containment efforts being mounted across the country and results showing

M Venkaiah Naidu on ground, one may hope for normal schedule, the sources add.

Last year, the Monsoon session of Parliament was held between June 20 and August 7.

The Budget session had to be curtailed on March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic, ahead of its scheduled date on April 3.

In his unique engagement effort during coronavirus-induced confine-

ment, Naidu reached out to almost all members of the Upper House, former presidents Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil and former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda.

Besides, he also spoke to Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, former chief justices Deepak Mishra and Ranjan Gogoi, who is now a Rajya Sabha member.

He also talked to Governors and Chief Ministers

of many states, besides leaders of various political parties.

During his interaction, he enquired about the safety of those leaders and of their kith and kin, their assessment of coronavairus situation on ground in respective areas and the mode of their engagement and activities since the nationwide lockdown.

Of the 245 members of Rajya Sabha, Naidu spoke to 241 of them including some who retired and those re-elected recently. Four others in remote areas could not be reached.

Sources close to him said Naidu was glad to know that the members and other leaders were happy to be with the people in their respective areas during the hour of adversity and partnering with local governments in addressing issues.

Many of them are actively associated with distribution of items of consumption in association with local governments, NGOs, philanthropists etc.

The feedback in particular,

highlighted the amazing cooperation of the people in the implementation of the lockdown, the sources said.

Some members flagged the issues of migrant workforce and the efforts being made on the ground to reach them necessary relief and support, they said.

Among the MPs whom Naidu contacted included Leader of the House Thawar Chand Gehlot, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, J P Nadda (BJP), Sharad Pawar (NC), Anand Sharma, Digvijay Singh, AK Anthony and P Chidambaram of Congress, Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Satish Chandra Mishra (BSP), Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC), Prasana Acharya (BJD), Sanjay Rout (SS), Navaneetha Krishnan (AIADMK), Tiruchi Siva (DMK) and others.

He also spoke to Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhiranjan Choudhury (Congress), N Chandrababu Naidu (TDP), Sitaram Yechury (CPM) and D Raja (CPI).

wages of workers: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI, APR 29 (PTI): Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday urged the government to announce a scheme to protect salaries and wages of 12 crore workers as their employers are facing a financial crunch in the wake of COVID-19induced lockdown.

The former finance minister also said the government should do everything to avoid a financial emergency and hoped the country is not pushed into that. He also called upon the government to provide generous financial assistance to states to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic

and urged it to announce a financial package for the MSME sector, as proposed by his party.

Chidambaram asked the government to also announce an exit strategy in view of the lockdown and look into the issue of migrants stranded at different place due to it. “Time is of the essence. In the absence of a clear signal of assistance from the government during these extremely difficult times, the private sector will be forced to resort to large scale retrenchments and layoffs, which will devastate livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people,” he said.

Patton says, shortage of materials...

(From p-1) Patton also urged the union minister during video conference to take up DPRs of those projects that had already been submitted earlier. He expressed gratitude to the union minister for declaring five National highways in the state during the last tenure.

Patton also pointed out various technical and physical problems faced by the

Nations like India must play key role in developing COVID-19 vaccine: WHO NEW DELHI, APR 29 (IANS): Countries like India, Indonesia and Thailand that are among the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers from the South-East Asia region must play a lead role in overcoming the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” the World Health Organisaion (WHO) said on Wednesday.

Gearing up for the much-needed COVID-19 vaccines, the global health body organised a virtual meeting of vaccine manufacturers and national regulatory authorities from the region.

“The manufacturing capacity that exists in our region is of the quality and scale required to produce and roll-out a COVID-19 vaccine globally. This region is a vaccine manufacturing powerhouse and must now also play a lead role in overcoming the ongoing pandemic,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia. Leading manufacturers from India, Indonesia and Thailand discussed

WHO urges its SEAR national health regulators, manufacturers to fast track vaccine development

timelines and production capacity at the meeting, while regulatory bodies deliberated on adjustments that would be needed in processes to make COVID19 vaccines available at the earliest. According to the WHO, several steps must be completed before COVID19 vaccine can be used on a large scale.

These include preclinical and clinical trials, production, licensure, deployment of vaccines and plans for post-marketing surveillance.

Globally, seven candidate vaccines are in clinical evaluation and 82 vaccines are in pre-clinical evaluation. “Mapping the full land-

scape of vaccine development activities in the region will help coordination with global stakeholders, and support countries preparing COVID-19 vaccine deployment plans, Singh said in a statement.

Member states, in a UN General Assembly resolution, called for all countries to have “equitable, efficient and timely” access to any future vaccines developed to fight COVID-19.

“As we mark the World Immunization Week, we must build on our success and redouble our efforts to ensure all people in the region can access the lifesaving benefits vaccines bring,” said Singh.

Stressing on the importance of collaboration and innovation during the coronavirus crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday urged vaccine manufacturers and national regulatory authorities in its South-East Asia Region to fast track the process of developing COVID-19 vaccine.

The world health body organised a meeting of vaccine manufacturers and national regulatory authorities from the region through a video link on Wednesday and discussed timelines, production capacity and necessary procedural adjustments for early development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. At the virtual meeting, leading manufacturers from India, Indonesia and Thailand discussed timelines and production capacity, while regulatory bodies deliberated on adjustments that would be needed in processes to make COVID 19 vaccines available at the earliest, WHO said in a statement. Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia Poonam Khetrapal Singh said this region

Possibly pending CBSE board exams to be conducted NEW DELHI, APR 29 (PTI): The board exams for class 10 and 12 pending due to the coronavirusinduced lockdown will be conducted at the first possibility and there is no move to do away with the remaining exams, CBSE officials said on Wednesday.

The board is prepared to conduct the exams for class 10 and 12 for crucial 29 subjects, while the HRD Ministry has directed states to start the evaluation process for the exams already conducted and facilitate the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in evaluation of answer sheets.

“Recently, there has been a lot of speculation regarding CBSE Board exams. The board’s decision to take exams for 29 subjects of class 10 and 12, stands the same. There is no change in position of conducting board exams. Therefore, exams will be conducted,” Sanyam Bhardwaj, CBSE’s Controller of Examinations said.

The clarification by the CBSE officials came amid uncertainty over when the exams will be conducted leading to speculations that the exams will be done away with in a one-time arrangement.

“We are prepared to conduct board exams for class 10 and 12 pending due to the lockdown in wake of the COVID-19 situaK Y M C

tion in the country. The exams will be conducted for 29 subjects crucial for promotion and admissions to undergraduate courses, at the first possibility. The students will be given at least a 10-day notice before exams are conducted,” a senior HRD ministry official said.

“States have been asked to start the evaluation process for the exams already conducted and have been advised to facilitate evaluation of answer sheets. The CBSE will also issue instructions for marking or assessment of non-important subjects not included in the list of 29 subjects,” the official said.

Universities and schools across the country have been closed and exams postponed since March 16 when the Centre announced a countrywide classroom shutdown as one of the measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

Further, due to the law and order situation in northeast Delhi, the board was not able to conduct exams on four examination days, while a very small number of students from and around this district were not able to appear in exams on six days.

“Considering the extraordinary circumstances, the board had decided to conduct exams only for 29 crucial subjects as against over 40 remaining subjects.

For the rest of the subjects, the board will not hold examinations and instructions for marking and assessment in all such cases shall be separately issued,” the official said.

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Tuesday had interacted with education ministers of states.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had suggested that students be marked on the basis of internal assessment as it is not feasible to conduct the pending exams now.

Sisodia, who is also the education minister, said students of Delhi will be more affected due to delay in conduct of exams as different states have their own boards, while the national capital only follows CBSE. Education ministers from different states also put forward deliberations being made about their respective state boards.

The Bihar board has already announced results for three streams of class 12 and is in the process of evaluation of class 10 exams. The Uttar Pradesh board is yet to begin the evaluation and will take a call in this regard soon.

