Phek Village Baptist Church

Manipur villages self isolate due to fear of COVID

People fencing entrance to their house to prevent spread of COVID-19 in Manipur. (NP) Correspondent

IMPHAL, AUG 9: People of some villages in Manipur’s Bishnupur district were in state of fear and anxiety after five staff, including four doctors of a primary health centre, were detected with COVID-19 recently.

The five staff; four doctors and a nurse posted at PHC at Leimapokpam under Nambol sub-division of Bishnupur district tested positive for the virus on Saturday.

Following the results, the district administration has declared the premises of the PHC and villages in the surrounding as containment zones and imposed restriction to the entry and exit of people areas under containment.

The villagers however considered government measures not enough as almost all entrance gates of each houses were barricaded with temporary fencing and members of each house avoided visiting immediate neighbours.

Elders of each family faced a hard time dealing their children who leave their house to play, said Romeo, a resident of Ishok village over phone. Ishok is among four villages that has been sealed by the PHC.

Romeo informed that except people engaged in providing essential services, outsiders were completely banned by village youth clubs who guarded entry points round the clock.

The excessive measure prevented people in the villages who went out for work from returning. They were reportedly asked to stay in farm huts on the outskirts of the villages.

On the other hand, villages not covered by the containment zone but were in close proximity chose to isolate themselves by avoiding going out of their respective villages. They also banned entry of outsiders.

Since the report of the local transmission of COVID-19 in the state coupled with complete lockdown imposed by the state government to tackle spread of the virus, various localities and villages across the state erected temporary barricades at the entry points in a bid to stop the spread of the disease.

The move has attracted criticisms from various sections of the society.

COVID-19: Assam theatre workers seek financial aid from government 68 new cases take Arunachal’s COVID tally to 2,117

GUWAHATI, AUG 9 (PTI): Theatre workers in Assam have urged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to extend financial assistance to people engaged in the profession as they are facing hardship in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

A delegation of Professional Theatre Workers, Assam has submitted a memorandum to the chief minister on Saturday, seeking his intervention for providing support to them. The coronavirus pandemic has been unsparing to the community and has cast a shadow on the careers of many theatre artistes and workers, making sustenance difficult, a member of the delegation said.

The theatre workers are facing an acute financial crisis as they have no work for almost four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

“Many are selling vegetables, while some have turned daily-wage labourers. Some have even sold their prized possessions used in theatre productions,” the association of the theatre workers said in the memorandum. There are hundreds of people who earn their livelihood working in various departments of theatre groups across the state. These people work in different segments such as scriptwriting, acting, set design, make-up and lights.

The Assamese culture and values have been immensely enriched by the contribution of the theatre artistes and many have brought laurels to the state from different national and international platforms, the memorandum said. “Despite their contribution to the Assamese society, most of the theatre professionals are not part of any welfare scheme. This is a matter of concern,” the member of the delegation said.

According to him, the theatre personalities have wholeheartedly supported the government’s decision to implement the lockdown and tried to make people aware of the measures taken by it to contain the spread of the disease.

The lockdown restrictions have been eased and life is limping back to normalcy in most parts of the state but the function of the theatre groups seems to be a difficult task as people are continuing to avoid large gatherings, he said. “In such a situation, we do not have any other option but to seek your support and assistance in our battle for survival. Therefore, we request you to kindly support and assist us for at least the next six months,” the theatre workers said in their representation. SHILLONG, AUG 9: Thirty nine more persons, mostly civilians,tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday in Meghalaya, taking the total number of active cases in the State to 566, even as 67 more patients have recovered from the viral infection.

Following the directive of CJ Biswanath Somadder, the Meghalaya HC will remain closed for three days with effect from August 10 to 12 to fully sanitize its premises.

Meanwhile, night curfew has been further extended in Meghalaya from August 10 to 17 next between 9 pm to 5 am each day in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state, DM of East Khasi Hills, Matsiewdor War Nongbri promulgated on Sunday.

Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War, meanwhile, informed that the State recorded 39 more COVID-19 cases till Sunday afternoon, taking active cases up to 566, even as 67 persons recovered from the disease, taking the number of recoveries to 490.

While 18 new positive cases were detected in East Khasi Hills (2 armed forces, 16 civilians), Ri-Bhoi 6 new COVID-19 cases in Sikkim

Gangto k, Aug 9

(PTI): Six more people tested positive for COVID19 in Sikkim on Sunday, taking the Himalayan state’s caseload to 866, a senior Health department official said.

Director General (DG)- cum-Secretary, Health, Dr Pempa T Bhutia said that five positive cases have been reported from South Sikkim and East Sikkim one case.

O f t h e t o t a l 8 6 6 COVID-19 cases in Sikkim, East Sikkim has registered the highest number of cases at 595 followed by 228 in South Sikkim, 42 in West Sikkim and one in North Sikkim, he said.

