The MPCC President has in a letter to the Prime Minister held the state government responsible for the high number of Covid deaths in the state, while relief supplies of rice totalling 93007.95 quintals has been announced by the Union government for Manipur. Vaccinations for the 18 year plus category are also to begin in the state from May 17, while the state BJP President passed away during the week due to Covid.
State Congress President says Govt Has Failed to Save Lives in Pandemic
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Govindas Konthoujam has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the present Manipur government has completely failed in saving the lives of people from the pandemic in the state.
In a letter addressed to Modi on May 12, Govindas expressed concern over the preparedness of the state government to tackle a third wave which has been stated to be inevitable by the principal scientific advisor of the Prime Minister through the media.
The Congress President charged that “the chief minister has even conveniently forgotten his own physical inspection of land, and public assurance of building an Emergency Covid Hospital in the form of a 200-bedded building at Langthabal, Imphal on March 30, 2020 to fight the first wave in the state.”
The MPCC president also claimed that the surge in the mortality and infection rate due to COVID would have been much lower if the Emergency COVID Hospital was built.
Moreover, the district hospitals in each district of the state are not adequately equipped with ICU, ventilators, oxygen and requisite equipment, and they are short of doctors, nurses and staff, it stated. As a result, there is a genuine fear of chaotic situations in the rural and hill districts of the state, the letter added.
Govindas urged the Prime Minister to intervene and suggested immediate establishment of a 1,000-bedded Covid hospital by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Indian Army to combat the second wave in the state, it stated.
He also suggested Centre’s assistance with strict instructions under Prime Minister’s office to fully equip all the district hospitals in Manipur with a minimum of 100 beds each immediately to fight the second wave in the state.
Free vaccination for all, including those between 18 and 45 years, must be expedited on war footing, along with an assurance on regular supply of vaccine in the state, the letter added.
18 Years Plus Vaccination to begin on May 17
In a video message Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren on May 14 announced incentives for COVID-19 health care workers in the state.
The chief minister announced that doctors, nurses and all other personnel, who are directly involved in COVID-19 treatment and duty would be given incentives of Rs. 500, Rs. 400 and Rs. 150 per day respectively.
The chief minister also said that drivers and handymen, who are transporting oxygen cylinders from other states, would also be given Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 per trip respectively.
Mentioning that RIMS, JNIMS and Shija Hospitals have their own oxygen generating units, he said that the newly installed units at Churachandpur and Thoubal District Hospitals are also likely to start functioning by May 17.
The state Chief Minister also announced that COVID-19 vaccination of people belonging to the age group of 18-44 years would begin from May 17. The CM informed that the state had received 39,000 doses so far for the vaccination of this age group.
93007.95 Quintals of Rice for Manipur
In an effort to help poor families during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Union Government has allocated 93007.95 quintals of rice per month for May and June for Manipur under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
Reports quoting the statement of Manipur Government’s director of department of CAF and PD, Yumnam Ranjan said that the quantity of rice was allocated under the PMGKAY-Phase-III in order to provide additional rice of 5 kg per person free of cost for the month of May and June.
The initiative will benefit all the ration card holders and enlisted members. Persons who do not have valid ration cards of National Food Security Act (NFSA) will not be covered as per the guidelines of the scheme, reports added.
The quantities of the rice to be distributed in each district are – 1509.50 quintals for Jiribam; 5436.05 quintals for Kangpokpi; 9731.50 quintals for Bishnupur; 1527.45 quintals for Tengnoupal; 2110.20 quintals for Chandel; 1105.10 quintals for Pherzawl; 5814 quintals for Churachandpur; 14334.70 quintals for Imphal East; 19768.90 quintals for Imphal West; 4752.20 quintals for Senapati; 954.85 quintals for Noney; 3333.80 quintals for Tamenglong; 6512.95 quintals for Kakching; 11291.85 quintals for Thoubal; 3819.30 quintals for Ukhrul; and 1095.60 quintals for Kamjong.
Senapati District Hq Declared Containment Zone
District magistrate Mahesh Chaudhari on May 12 declared Senapati headquarter, Maram Bazar area, Tadubi town area and Mao town area as containment zones in an order which will come into effect from 3 pm of May 14 and continue for the next eight days i.e., until May 22 or until further orders whichever is earlier.
Report says it was observed that as per the findings of the medical department and observing the trend of positive persons being detected, from persons within the market area and other locations of the district even when that person has not travelled out of the district, it has become extremely difficult to do contact tracing of all possible contacts of the COVID-19 positive persons as it includes some of the most crowded areas of the district, reports added.