The CBSE has already announced that it will not be conducting any exams for students in foreign countries.

“There are several

CBSE schools located in 25 countries. Each of these countries are also under lockdown and have decided to close down the schools for various and differential lengths of time. Under such circumstances, it is felt that the board will not be in a position to hold differential sets of exams for each of these countries,” the official said.

“Also, in the present situation, it will be difficult to bring the answer books to India for evaluation purposes. Therefore, the Board has decided to not hold any more exams for the students of class 10 and 12 schools located outside India,” he said.

According to the HRD ministry officials, as of now there are plans to conduct competitive exams, including JEE and NEET, in June for admission to engineering and medical colleges.

For other undergraduate admissions, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is working on an alternative calendar for the new academic session which will notify the timeline within a week.

A seven-member panel, set up to study the issue, has recommended that the undergraduate admission process be started in JulyAugust and the new session for freshers be started from September. However, no final decision has been taken in this regard yet.

is a vaccine manufacturing powerhouse, and it must now play a lead role in overcoming the ongoing pandemic. Several steps must be completed before COVID-19 vaccine can be used on a large scale. These include pre-clinical and clinical trials, production, licensure, deployment of vaccines and plans for post-marketing surveillance, she said. Mapping the full landscape of vaccine development activities in the region will help in coordination with global stakeholders and support countries preparing COVID-19 vaccine deployment plans, Singh said.

“We are also working to ensure that once developed, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines are available to all of humanity.

To do that, we are coordinating expert consultations, developing target product profiles and supporting clinical trials. For the region and for the world, WHO is committed to facilitating and coordinating your efforts,” the regional director said.

India, Indonesia and Thailand are among the world’s

DNSU warns gutka, tobacco sellers in Dmu (From p-1) who admitted that they were getting the items from the quarantine area, DNSU strongly warned those dealers, suppliers and retailers to abstain from such activities.

The union appealed to the district administration and police personnel on duty to strictly monitor such activities. On their failure to take corrective measures, the union warned that it would be compelled to take its own course of action as deemed fit and proper. This was stated in a press release.

Chidambaram also proposed a ‘paycheque protection programme’ for workers in the non-MSME sector, on the lines of that announced in the United States. “We urge the prime minister to step in urgently and announce an assistance package to protect the wages/salaries and pay cheques that are due in the next few days,” he said at a press conference through video conferencing. The April salaries of 12 crore employees working in the MSME and non-MSME sector must be protected and the government should do something about this, he said.

largest vaccine manufacturers.

Every day, millions of people of all ages are provided life-saving vaccines produced in these three countries, the WHO statement said. “As we mark World Immunization Week, we must build on our success and redouble our efforts to ensure all people in the region can access the life-saving benefits vaccines bring. Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique challenge. But I am certain that through collaboration and innovation we can produce a vaccine faster than ever before while maintaining all standards,” Dr Khetrapal Singh said. The global health body in its statement said WHO has mobilised a broad coalition of scientists, researchers and industry partners to develop and evaluate candidate vaccines for COVID-19.

More than 120 potential vaccine candidates have been proposed globally, and WHO continues to track their type and progress. Seven candidate vaccines are already in clinical evaluation and 82 vaccines are in pre-clinical evaluation, it said.

road development sector in the state.

Like many of the states with hilly terrain, road projects were either stalled or having slow progress, he said.

Pointing out that Nagaland has only six-seven favourable months for construction and repair of roads, Patton said frequent landslides on the highways made it difficult for projects to be completed on time.

School Education dept ropes in DD, AIR for imparting lessons DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): The department of school education would commence telecast of video lessons of important subjects for classes 8, 9, 10 and 12 through Doordarshan (DD) Kohima from May 1 to compensate loss of instructional days caused due to the ongoing Lockdown. The lessons will also be broadcast through All India Radio (AIR) Kohima from May 2.

In this regard, principal director Shanavas C instructed deputy commissioners (DCs)of all districts to entrust ADCs/ SDOs(C)/EACs to coordinate with all village/ward councils under their jurisdiction and make necessary arrangements for students who do not have facilities to access DD at home to view/listen to the broadcast at a common place like council hall, school auditorium, etc, as ensuring maximum coverage for the DD telecast and AIR broadcast across the State, including the remote areas, was very much essential for achieving the obje ctives of the programme.

The principal director said the broadcast schedule had been made in such a way that only two classes would be having lessons on a particular day, so that children did not group up in large numbers in schools/village council halls where telecast could be viewed. He also shared a copy of the broadcast schedule for reference to the DCs. He sought their personal intervention of the DCs in the matter.

GIVF to treat non-COVID patients DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Gynae Institute of Virility and Fertility (GIVF), Kohima has been identified for treatment and hospitalisation of non-COVID patients referred from Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK), which has been designated as COVID hospital, and will be empanelled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for providing benefits to beneficiaries, principal secretary Home Abhijit Sinha informed.

GIVF is in addition to Oking Hospital, KP Bethesda Hospital, Putounuo Nursing Home and Bethel Medical Centre,

all of which have already been empanelled under AB-PMJAY. So far, CIHSR, Eden Medical Centre, Zion Hospital & Research Centre, Nikos Hospital & Research Centre and Nagaland Multispeciality Health & Research Centre (Dimapur), Lenjem Hospital (Mokokchung) and Polyclinic (Tuensang) have been empanelled, while arrangements have been made at Nyenching Government High School for delivering healthcare services by the health & family welfare department in Longleng. In rest of the districts where private hospitals exist, empanelment is under process.

Self-help groups in Punjab weave 4 L masks

Speaker calls for JLF meeting DIMAPUR, APR 29 (NPN): Nagaland Legislative Assembly speaker and chairman of the Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF) on Naga Political Issue has called for a meeting with the members of the JLF on May 2, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the State Banquet Hall of the Old CM’s residence, Kohima. NLA secretary Dr. PJ Antony said that the meeting will discuss on the Naga political issue and the COVID-19 Pandemic situation. In this regard, all JLF members have been requested to attend the meeting.

SHGs women seen weaving face masks.

CHANDIGARH, APR 29 (IANS): Nearly four lakh face masks have been produced and delivered by women members of selfhelp groups in Punjab under the Rural Development’s National Rural Livelihood Mission, a minister said on Wednesday.

The self-help groups in villages have emerged as Covid-19 warriors in a big way. Besides making

masks, they are producing aprons and gloves for the civil administration, police and for the Panchayats, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa said.

According to him, 3,711 members of the selfhelp groups from 22 districts are engaged in producing them. They have received a new order for making 50,000 masks. Bajwa said

besides them, doctors and pharmacists of the Rural Development Department are performing frontline duties to save the lives.

They are performing duties at isolation centres, flu corners and rapid response teams, besides doing emergency duties.

The minister appreciated the efforts of self-help groups for helping the government in the crisis.

