In line to go home

Stranded citizens wait at DDSC, Dimapur, on May 6, to obtain medical fitness certificates that will qualify them to travel back to their home districts. (Morung Photo)

 

Nagaland prepares to send stranded citizens to their home districts

 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 6

‘Local/indigenous people’ from different districts in Nagaland, who are currently stranded within the state, would be able to journey back to their respective native places from Thursday onwards.

This follows the state government's notification to allow inter-district movement of local/indigenous people from May 7-9.

In Dimapur, hundreds of stranded citizens from other districts, majority of them students, underwent medical test at DDSC, to obtain medical fitness certificate on Wednesday. The certificate would qualify them to travel. In addition, they also have to get travel permit from the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Initially, there seemed to be confusion regarding the process as scores of people lined up at the DC’s office, the CMO’s office and at the DDSC. Many were also unable to reach these places due to the lack of public transportation.  

When contacted, a Nodal Officer of the Facilitation Cell for Dimapur told The Morung Express that the State Indoor Stadium, DC Court Junction would be the centre for transportation of stranded locals to their respective districts. The officer said besides NST buses, the District Administration has requisitioned private and school buses to ferry the stranded citizens to their respective home districts.

When queried if social distancing would be maintained inside the buses, the official replied in the affirmative and added that the number of passengers would be cut down to half of the vehicle's capacity during normal times.

On the approximate number of stranded people who applied for the travel permit, it was difficult to ascertain due to lack of confirmed report.

Meanwhile, according to a DIPR report, DC Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi, has informed that 48 stranded Naga youths on quarantine at Youth Hostel, Dimapur, would be given top priority and in all probability would be transported to their respective districts by Thursday.

 

Overwhelming applications 

The Kohima District Administration received 6640 applications from stranded persons wishing to go to their respective districts as of 7:00 pm on Wednesday. Henceforth, applications for the 3-day movement have been closed.  

Two categories i.e. travel permits for those traveling from own vehicle and those requiring public transport service are being facilitated. Applications for travelling with own vehicle was around 400. 

“We are also allowing those persons to go to Manipur and Assam. For those persons, screening is being done,” informed Kohima Additional Deputy Commissioner Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa.

The ADC said that in the first phase, they are planning to send the stranded students and daily wage earners especially to Tuensang and Mon districts.

 

Daily wage earners, students maximum 

On Inter-State movement, she said that the District Administration got information from the state government to collect the data for which it has collected 3108 applications and the same has been forwarded to the state government. 

According to Revenue Officer Kohima, Kelevituo Nisa, the applications are issued from the Relief Camp located at Local Ground Kohima and also through WhatsApp for the convenience of the public.

It was also informed that stranded migrant workers from Assam stationed at the Relief Camp had been transported back to their home state on May 6 morning.

At present, around 51 requisitioned buses from NST, Nagaland Civil Secretariat and various departments have reported to the Kohima Local Ground. 

So far, the highest number of application received was for Mon, Tuensang and Longleng districts with over 1000 applications each. 

Meanwhile, Angami Students’ Union (ASU) president Vizokho Zashümo said that the details of the stranded students who are planning to leave for their respective districts and hometowns were submitted to the district administration today by ASU.

The Union hoped that the District Administration will ensure safe passage to all the people, and wishes safe journey to all those travelling back home.

In Mokokchung, EAC Temsuchuba informed that approximately 720 indigenous stranded persons have applied for permits till now and people are still registering.

Meanwhile, Deputy CM Y Patton has also asked the Deputy Commissioners to direct all the villages to relax entry at the village gates and allow the stranded people to enter their respective villages.