Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 25
Without divulging details, Nagaland Chief Minister (CM) Neiphiu Rio on May 25 said that the State government was providing the ‘lion’s share’ of COVID-19 resources to Dimapur district taking into consideration the burden that the district is shouldering.
The CM was answering to a query from media persons at Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Dimapur about distribution of resources to all the districts in the state.
Noting that Dimapur has more than 60% of COVID positive cases in the State, Rio said, “We are giving more; we are giving the lion’s share to Dimapur knowing the condition but you know that the virus is spreading in all districts except Noklak.” The CM, however, added that the government was also working to see that the virus does not spread to the rural areas and that was why the authorities are aggressively pushing for vaccination. He expressed optimism that the central government would allocate more vaccines for the state in the days to come.
When queried on the levying of COVID fuel cess last year while on the other hand announcing free treatment of COVID patients in all government hospitals, Rio responded that the government was not putting additional burden on the common man including taxes on petroleum products.
He said the government was trying to take austerity measures like last time and that the government ‘would try to handle with the little savings’.
“We are a consumer society, we do not pay income tax, property tax and we are exempted and that is how we know how to receive but we do not know how to give. Nothing is free; you have to pay for any services or anything that you require. And the government is trying its best,” he added.
Rio said that the government hospitals, particularly in Kohima and Dimapur were trying to take care of people who are below poverty line but added that, those who can afford should pay.
The CM pointed out that many state governments had deferred payment of salaries to its employees “But here even if we do so, we do not have our own resources so where will we get and pay the accumulated dues?” he said while adding that “At least time may come when the government employees may like to contribute 1 or 2 days salary” in fighting the pandemic.
Further, Rio announced that CISHR was chosen for construction of 176-bedded hospital with all required necessary infrastructure because of its reputation, expertise, manpower and minimal treatment cost. CISHR has all the required facilities so when we have another Hospital adjacent to that the working system becomes easy, Rio noted. It was also agreed that profits realized would be invested in Nagaland, he said.
The 176-bedded COVID hospital at CIHSR is being built at a cost of Rs 30 crore under disaster plan. “They said that it would take 6 weeks to complete but I have given them two months’ time,” the CM informed.