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXx NO. 143 Dimapur, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020

The left and right hand

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n application raising a series of questions under RTI Act 2005 has been filed with the department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) Nagaland with regard to procurement of various items used in combating the spread of COVID-19 such as PPEs, masks, hand gloves, surgical items and drugs etc.The RTI application filed by four well known personalities had sought information from the DoHFW about funding for purchases, whether a Purchase Committee and Quality Control Committee were in place and if so, whether the procedures were adopted in the entire chain of placing order, subjecting the received materials to the scrutiny of the Quality Control Committee etc. After COVID-19 was declared pandemic, the state government had moved to top gear in preparing to combat the virus and the likelihood of having to trace and treat those affected. It would seem fairly justified that the subsequent expenditure for preparation to combat COVID-19 would involve a substantially large sum of money. For a month after the national lockdown was declared, the state had been on the job for undertaking preparations.Since the government machinery had virtually stopped functioning except the DoHFW, which has been focussing mainly on fighting COVID-19, the main task was to provide the necessary items to frontline workers/warriors such as PPEs, masks, sanitisers, gloves, thermal screening gadgets etc. The applicants sought information on how were these were procured and whether due process was followed. It was concluded that there was no tender floated in inviting expression of interests from registered suppliers and manufacturers of medical items.If that were so, then it would only lead to conclusions that the procedures were bypassed and some manipulations were done with regard to pricing and quality of items. What the applicants had wanted to know was whether there was any quality check by the quality control committee on items supplied, received and distributed.One of the points raised over the quality was the complaints from doctors and other frontline workers about the quality of PPEs and other items. It was alleged that many crucial items did not have labels of the brands nor other information. If this is a fact then it is indeed shocking and inhuman. If frontline workers are expected to protect and prevent the spread of COVID-19 then it goes without saying that they must themselves be protected with the best quality of protective gears, otherwise it will be as bad as knowingly exposing them to the danger of COVID19. The life of every frontline worker is precious and their roles are like that of soldiers guarding our frontiers from the enemies. If soldiers guarding our borders are unprotected and ill armed then it is like knowingly sending soldier to doom before they can fight the enemies. On the other hand, if the emergency situation warranted urgent ‘panic purchases’, still the quality of the items should not be compromised. At a time like this, there is a need to ensure that the fight against COVID-19 brings all stakeholders including public to be on the same page. Perhaps the government will also be more forthcoming in putting matters at rest and ensure that a greater level of transparency and accountability serve as guides for future decisions that affect the life and security of people.

DailyDevotion Gracious Uncertainty …it has not yet been revealed what we shall be…

—1 John 3:2

Our natural inclination is to be so precise– trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next– that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty.

Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, “Well, what if I were in that circumstance?”

We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life– gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies.

That is not believing God– it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, “… believe also in Me” (John 14:1), not, “Believe certain things about Me”. Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in– but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.

Quotes

You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. ~ Mark Twain

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020

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Preparing for the stigma in our land

any have spoken aloud about how the virus is going to change us.

Arguably, the fact is that, we have already been changed. There’s enough evidence and has its message clear, we are all in for a paradigm shift. The economy is doomed for a drastic beckoning towards a close collapse. But before we get there, we may be in for an even greater challenge; a test of human compassion and kindness. If we do not pay heed, our own morales may leave us mortified.

Throughout the country, we have witnessed atrocities against those on the front lines. A doctor who died after being infected with the virus, in Chennai, was denied cremation by his own locals. Late Dr. Sailo, one of Meghalaya’s most popular doctors, was denied a final resting place by the very people he may have treated.

Policemen in the frontline have experienced untold violence by mobs, to the extend where, one of the personnel’s hand was literally severed off. These acts of abuse are shocking, but yet, is the stark reality now. We have seen our own, being harshly mistreated. A testimony from a Naga woman who had just returned from a city,

via her circular video, expressed her agonies in being ill treated by her own land-owners and neighbours. She couldn’t leave town since all express-ways to her native place were closed for commute. The poor treatment of health workers in Zion Hospital, Dimapur were far too inhumane.

These incidences are not hyperboles. They occurred in reality.

The antipathy against our own manifested loudly and clearly is appalling. There were many others, who had returned from cities, treated in the same manner. It should leave us thinking of our own morales, seeing these disgraceful acts.

People on COVID-19 duty have been subject to galore miseries. Not only have they been asked to vacate from their homes and premises, but also face abuse and violence in their line of duty, accompanied by the harsh stigma.

The union cabinet has issued an ordinance and has amended the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897.

It means that violence on healthcare workers is a non-bailable offence punishable upto 7 years in prison. This is applaudable.

Our own administrators need to make clear this ordinance to the public. The message must remain

simple. There cannot be any tolerance to such acts. Perpetrators shall be punished.

What must be understood is that, very often, these incidences of violence have been attributed to fear and ignorance of the people. In our land too, the xenophobic attitude displayed to one person, who tested positive for the virus is reprehensible. Maybe the person’s case of concealing his travel history has more to do with it being misinformed or simply a failure of proper communication. It’s crucial that appropriate legal action should be taken against those who try to conceal their health status, since it obviously endangers the lives of others. Nonetheless, nameshaming, abuse and the xenophobic treatment of a person through the public domain is despicable.

It is unbecoming of us. What we surely do need is to wish the sick person our best and pray for his speedy recovery. Contracting the virus was no fault of his/her. We know clearly, the virus does not discriminate. Love and compassion are bigger. There was a leak of information, of the names of passengers who travelled on the 24th of March, 2020, via Dimapur Airport. The number of calls

Emergence of a Visionary and Ideological based political party a necessity in Nagaland

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humble request to dear readers to take a short break from COVID-19 updates so as to start a fruitful discussion on the above mentioned topic. As we all know the destiny of any state is bound to be determined by the political parties who, for better or for worse, form and run the government. Here, Nagaland is no exception. Numerous political parties have appeared, disappeared, and reappeared under different names in our state 58 years journey. Not to forget the different political parties that continues to survive all political storms till date.

Today’s citizens continue to debate mostly on the current status of the state governance and lack of infrastructure, where focus is mainly directed on shortcomings rather than finding ways to right the wrongs in order to create a better and safer future for all. This article strive to lay out some general framework on how to right the political wrongs, that culminates in the form of bad governance, and how, through political measures, corrections can be achieved to some extent by the emergence of a strong ideological based political parties (which unlike the present political parties dare not to challenge the status-quo, created by prevailing social conditions).

Before touching on the topic, it is essential to note that apart from the dirty electoral politics, one of the main reason some Nagaland based political parties fail to deliver good governance, in-spite of being in power for several terms, is essentially a failure on the part of the political parties to initiate much needed social reforms to address various social ills prevalent in the state. These social evils are mainly contributed due to the unchanged social structure of traditional Naga society which is comprised of individual-centric, familycentric, clan-centric, village-centric, and tribe-centric polity at every level of the society. And such centricism often manifest in the form of power struggle at various levels from the apex tribal bodies and respective tribe bodies elections to village council, and from municipal bodies to statelegislative assembly.

These struggles for power take the clan, village, area or tribe identity to a whole new level. For further comparative reading, I suggest readings of Ambedkar Annihilation of Caste System, where he propagates the necessity to initiate social reforms before political reforms and also a Volume of essays titled, Democracy in Nagaland: Tribes, Traditions, and Tension, edited by Jelly J. P. Wouters and Zhoto Tunyi.

One could certainly admit that even the politicians belonging to various political parties in Nagaland recognize the need to restructure the existing social order, yet they decide not to. This is because these sensible politicians recognize the need to push for social reforms, yet lack the courage to do anything as their rise to power depends on the very social order that is prevalent and in which he is part and parcel of. These politicians need

the undying and blind support of their respective clan, village, range-area, to rise to power; and any attempt to make little positive change in social order means risking their support and jeopardizing their political ambitions.

Such ground and grassroots reality often force politicians, contesting elections, to do more for his family, clan, village when voted to power.

One instance is where a contesting candidate, somewhere in Nagaland, openly declared that if voted to power, he will provide jobs only to his village people, while the neighbouring villages will only get money for their votes and support. As such, voters in villages chose to give full support if a contesting candidate comes from their clan or village. Elsewhere, in town constituencies, like Dimapur, voters are bound to vote for candidates from their tribe. It is often heard and customary that some active party workers in Dimapur assembly constituencies chose to vote for opposite party candidate belonging to their tribe. Here the candidate credibility, integrity, or party-ideology does not count, only his village, tribe-identity, and his wealth counts.

The Possible Road Ahead Living under such political reality, contributed chiefly by social factors, individuals can do little to bring any social or political reforms, even mass education to remove ism at different levels will have little or no effect at all. Not only that, few citizens or organizations effort to check government corruptions are simply not enough. Moreover, putting corrupt politicians or officials (after convictions) behind bars do not guarantee all politicians and government officials will mend their ways. And if citizens continue to play with the same rule, I reckon the present state of bad governance, corruptions, favouritisms, etc. will remain the same even in the foreseeable future.