Sikkim has 371 active COVID-19 cases, while 484 patients have been cured of the disease and one patient has died, Bhutia said.

So far 30,732 samples have been tested for COVID19 in Sikkim, he said. why Dr. Animesh Mishra is so powerful? The whistle blower, the director, Dr DM Thappa shown the door while corrupt is being safe guarded,” he said.

He said that AMRIT pharmacy was by passed which is supposed to supply these items at subsidized rates to hospital patients.

Dr Thappa said despite bringing this into notice of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi from 2017 to 2020, he was (instead) asked to have a cordial relationship with Dr Mishra.

He also said when matter surfaced in Media, faculty members close to Mishra portraying from NEIGRIHMS Faculty Association charged Director of tarnishing the image of the institute. The former Director further alleged the earlier Institute self-run pharmacy was closed in 2016-17 to open private vendor “Life Care Pharmacy” in the institute premises with the help of current Deputy Director Administration (DDA) David T Umdor (against the advice of the Director In charge Dr. Prithwis Bhattacharyaa). He added, now AMRIT pharmacy is being targeted and being closed with the help of private pharmacy lobby and DDA. recorded 20 new cases (7 armed forces, 13 civilians) and one case was registered in East Jaintia Hills district.

East Khasi Hills is the most affected district in the state with 446 active cases, which include 117 BSF troopers, 68 from armed forces and 261 civilians.

War informed that so far the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases detected in Meghalaya stands at 1062 which includes 566 active cases, 490 recoveries and six deaths.

Of the total 67 recoveries today, East Khasi Hills accounted for 52 (BSF 51 and one civilian), Ri-Bhoi two and East Jaintia Hills 13. War informed that the health department is investigating to determine the cause of the viral infection at the Reid Provincial Chest Hospital after one more health worker tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

Of the 6 new cases in NEIGRIHMS hospital, the senior medical official said one is Lower Division Assistant clerk and another is a staff nurse of health department who came into contact with a positive patient, while one is an attendant and another a returnee from Nagaland.

Aizawl , Aug 9 (PTI):

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) have forged an electoral alliance for the upcoming village council and local council polls, an HPC leader said on Sunday.

Elections to 558 village councils in nine districts state barring three Autonomous District Council (ADC) areas and 83 local councils in Aizawl Municipal area will be held on August 27.

H P C p r e s i d e n t Thangliensung told PTI that the alliance was forged last week at a closed-door meeting between leaders of the two parties in Aizawl.

He said that the agreement to jointly fight the local body polls was made as the MNF-HPC combine had successfully contested the Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) poll in November

AIZAWL, AUG 9 (PTI):

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has released ‘Corona Kavithakal’, a collection of poems, written by Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai during the lockdown.

The governor has recently penned at least 13 books in English and Malayalam.

During the book release function held in Raj Bhavan on Saturday, Zoramthanga applauded the governor for his extraordinary achievement.

Two more books, ‘Republic Day 2020’ and ‘Thus Speaks the Governor’, written by Pillai, were also released by Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajai Lamba through a video message.

On the occasion, the governor shared how he has derived inspiration for writing books.

The event was attended by state Congress president

Correspondent

IMPHAL, AUG 9: Manipur health department on Sunday stated that the public must be weary of use of unproven COVID-19 preventive devices .

The health department expressed concern over increase in the use of chlorine dioxide releasing foreign made Plastic Cord Device called ‘Virus Shut Out’ among the public.

Chlorine dioxide in aqueous solution is used in disinfection of drinking water and the virus destroying capacity in the spray form or slowly emitting gas form is not yet established, the health department stated.

“State health department does not recommend its use in prevention of COVID-19 pandemic. The public must be weary of the use of such unproven devices,” an official release of the department said.

Meanwhile, 118 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Manipur in the past 24 hours, taking the infection tally to 3,753.

Of the 3,753 cases, 1698 were active cases currently receiving medical treatment at various COVID care facilities and 2044 were

Of the 118 new cases, 90 were from the general population while the remaining 28 were personnel of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), a report of the COVID-19 Common Control Room said on Sunday. 71 of the new cases were locally transmitted cases as patients had no significant travel history, the report said.

A total 117 persons were discharged after they were found COVID-19 free during the latest RT PCR

test. Among them, 42 were CAPF personnel, the report stated.

Of the total 3753 infected persons in the state, 2930 were from the general population and 823 were CAPF personnel, the report added.

Of the 2044 recovered cases, 1909 were from the general population and 135 were CAPF personnel. While out of 1698 active cases, 1010 were from the general population and 688 central security personnel, the report added.

MNF & HPC forge alliance for village & council polls

recovered cases.

last year.