Entry of Non-Residents to Moreh Restricted
Community leaders of Moreh have resolved to ban outsiders and non-residents from entering Moreh from May 12 onwards.
Reports said the resolution was unanimously taken after deliberations pertaining to COVID-19 related issues during a meeting of civil bodies of Moreh held at the office of Hill Tribal Council (HTC) on May 12.
The participants also resolved that people who had to enter Moreh in case of emergencies and unavoidable cases should obtain the latest COVID-19 negative test reports or certificates from the Medical department. Any person whether a resident or non-resident of Moreh not possessing the COVID-19 negative reports will be denied entry, reports added.
BJP Manipur President S Tikendra Passes Away
BJP Manipur president Saikhom Tikendra Singh who had been battling with COVID-19 at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) passed away at Shija Hospitals on May 13 the day he was shifted to the hospital.
Tikendra had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 27.
HC Direction on Patient’s Attendants during Curfew
The High Court of Manipur has directed the state government to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to facilitate movement of the attendants who are taking care of patients in regards to supply of essentials, including food to the patients.
Reports said a Division Bench of Manipur High Court comprising of chief justice Sanjay Kumar and justice Kh Nobin issued the directive on May 10 in connection with a PIL filed by advocate Naresh Maimom before the high court, seeking the court’s direction to procure sufficient oxygen and ICU beds for COVID-19 patients.
“This court must take note of the fact that a curfew has been imposed in various parts of the state, including Imphal city, and citizens attending to their near and dear ones who are admitted in hospitals due to the pandemic or other medical conditions, are being put to great inconvenience in providing them necessary aid and succour,” the court’s order mentioned.
Four Drug Traffickers Arrested
At least four drug traffickers with six polythene packets labelled “Nestle Everyday Dairy Milk” which contained a total of 4995.1gms of suspected opium were arrested by a team of police personnel led by the OC of Nongpok Sekmai Police Station while conducting frisking and checking duty at the IVR of Chandrakhong village foothill near Thumkhong Lairembi during curfew hours on May 8.
Huge Cache of Arms, Ammunition Seized
In a well-planned and executed joint operation, troops of Mantripukhri Battalion under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) along with Manipur Police seized a huge cache of arms, ammunition and other warlike stores from Samurou of Imphal West district on May 9.
Reports quoting statement issued by HQ IGAR (South) said the haul included four pistols, PEK plastic explosives, rounds of various rifles and three radio sets. The recovered arms and warlike stores were handed over to Wangoi Police Station for further legal action.
Police Fine SOP Violators
The Police Department continued the crack down on violators of guidelines and restrictions issued by the State Government and the State Disaster Management Authority in connection with COVID-19 pandemic, including failure to wear mask in public places, failure to maintain social distancing in public places, spitting in public places, etc. to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the State.
The Police Department has collected a sum of Rs. 2,02,28,110 as of May 12, reports added.
Haomee Federation Urges Roll Back of Koubru Pact
The Federation of Haomee has demanded the State Government to roll back the 4-point agreement that was reached on April 20 between the Committee on Protection of Mt. Koubru (COPPK) and the State Government at IFCD Minister, Letpao Haokip’s quarter at Lamphel on the Koubru issue.
The federation, in a press release, said that the secret pact reached on April 20 must be withdrawn within May 20.
UKAL Opposes Any Attempt to Distort History of Koubru
The Umang Lai Kanba Lup (UKAL) has strongly opposed recent attempts by some individuals to distort the history surrounding Mt. Koubru which share an inseparable link with Meitei’s culture, religion, history and beliefs.
UKAL in a statement said that some people have been attempting to create unnecessary confusion by sidelining the historical and cultural aspects linked to Mt. Koubru and playing minority and tribal cards for mere political gain.
Hospitals to Handle COVID-19 Admissions
Admission of Covid patients for treatment will now be handled directly by the hospitals, said an order of the Health Department on May 13.
Notably, this comes amid the surge in the number of deaths due to COVID-19. Experts had claimed that the surge in the Covid mortality is caused by late admission of the patients at hospitals. Earlier, the admission processes were handled by a Government formed committee.
Meanwhile, the order of the Health Department also directed hospitals to immediately constitute COVID-19 Admission Committees to ensure that any patient brought to the hospital is attended to promptly.
In addition, the hospitals may establish their own COVID-19 helpline numbers to assist patients and family members, said the order.