The present system needs to be replaced with a new effective system to improve governance, thereby improving the living standards of the common people. So what could be the possible road ahead: the only way out from this present condition, though extremely difficult, is the emergence of a new visionary, ideological based political parties led by citizens who can defy traditional norms, if necessary; who despises corruptions and favouritism; who are against narrow village, region or tribe interests; who are legally tribal yet democratic not just in words but in mental attitude and behaviour as well as; who are against majoritarian politics and stick to the visionary ideology at all cost.

The ultimate question is: do such citizens exist in Nagaland?

To end on a positive note, one can optimistically say if such political party emerges and wins people to their side, one can say Nagaland is in safe hand. Or else, like in the past general elections, we will find no option but to vote for a candidate knowing beforehand that nothing will improve. And we shall continuously fail to rewrite the history.

Pakinrichapbo, Advocate

they received from loved ones and strangers alike, left most of them astounded. Each passenger had filled up self declaration forms and submitted the same to authorities at the airport.

Thenceforth, the COVID-19 team constantly remained in touch with the passengers, encouraging and ensuring all of our safety and well being. A commendable job by the team. However, since all the credentials of passengers were listed in the aforementioned leak of documents, passengers started receiving a legion of phone calls and messages. Some phoned the passengers in good will. Still, most of them, called them to threaten, investigate and accuse. More than ever, it is crucial for the public to lend their support by placing their trust in the administration.

Not by taking responsibility in their own hands and breaching the privacy of their own citizens. The breach of privacy was uncalled for. The leak from the source was condemnable, and the authority viz. COVID-19 Team in Dimapur, is solely to blame since passengers from the flight entrusted their details to them.

The communal colour given to the person is one to regret and even be ashamed about.

According to reports by the WHO and UNAIDS, fear of stigma and discrimination were main reasons why people were reluctant to seek healthcare services, disclose their HIV status, and subsequently, to follow their antiretroviral drugs programme.

After efforts were made to sensitise the public and several other groups continued de-stigmatising the virus through public awareness, the cases dropped by huge percentages. Destigmatization today, stands as one of the key roles in containing the HIV/ AIDS virus. It only goes on to tell how important it is for us, as a society, to stand against the stigma associated with the virus. The virus hasn’t hit our land yet, God forbid, but when it does, you can be sure that our people are fully capable of becoming the worst, if we are not too careful. The battle against the stigma must start even before the virus enters our land. Our Chief Secretary, Shri.

Temjen Toy, via his twitter handle @temjentoy, has urged everyone to manifest their best during the fight against the pandemic. Showing love and compassion to all, is of paramount importance in our fight against the virus.

Ache Khalo

COVID-19 pandemic: Dimapur DSU report

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has debilitated and humbled even the most powerful nations and people across the globe. The fear of COVID-19 entering our State has been clearly demonstrated by our people during this period of lockdown. We can only hope and pray that our frontline workers , our meager facilities and resources will be enough to help us through, if COVID19 enters our State.

The Frontline workers such as the Medical team and allied frontline workers, Police , the Administration, the essential goods storekeepers, private entrepreneurs supplying essential office stationeries etc have been risking their lives to keep us safe and protected. In this time of crisis, as we pray for the safety of these frontline workers, let us not forget the ones working behind the scene- the District Surveillance Team.

The District Surveillance Unit, headed by the District Surveillance officer Dr. Imtiwabong Aier along with four members of the Intergrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) Dimapur have been working tirelessly to keep our District safe since January 2020, even before WHO declared coronavirus as pandemic.

This surveillance team has been screening and tracking foreigners, returnees from affected countries and states since February 2020.

After the declaration of coronavirus as pandemic, the entire CMO office staff was roped in to help in the tracking and tracing of individuals entering our state from various countries and states with the assistance of the Police and local bodies.

Digitization of all these data was a herculean task with the data being time sensitive and

with inadequate manpower to handle all the tasks.

A COVID-19 Control Room was set up with designated phone numbers for following up all quarantined people both foreign and out of state returnees to Nagaland & Dimapur Dist. in particular. As the protocol for COVID-19 was modified, the control room duties also increased- keeping intouch with people who are stranded, sick who needs ambulance, co-ordinating with local bodies who are justifiable scare about people/residents entering their locality after lockdown. It became 24x7 with a twenty member team. Besides these, initial responsibilities also include thermal scanning of self –declared returnees who were sent for further investigation in the Flu Clinic at COVID Hospital.

Home Quarantine tracking- a branch of control room, a team calls in daily for 14 days after discharges from Quarantine Center to ensure the well being of the individual discharged & also to bring them back in if they suffer any Influenza-LikeIllness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).

With the declaration of a COVID-19 positive case in Dimapur, an Active Surveillance Teams were set up on April 13, 2020; 25 teams consisting of 4 member each, have combed through Ward 6 and Ward 17 which is the Containment Area. The area comprised of colonies such as Marwaripatti, New market, DMC area, GS Road, Ramjanaki, Thakurbari, Murgipatti, Hazi park, Westyard, Jain Temple area, Kalibari, and Old Market, among others. The teams carried out house to house screening. The Active Surveillance A team will screen

and monitor the residents of this Containment Area for 28 days which began on 13th April 2020. The team faces immense hardship in tracing the people by donning the PPE, as Ward 6 consisted of slums with no proper drainage and proper lanes, while Ward 17 is densely populated with 10-15 residents crammed in a small apartment. It must be noted that, during the screening, if any resident shows any symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, and flu-like symptoms, he/she is forwarded to COVID-19 Hospital for further examination; and if required samples are also taken. The details of these residents are captured by the teams are recorded by the District Surveillance Unit.

Any case related to the Nizamuddin case were traced, tested and quarantined. All Co-passengers of the positive case were traced, tested and quarantined.

The family and relatives, and all others contacts were traced, tested and quarantined.

The private hospital where the positive patient was treated; Doctors and staff who came in direct contact, patients with attendants; were trace, tested and quarantine.

All contact traced were categorized into high risk and low risk as per their contact with the positive patient.

Line listings (data entry) of all the people captured via contact tracing are tirelessly digitized by the IDSP. Contact tracing & verification of the data captured are also followed up via telephone to double check on their veracity.

Kimnei, District Media Officer, Dimapur

Reader’s Post

Possible dangers post lockdown Sir,

Introspecting the present behaviour of the citizens of Dimapur where nobody seems to be scared of the deadly coronavirus when they are out to buy essential commodities.

The entire Nagas seems to be alarmed and panic choosing to remain at home when the topic of the virus reverberates across the entire homes in the state. However, many forgets the risk of the virus when they step out of their home to buy their essentials thereby defying the most talk about “Social Distancing”, which is the most probable means of spreading the virus.

Social distancing is not something to be taught on daily basis by police personnel or volunteers on duty, however, it is to be kept in mind and applied practically by every citizen who are scared to be contracted with the virus. Continuing the same practise by failing to maintain social distancing and other precautionary measures even when the lockdown is lifted, Dynamite of COVID-19 may explode in the state and the “Regret” could not be restored.

James Newmai, Dimapur

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020

5

from Assam test positive 3,345 kms, 84 hrs: from Chennai to Aizawl 10forpersons COVID-19 in New Delhi: Sarma

Meghalaya CM inaugurates telemedicine facility

IIT Ghy, Hester Biosciences to develop COVID-19 vaccine

AIZAWL, APR 29 (PTI): Home is where the heart is, in life and in death, too. The 23-year-old Raphael AVL Malchhanhima was a distraught man when his friend Vivian Lalremsanga died of suspected heart attack on April 23 in Chennai.

The lockdown had shuttered the city and cluttered his mind.