“The two parties will jointly fight the village council polls in 31 villages in SHC area,” he said.

Though the electoral alliance was forged at the general headquarters level of the two parties, seat sharing will be made based on local arrangement and consent of the two parties at unit or village level, he said.

He said that seat sharing arrangement or a consensus is yet to be reached in some villages as each (HPC or MNF) party wished to fight it alone in their respective village Lal Thanhawla and chief secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo. councils.

There are 31 village councils within Hmar dominated SHC area in the northeastern part of Mizoram.

On November 5 last year, the ruling MNF and HPC combine had swept the first SHC polls by winning 10 seats in the 12- member council.

The village council and local council polls is expected to see a triangular fight between the ruling MNF, Congress and main opposition Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM).

The last date for filing nomination papers for the

village council and local council polls was fixed on August 11 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature was fixed on August 13 by the state election commission.

Counting of votes would be undertaken on ing is over.

There are 2,464 village council seats in 9 districts - Aizawl, Lunglei, Serchhip, Champhai, Mamit, Kolasib, Saitual, Khawzawl and Hnahthial and 545 local council seats in Aizawl municipal area. According to the state election commission, a total of 4,54,180 electorates, including 2,29,937 female voters would exercise their franchise in village council polls while 2,18,758 voters, including 1,17,037 female voters would elect their 545 representatives in local council polls where ballot papers would be used.

Itanaga r, Aug 9

(PTI): At least 68 more people, including 36 security personnel and a healthcare professional, have tested positive for coronavirus in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the state’s total count to 2,117, a Health Department official said on Sunday.

Of the fresh cases, 10 were reported from the Capital Complex region, 20 from East Kameng district, 12 from West Siang, five each from Tirap and Lower Siang, four each from West Kameng and Namsai, three each from East Siang and Tawang, two from Papumpare and one from Changlang, State Surveillance Officer Dr L Jampa said.

“Thirty-six security personnel of paramilitary forces are among the fresh patients. A healthcare worker from West Kameng district has tested positive for COVID-19,” he said.

All, barring five, are asymptomatic and have been shifted to COVID Care Centres, Jampa said. A total of 104 coronavirus patients were discharged from hospitals on Saturday.

Arunachal Pradesh now has 684 active cases, while 1,430 people have recovered from the infection and three died of it, he said.

CBI seek Centre’s approval to probe into NEIGRIHMS implant scam

S H I L LO N G, AU G 9

(AGENCIES): Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought the approval of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for further investigation into the alleged multi-crore implant scam at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) hospital in Shillong.

“CBI which was investigating the implant scam and assets created by Head of Department (HOD) Cardiology, Dr Animesh Mishra, based on the reports emanating from NEIGRIHMS Shillong, Meghalaya High court case for disruption of cath lab surgeries in May 2019 first week following the seizure of 32 lakh rupees stents, pacemakers and other surgical implants from Sanjo Pharmacy (a private pharmacy run by the wife of a technician in radiodiagnosis departmentShri. Joshua Kharbouli) and subsequent CBI scrutiny in cardiology, orthopaedics and radiology as a part of anti-corruption all India drive is seeking approval of Ministry of Health and Welfare, New Delhi,” former NEIGRIHMS Director, Dr DM Thappa said in a statement issued here on Sunday. Dr Thappa also alleged that Dr Mishra has been paying visits to CBI office to close this case.

It may be mentioned here that the Centre had last year instituted an inquiry into the alleged multi-crore implant scam between the Cardiology department and the Sanjo pharmacy based on the complaint of Dr Thappa, who was recently removed as director of the institute.

However, the findings of the inquiry on the matter is yet to be known till today. The former Director of NEIGRIHMS also alleged that Dr Mishra was asking Sanjo pharmacy to visit Cath lab in cardiology department on daily basis to supply stents, pacemakers and implants at higher prices to run a private syndicate to derive benefits and create assets out of proportion of his income.

“This syndicate had been working for last 10-12 years as per the statements of DM cardiology students available you tube videos uploaded,” he said as he also named the other two colleagues of Dr Mishra – Dr Manish Kapoor, Associate Professor and Dr Amit Malviya, Assistant Professor – to be equal partners in this implant scam in NEIGRIHMS.

“All three of them belong to Varanasi. This is

Three of 13 books penned by Mizoram governor released

PS Sreedharan Pillai

August 27 as soon as poll

Dear Atshu Soho!!!

On this Day the 10th August 2020 (11th Birth Anniversary) you have been keeping yourself like a blooming Rose even in the midst of the thorns. Your entry in to our family has brought Love, Peace, Oneness, Trustworthy etc that we deserve for a long time. “A very Happy Birth Day Atshu Soho”.

-Lots of Love from loving Parents, Bros & Sis.