Dimapur: Returnees to be quarantined in school, college hostels

Dimapur in-charge for COVID-19 related activities, Y Kikheto Sema chairing a coordination meeting at DC’s Conference Hall on Monday. (Morung Photo)

Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 11

With citizens of Dimapur district accounting for more than 50% of the 18, 000 Nagaland citizens expected to return to the state from different parts of the country, the district authorities have appealed the private schools and colleges to accommodate some of the returnees in their hostels.

The appeal was made by Y Kikheto Sema who is the overall in-charge of Dimapur district for COVID-19 related activities, during a meeting with representatives of the Dimapur units of All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) and All Nagaland Private Colleges’ Association (ANPCA) at Commissioner’s Rest House on May 11. 

Kikheto apprised the representatives that government institutions and hostels identified by the administration could accommodate about 1000 persons while the identified hotels could take in around 900 persons. He said that the government facilities will not be able to accommodate all the returnees as more than 8000 people have applied for Dimapur alone. As such, he appealed the private colleges to make arrangements to take in around 1500 persons and 3500-4000 persons for private schools.

Asserting that all necessary requirements will be looked after by the government, Kikheto who is also the APC and Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture, assured that proper medical screening will be done upon their arrival. He also informed that only those persons with normal health conditions would be housed in the hostels and that any person with COVID-19 suspected cases would be kept separately in designated quarantine centres.

The representatives of the private institutions said they would discuss with their respective members concerning the matter. It was also decided that schools and colleges who are not affiliated to the associations will be approached by the Core Committee.

Presidents of both the associations were nominated as member of the Core Committee while one member each was nominated as Accommodation Committee members of the Empowered Group during the meeting.

Accommodation Committee members are likely to visit such hostels by tomorrow if the private institutions are affirmative with the appeal of the government authorities.

Empowered Group Member, Honje Konyak, Secretary, (F&CS) also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, addressing a coordination meeting with the District Administration, police, medical and Empowered Group was held at the DC’s Conference Hall, Kikheto said that it was difficult for the government alone to deal with the current situation. He suggested that civil society organizations be roped in for the purpose.

Kikheto meanwhile asserted that he was assigned to Dimapur to bridge any gaps among the departments and not to overtake power of anybody. If there is any issue that the administration, police, medical or other government authorities cannot decide, then everyone would have to come together to decide on it, he added.