The post-mortem was conducted and the local authorities suggested that Lalremsanga’s last rites be performed in Chennai, over 3,000 km away from home,

as transporting his body was out of the question.

Lalremsanga had recently completed a course in hotel management and was waiting to collect the certificate, and hoping to start a career in an industry which held great promise before the coronavirus sank it into an unfathomable abyss.

But fate willed otherwise and his body was found outside his rented apartment.

Despite the authorities in Chennai suggesting that Lalremsanga be buried at a

Mnp starts transporting its stranded citizens Correspondent

IMPHAL, Apr 29: Manipur transport department on Wednesday sent four buses for transportation of 84 people who were stranded in Guwahati since the commencement of the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

The 84 people including students and pilgrims returning from different states of the country were lodged at Manipur Bhavan in Guwahati of Assam.

The four buses left Imphal for Guwahati today morning. State principal secretary (transport) flagged off the four buses which also had hand sanitizers, masks for use by those stranded on their way back home.

Officials of the state general administrative department (GAD) handed over 500 bottles of hand sanitizers and 500 face masks for use by the stranded people as well as by the staffs of the of Manipur Bhavan, Guwahati.

Providing the details of the drivers and handymen of the four buses (MN04-0298, ML05-1809, MN01-1664 and AO-01C-4909), state police department has also requested its counterparts-

Assam and Nagaland police to ensure smooth passage of vehicles by informing all checkpoints.

The sending of the buses for transportation of stranded people from the state was the first step taken up by the state government due to nationwide lockdown.

Official sources said that the state government has taken up the initiative considering the plight of those stranded in the backdrop of mounting pressure on the state government and political leaders, particularly those in power to bring stranded people back.

All the stranded people would be subjected to COVID-19 test when they arrive in Imphal and before being sent to their respective homes.

The state government has estimated 30,000 to 50,000 people from Manipur who are stranded in different parts of India and want to return home.

As they would reach the state after the lockdown is lifted, the government has been working to procure adequate number of testing kits in advance, an official source said.

Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 29: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday unveiled the telemedicine facility at North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) here.

He said the facility will provide remote access to general as well as COVID19 related cases that require consultation and medical help.

“We are in the ‘COVID Age’ and we need to adopt new way of doing things.

The two seat telemedicine centre has been activated to respond to the current situation arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Sangma said.

He said that in the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic the use of technology is imperative in all aspects of governance, business and healthcare.

The Chief Minister said the telemedicine facility will be integrated with the 108 helpline to facilitate one point contact and citizens who require specialized information will be connected to this particular centre.

First in Northeast; mobile kiosk to collect COVID-19 sample

Agartala, Apr 29 (IANS): In a major step to tame the coronavirus, a mobile COVID-19 sample collection kiosk has been designed under the Agartala Smart City project and if successful, more such kiosks would be developed, top officials said on Wednesday.

The newly designed mobile kiosk, first in the eastern and north east India, was handed over to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of West Tripura district on Tuesday and it already started collection of samples of the people.

“The kiosk ensures protection to the sample collecting health worker and prevents wastage of personal protection equipment (PPE). This initiative is a major step by Agartala Smart City project in the fight against Covid-19,” Tripura government’s Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar Rakesh told IANS. He said that if the mobile sample collection kiosk achieves the desired goal and if we get a good feedK Y M C

back from the ground level health workers, we would replicate this more and deploy them in other districts and subdivisions. “There is no need for patients to come to the hospital for giving sample. The mobile kiosk can go to the doorstep of the patient or any locality to collect the samples as and when the health authority decides,” said Rakesh, who also looks after the Health and Family Welfare Department.

Agartala Smart City Limited (ASCL) Chairman Gitte Kirankumar Dinkarrao said the kiosk was built on an old three wheeler vehicle at a cost of Rs 85,000 and it can navigate through narrow lanes and by-lanes of the city to facilitate collection of samples from the community itself.

“The kiosk also facilitates mass testing of a larger number of people in a shorter time frame. This initiative was taken by the Municipal Commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation Shailesh Kumar Yadav, who is also the Chief

Executive Officer (CEO) of ASCL,” Dinkarrao told IANS. West Tripura District’s CMO Debasish Das told IANS that as it is a maiden venture, after getting the policy guidelines from the state government we would exploit the mobile sample collection kiosk.

The additional Chief Secretary further said that Tripura’s nCoV sample testing ratio is highest in the country with 1,108 samples being tested in the state per one million population against the national average of 470 per million people.

“To prevent any unlawful entry into India from Bangladesh the 856 km long Indo-Bangla border with Tripura has been sealed.

People have been requested to inform the authority if they found any infiltration from across the border,” the senior IAS officer said.

Bangladesh and Myanmar are a cause of concern for the authorities in the northeastern region as any illegitimate entry into this region can spread the virus.

Guwahati, Apr 29 (IANS): Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) on Wednesday announced a collaboration with pharmaceutical company Hester Biosciences Limited to develop a vaccine against coronavirus (COVID-19).

The vaccine is expected to be ready by the end of this year for animal studies.

The work is currently in its early stage of development, IITG said in a statement.

The vaccine will be based on a recombinant avian paramyxovirus based vector platform. The recombinant avian paramyxovirus-1 will be used to express the immunogenic protein of SARSCoV-2 virus. The recombinant avian paramyxovirus-1 expressing the SARS-CoV-2 protein could be used as a vaccine candidate for further study, the Institute said.

“It is too early to comment on the efficacy and immunogenicity of the vaccine, however, we will be able to reveal more details about this vaccine after the results of animal studies are obtained,” said researcher Dr Sachin Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Biosciences and Bioengi-

neering, IIT Guwahati.

According to the Institute, the avian paramyxovirus-1 has been explored as a vaccine vector for various animals and human pathogens. The avian paramyxovirus-1 has been used to express the immunogenic protein of human pathogens such as HIV, avian influenza virus, human parainfluenza virus, SARS-CoV. Similarly, it has also been explored as a vaccine vector for animal pathogens such as infectious bursal disease virus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, bovine herpes virus, Nipah virus etc. The research team has generated the recombinant avian paramyxovirus-1 based vaccine flatform for classical swine fever and Japanese encephalitis. The role of the Institute is to produce the recombinant vaccine candidate. “IITG and Hester have collaborated to develop and manufacture a recombinant vaccine against COVID-19 disease as a preventive measure. Hester’s involvement would be from master seed development up to release of the commercial vaccine,” said Rajiv Gandhi, CEO and MD, Hester Biosciences Limited.

GUWAHATI, APR 29 (PTI): Ten persons, including seven CRPF jawans, from Assam have tested positive for COVID-19 in New Delhi, which is a matter of concern for the state, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.

A CRPF Sub-Inspector Ikram Hussain, hailing from Assam’s Barpeta district, had died of the disease on Tuesday in New Delhi.

“These developments are a matter of concern for us as the return of people, who are now outside, to the state may lead to a second wave of infection”, Sarma said at a press conference here.

Many people from different parts of the country are “reaching out to us to bring them back to the state but we will have to take tentative and cautious steps in this regard”, the minister said.

Among the 10 who have tested positive in Delhi, two are cancer patients from the state who had gone for treatment to the capital and seven are CRPF jawans, he said.

Sarma said that public hygiene and social distanc-

Tripura to create jobs under MGNREGA Agartala, Apr 29 (PTI): The Tripura government has launched an initiative to create jobs under MGNREGA for 6,979 families practicing shifting cultivation in the state, a senior minister said on Wednesday. Apart from jobs, the families will also be provided with seeds for cultivation under the ‘Jhum Sahayata Prakalpa’, state Education Minister and Cabinet spokesperson, Ratan Lal Nath told reporters here. The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the council of ministers on Tuesday, he said.

“We have decided to provide wage employment of six man-days per month under MGNREGA to 6,979 ‘Jhumiya’ families and provide them with seeds for planting, tending and harvesting the next crop under the ‘Jhum Sahayata Prakalpa’,” he said. Every family practicing ‘Jhum’ cultivation in the TTAADC will be provided with 2,150 kg of seeds, Nath said, adding that an expenditure of Rs 4.5 lakh will be incurred in the scheme.

I, on behalf of the Yakshu village citizens acknowledge Mr & Mrs. M. Panglong Konyak, Assistant commandant VG Mon for their magnanimous gestures by assisting 149 daily wagers and private employees from Yakshu village affected by lockdown and stranded at various parts of India amounting to a sum of Rs. 1,30,000/- (One lakh thirty thousand).

May God bless him and his family abundantly as they serve God and His people.

L. Kholee Yakshu Village K-867

LANGPANGKONG SENSO TELONGJEM MOKOKCHUNG: NAGALAND

APPRECIATION With immense pleasure, the Langpangkong Senso Telongjem Mokokchung would like to thank Shri. Tongpang Ozükum, Hob’ble Minister Housing & Mechanical and Shri.

Imnatiba Jamir, Advisor Industries & Commerce, Lab. & Emp., Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, accompanied

by Shri. Imtimeren NPS, Add. SP Mokokchung for rendering their valuable services and having concern to the public of Langpangkong Range, Mokokchung. In order to contain the spread of global pandemic by a deadly corona virus COVID 19, the leaders have visited the inter-state police check gate at Tuli Sub-division at different locations and accessed the situation.

Moreover, they also inspected the preparedness of community health centres and primary health centres at different towns and villages in Langpangkong area and interacted with the team of Administrations and medical officers. Their visit has brought enormous relief to the area people. The LSTM will place in record their invaluable aid and sacrifices rendered by them. May God bless our leaders.

Sd/(IMNATOSHI LKR) President LSTM

Sd/(REPAMEREN) Gen. Secretary LSTM

Himanta Biswa Sarma ing was of utmost importance to ensure that the spread of the disease was contained.

The minister said a 16year old testing positive for coronavirus on Tuesday in Bongaigaon, the first case of the district, was also causing concern as “she had tested positive 36 days after she came into contact with her COVID-19 positive grandfather, a Tablighi Jamaat attendee from Dhubri”.

The girl is the first positive case of home quarantine in the state and “it is possible that she came into contact with another positive person who is yet to traced”.

“The Bongaigaon Deputy Commissioner has been asked to examine the matter minutely and I will go there

tomorrow to review the situation”, he said.

Another 61-year old male from Goalpara had also tested positive on Tuesday, taking the total cases to 37 in the state.

These two cases were reported five days after a person from Dhubri tested positive on April 16.

Meanwhile, two persons, hailing from Dhubri and Goalpara, were discharged from hospital here on Wednesday after four repeated tests were found negative.

Of the total 37 COVID19 cases, seven are active cases, one person has died and 29 have been released so far.

The minister said that Nalbari and Golaghat may be excluded from the list of five Red Zone districts in the next few days along with the lifting of the containment zone restrictions from the high-end apartment here where the solo non-Tablighi related person in the state tested positive.

Besides Golaghat and Nalbari, the other three districts in the Red Zone are Dhubri, Goalpara and Morigaon.

Eight positive COVID-19 patients test negative in M’laya Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 29: Eight patients, who had tested positive for COVID19 a fortnight ago, yielded negative for the virus on Wednesday, although another test has to be conducted, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said “The swab samples of the eight positive COVID19 patients tested negative for the virus. They will be again retested after 24 hours as per protocol to completely declare them as recovered,” he told journalists.

Stating that the report of no new positive cases in the State is indeed a “positive sign”, he however cautioned alertness must not come down and all preventive measures should continue.

Earlier, Chief minister Conrad K. Sangma, who took twitter, informed that 16 family members, including the eight positive patients, of the index patient were retested.

“Their test results came in today and they

have all tested negative,” he said.

Meghalaya recorded the first COVID-19 positive case on April 13, that of Dr. John L Sailo Rynthathiang , the Director of the Bethany hospital, which is now declared as COVID-19 hotspot in this state capital.

Among the 16 family members, including the eight immediate family members of the renowned physician and philanthropist Dr. Sailo, yielded negative for COVID-19.

The samples of another three positive patients will also be taken soon for re-test.

Tynsong informed that till Wednesday, samples of 1,397 individuals have been tested. Of these, 1,288 samples have tested negative while the results of another 97 samples are awaited The Deputy Chief Minister said that the government has re-started the use of Rapid Test Kits for screening which was earlier put on hold following directions from the ICMR.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NAGALAND (An Institute of National Importance under Ministry of HRD, GOI) Chumukedima, Dimapur, Nagaland - 797 103

YAKSHU VILLAGE APPRECIATES

MKC-122

Raphael (middle) with ambulance drivers Chinnathanbi and Jeyanthiran.

He said they were stopped by police at several places and would travel long hours at a stretch without food as most highway eateries were shut. When they would find one, they were asked to wait outside and collect the packaged food which they ate inside the ambulance.

Before reaching Mizoram on Tuesday, after a four-day back-breaking and emotionally draining journey, they were screened at Vairengte check-gate on the state’s border with Assam.

Once in, the pervasive sombreness of the occasion lifted momentarily, when people greeted and thanked them for bringing back Lalremsanga home, among his own people, before he joined the invisibles.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You’ve just shown what every Mizo heartbeat means when it comes to the term ‘Tlawmngaihna’,” Chief Minister Zoramthanga tweeted.

Malchhanhima has been put under quarantine for 14 days at a designated facility, while his friend Lalremsanga rests in everlasting peace at a cemetery near his home in Aizawl’s Model Veng.

CORRIGENDUM REGARDING EXTENSION OF LAST DATE FOR RECRUITMENT TO THE POST OF REGISTRAR Advt No. NIT-N/ RECT-NT/2020/07 dated 20-02-2020

Reference to our Advt. No. NIT-N/RECT-NT/2020/07 dated 20-02-2020, inviting applications for the post of REGISTRAR on Deputation basis (including short term contract), it is to be informed that considering the prevailing situation in the country, the last date for the receipt of application for the post of Registrar is further extended upto 19.05.2020 (16.00 Hrs), which is subjected to further review, if such exigency arises.

The detailed advertisement is available in the institute website: www.nitnagaland.ac.in

DC-394

cemetery there, Malchhanhima could not bring bring himself to accept the idea of leaving his 28- year-old friend miles and miles away from home.

It was then that ‘Tlawmngaina’, the Mizo code of ethics, which espouses the moral of self-sacrifice for the common good, showed him the way. He had made up his mind. His friend’s lifeless body will not remain in the bowel of earth in faraway land.

The Mizoram government and the Chennai Mizo

Welfare Association stepped in. “The body was at the mortuary of a hospital and we were thinking of ways to transport it to Mizoram amid the lockdown. Two ambulance drivers saw our plight and came forward to help us, saying they had earlier been to Assam as lorry drivers,” Chennai Mizo Welfare Association secretary Michael Lalrinkima told PTI. The drivers, however, insisted that somebody from Mizoram accompany them. Malchhanhima volunteered.

And then began Lalremsanga’s journey homeward, embalmed and enshrouded, in an ambulance with his caring friend and the two good samaritans-Chinnathanbi and Jeyanthiran--through deserted highways and bleak landscapes on April 25.

“The thought of my friend being buried far away from his home troubled me.

My father, a preacher, also encouraged me to accompany the mortal remains of my friend withstanding the difficulties of the journey,” Malchhanhima, a native of the remote Hmawngbu village in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district, told PTI.

DIRECTOR

Date: 27/04/2020

APPRECIATION

On behalf of the COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur management Committee, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for your valuable contributions to our COVID-19 Hospital.

Contributors;1. Jain Community Dimapur contributed Biscuits, 32 Food Packs, and Drinking Water & Fruits 2. Gorkha Colony ( Rana) contributed Food Packs.

3. Breeze Bakery contributed Bread, Cakes and Snacks.

4. Hon’ble Shri. T.R.Zaliang (Opp’Leader) and his Colleagues Rs. 100000.00. (Rupees One Lakh) Only.

5. Mrs. Nyathei Phom, wife of Hon’ble Shri. S.Pangnyu Phom (Minister H&FW) 2.

NOS. of Pigs & 4 Bags of Rice 6. ECI Construction Company Voluntarily Black topped the Compound and Road at COVID-19, Hospital.

7. Indus Viva Health Science Rs. 175000/-Only Pvt. Ltd Dimapur Nagaland (Towards CCTV installation) 8. Mr.& Mrs. Hokuto Zhimo New Colony 1Pig and 2 Bag of Rice.

9. DABA Rs.100000/- worth of Refreshment and Food.

10. Kishore Jain 5Bags of Rice & 1Bag of Dal 11. Dr.Vininoli K.Chishi donated 400 pieces of Face shield (reusable) 12. Grace & Care Foundation donated coveralls, gowns, leggings, face shield.

13. Nagaland Decorative –Furniture’s worth RS. 100000/14. Western Sumi Hoho. 1 Pig &2bag of Rice.

Thanking you.

(Dr. Z. Kheshito Zhimo) Medical Superintendent COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur DC-395 K Y M C

6

international

COVID-19 cases in US crosses 1 mn mark death toll exceeds American fatalities in Vietnam War

WASHINGTON, APR 29 (PTI): The number of people infected by the coronavirus pandemic in the US crossed the one millionmark on Tuesday, while the fatalities spiked to over 58,300, exceeding the number of American soldiers who lost their lives in the two-decade-long Vietnam War. According to the US National Archives, 58,220 American soldiers died in the Vietnam conflict, which began in 1955 and ended in 1975.

The US became the first country in the world to have more than one million cases of coronavirus.

It accounts for nearly onethird of the 3.1 million cases globally. With 58,355 deaths so far, the US also accounts for one-fourth of the over 213,000 global fatalities.

“We continue to pray for the victims as well as for those Americans who are grieving their lost ones and their loved ones. There’s never been anything like this. We suffer with one heart but we will prevail.

We are coming back, and we’re coming back strong,”

Boston EMS medics work to resuscitate a patient in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., April 27, 2020. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump said at the White House during his remarks on the Paycheck Protection Programme. “Now that our experts believe the worst days of the pandemic are behind us, Americans are looking forward to the safe and rapid reopening of our country,” he said.

“Throughout this ordeal, millions of hardworking Americans have been asked to really make tremendous, tremendous sacrifices. It is sacrifices like nobody thought would even be possible; nobody thought we would ever be talking about something like this,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, several states have initiated the process to reopen their economies.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom outlined the phased reopening of his state. “We are not going back to the way things were until we get to immunity or a vaccine.

We will base reopening plans on facts and data, not on ideology. Not what we want. Not what we hope,” he told reporters.

More than 1,800 people have died due to the coronavirus in California so far. Schools and colleges, Newsom said, could start in July-August.

California and Washington were among the first two states to impose stay-at-home order. Now more than 95 per cent of the country’s 330 million population are under stayat-home order.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also announced first phase reopening of the state. Tennessee on Monday allowed reopening of restaurants and later this week retail outlets could resume their businesses.

Pennsylvania has announced three-phase reopening of the state beginning May 3.

States like South Carolina, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio, have announced phased reopening of their economies. The state of U t a h o n Tu e s d ay a n nounced relax restrictions and offered a mask to its residents.

In New York -- the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the US -- nonessential businesses are ordered to stay closed till May 15. New York along with other states, including New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island and Massa-

chusetts, have announced to coordinate reopening.

Responding to questions, Trump said the US has done more testing that any other country in the world.

“We’re doing more testing than any other country in the world by far... So, we’re going to show more cases because we’re doing much, much more testing, double than anybody else,” he said.

Trump said he relied on experts, who apparently went wrong on this.

“We were listening to experts and we always will listen to experts. But, the experts got it wrong. A lot of people got it wrong. And, a lot of people had no idea it would be this serious,” he said.

“I listened to experts.

I’ll tell you what. I did something that the experts thought I shouldn’t have done. I closed down our country and our borders.

I did a ban on China from coming in, other than US citizens, and we did very strong checks on even our US citizens,” Trump asserted. The United States, he said, is opening up again.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020

Men are more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19

BEIJING, APR 29 (IANS): Men and women are equally likely to contract the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), but men are more than twice as likely to die from the disease as compared to women, warn researchers.

The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, suggest that additional care may be required for older men or those with underlying conditions. So far, researchers have confirmed that older COVID-19 patients and those with certain underlying conditions, such as heart disease and respiratory conditions, are at greater risk of severe disease and death.

However, Dr Jin-Kui Yang, a physician at Beijing Tongren Hospital in China, noticed a trend among COVID-19 patients who died. “Early in January we noticed that the number of men dying from COVID-19 appeared to be higher than the number of women,” said Yang. “This raised a question: are men more susceptible to getting or dying from COVID-19? We found that no-one had measured gender differences in COVID-19 patients, and so began investigating,” Yang added.

For the findings, the research team analysed several patient datasets to see if there were differences in how men and women respond to COVID-19. This included data on 43 patients who the doctors had treated themselves and a publicly available dataset on 1,056 COVID-19 patients. The virus responsible for COVID19 is similar to the virus behind the 2003 SARS outbreak, and it attaches to the same protein, called ACE2, on cells it attacks. Given this similarity, the doctors also analysed a dataset of 524 SARS patients from 2003.

Among the COVID19 patients, the researchers confirmed that older people and those with specific underlying conditions tended to have more severe disease and were more likely to die.

The age and numbers of infected men and women were similar, but men tended to have more severe disease.

Strikingly, in the largest COVID-19 dataset, over 70 per cent of the patients who died were men, meaning that men had almost 2.5 times the death rate of women. And interestingly, being male was a significant risk factor for worse disease severity, regardless of age,

the study said.

In the SARS dataset from 2003, the researchers found a similar trend, with a significantly higher mortality rate amongst males compared with females.

Interestingly, levels of ACE2, the protein involved in the viral attack in both SARS and COVID-19, tends to be present in higher levels in men, and also patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, all of whom have worse outcomes in COVID-19. However, further research is needed to determine exactly why men with COVID-19 tend to fare worse than women.

While the current findings have a small sample size, and larger studies are needed to confirm the results, this is the first preliminary indication that male gender is a significant risk factor for COVID-19 severity and death, the researchers noted. Earlier this month, another study, published the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found that males over 50 with non-communicable chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease are at greater risk of death from coronavirus.

United States presidential race Over 200,000 H-1B workers could lose their right to be in US by June Hillary Clinton endorses Biden’s bid to challenge Trump WASHINGTON, APR 29 (AGENCIES): Layoffs in the US due to the coronavirus pandemic that is having an adverse effect on businesses could endanger H1-B visa holders, who could run the risk of losing their status.

Around 250,000 guest workers trying to obtain a green card in the US, with 200,000 of them on H-1B visas, could potentially lose their legal status by June end, Jeremy Neufeld, an immigration policy analyst with the Washington DCbased think tank Niskanen Center told Bloomberg.

Additionally, scores of more individuals, who are not looking for resident status, may also be compelled to go back home, Neufeld added. Close to three-quarters of H-1B visas are given to those employed

in the technology sector, the report said.

O ve r t h e l a s t t wo months, millions of Americans have been laid off.

However, workers on visas are more prone to hardships.

This is because H1-B visas are linked to location and an employer who agrees to award the recipient a basic salary. Pay cuts and even work from home arrangements often go against the visa rules. H-1B workers who are fired have 60-days to find a new job, shift to a different visa type or return home. Even for workers who are able to hold on to their jobs, Covid-19 has posed a great challenge as they won’t be able to get their visas renewed.

The visa crisis, experts note, is dealing a big blow to the workers who are already reeling under the onslaught

of the pandemic.

Doug Rand, co-founder Boundless Immigration Inc., an enterprise that helps people steer through the immigration system told Bloomberg that the visa crisis is creating “a catastrophe at a human level and an economic level.” Complicating matters further, H-1B workers usually have families who are dependent on them for official approval to stay in the country. “It’s just a mess,” Rand added.

Efforts, however, are on to reduce the impact of this unprecedented situation.

TechNet, a lobbying group with members including tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft, joined an array of trade groups urging for succour to foreignborn workers, according to Bloomberg’s report.

Impossible to hold Olympics unless pandemic contained: Abe

Shinzo Abe

TOKYO, APR 29 (AGENCIES): Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday that the Tokyo Olympics could not take place next year unless the coronavirus pandemic is contained, as the city’s governor requested an extension of Japan’s state of emergency.

The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government last month postponed the Games until July 2021 because of the coronavirus crisis.

With the epidemic’s worldwide infection rate climbing and experts suggesting a vaccine is a long way off, doubts have been raised about the chances of holding the huge event next year. “We’ve been saying the Olympic and Paralympic Games must be held in

a complete form, in that athletes and spectators can all participate safely. It would be impossible to hold the Games in such a complete form unless the coronavirus pandemic is contained,” Abe said in response to an opposition lawmaker.

Abe staked part of his legacy as Japan’s longestserving premier on holding the Games and was hoping for a boom in tourism and consumer spending. Japan gathered some $3 billion in domestic sponsorship, an Olympic record, and spent close to $13 billion on preparations.

The prime minister said on Wednesday that the Olympics “must be held in a way that shows the world has won its battle against the coronavirus pandemic,” and cautioned that Japan

should “brace for a protracted battle”.

Tokyo confirmed 47 new infections on Wednesday, private broadcaster Nippon Television reported.

The national tally stands at 13,895 infections, including 413 deaths, national broadcaster NHK said.

While that tally is still low compared to other nations, critics say Japan is not doing enough testing to reveal the scope of a problem that has driven some hospitals to the brink.

Reflecting that view, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike told reporters that the situation in the Japanese capital remained “difficult” and called on Abe’s cabinet to extend the nationwide emergency, which is due to end on May 6. Abe’s comments echoed statements made by other senior Japanese officials this week.

Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori told Nikkan Sports on Tuesday that the Games would be “scrapped” if they could not take place in 2021. Also on Tuesday, the head of the Japan Medical Association (JMA), Yoshitake Yokokura, told a news briefing that “unless an effective vaccine is developed, I expect hosting the Olympics will be difficult”.

WASHINGTON, APR 29 (PTI): Hillary Clinton has endorsed presumptive Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden’s bid to challenge President Donald Trump in the November elections, saying US needs a “real president” who “put facts over fiction” and not somebody “who played one on TV”.

Announcing her backing for the former US vice president on Tuesday during a Biden campaign virtual town hall to discuss the coronavirus and its effect on women, Clinton asserted that he is best suited to lead the country in these challenging times. “Today I am proud to endorse my friend Joe Biden for President of the United States,” the former first lady and secretary of state said.

Clinton criticised President Trump as someone

who is so ill prepared to be the commander-in-chief that he appears to be just playing the role on television.

“Think about what a difference it would make if we had a real president, not just one who played one on TV,” said 72-year-old Clinton, who headed the Democratic ticket in 2016 but lost to Trump, a Republican.

Trump, 73, is seeking his re-election in the November presidential polls.

Biden, 77, is the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic party. He is likely to be formally nominated by the Democratic National Convention in Wisconsin in August.

“More than ever, these tumultuous times reveal how desperately we need levelheaded, solutions-oriented leadership. We need someone who listens to scientists,

sports

Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton

who acts with kindness and compassion, and who recognises that America can and must lead the world in responding to this pandemic,” Clinton said.

The number of people infected by the coronavirus pandemic in the US crossed the one million-mark on Tuesday, while the fatalities spiked to over 58,300,

exceeding the number of American soldiers who lost their lives in the two-decadelong Vietnam War. “I am thrilled to be part of your campaign — to not only endorse you but to help highlight a lot of the issues that are at stake in this presidential election,” the former First Lady told Biden during the virtual town hall

with him. “I want to add my voice to the many who have endorsed you to be our president,” she said.

Biden called Clinton a “friend” and thanked her for the “wonderful personal endorsement.” Biden has already been endorsed by several leaders, including his one-time rivals for the Democratic nomination Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, former president Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

During the virtual town hall, Clinton was critical of President Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in the US, the worst hit country.

Clinton served in the US Senate with Biden and was Secretary of State for four years when he was former president Obama’s vice president.

FIFA medical chief warns Tim Southee, Tom Latham claim against restarting this season 1st-class honours at NZC Awards

Michel D’Hooghe

LO N D O N, A P R 2 9 (IANS): FIFA’s medical committee chairman Michel D’Hooghe has said that football should not be played in this season amid the coronavirus pandemic. He even has suggested the governing bodies to prepare for action for the next season.

“My proposal is if it is possible, avoid playing competitive football in the coming weeks,” D’Hooghe told BBC Sport. “Try to be prepared for the start of good competition next season,” he added.

The comments from FIFA’s chief doctor come as Bundesliga moves towards a possible re-start next month, while the Premier League is hoping for organising the games behind closed doors in June. “There is a risk and it is not a risk that has small consequences,” said D’Hooghe.

“It can have conse-

quences of life and death and that is why I am so careful and I ask everyone to be very careful before deciding to play again.

“I speak as a medical doctor, I don’t have to speak as an organiser of matches, but for the moment from my medical standpoint I would be very sceptical,” he added.

D’Hooghe said it was too early for players to be coming into contact with one another, at least while social distancing regulations are in place.

“How will you avoid direct contact?” he said.

“That is my question.

“For the moment the criteria means it is absolutely difficult to say that we can play competitive football and believe me I regret it profoundly because I am a football man.

“I am a little bit afraid that to have a complete solution we will have to wait until we have a vaccination programme, but I think the time has come now to think of some hygienic rules,” he added.

It has already been announced that French Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 seasons will not resume. European leagues have time until May 25 to tell UEFA whether they want to complete or cancel their seasons.

Tim Southee

WELLINGTON, APR 29 (IANS): Tim Southee and Tom Latham bagged firstclass awards while Devon Conway and Katie Gurrey were recognised for their domestic performances on day two of the 2020 New Zealand Cricket annual awards presented online for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Southee, who claimed 41 wickets at an average of 22 on pitches in Sri Lanka, Australia and at home in New Zealand, won his third Winsor Cup. “It’s a great honour,” Southee said, upon receiving the Winsor Cup (virtually) from Black Caps coach Gary Stead on Wednesday.

Tom Latham

“The way we played our Test cricket at home this summer was especially pleasing. To beat England first up was a great effort and then to perform so well against a very good Indian side was immensely satisfying.” While Southee took the wickets, Latham was the New Zealand Test runs scoring machine with 875 firstclass runs from 12 matches, with three centuries, including a match defining hundred in Colombo. Latham won his first Repath Cup. During the award presentation, Stead said it wasn’t just the big scores that stood out for him.

“This season we faced some of the very best bowl-

ing attacks in the world and Tom was an absolute rock at the top for us,” he said.

“Even in Australia when we were under severe pressure he managed to dig in and deny them for extended periods of time - it’s that courage and determination I really admire,” he added.

Meanwhile, Wellington Firebirds batsman Conway was named the men’s domestic player of the year while Gurrey was named women’s domestic player of the year.

Former New Zealand wicket keeper-turned-commentator Ian Smith was on Tuesday honoured with the Bert Sutcliffe Medal for outstanding service to cricket.

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