Kohima, May 30 (MExN): The NPF Legislature Party (NPFLP) once again called out the Nagaland government for its alleged ‘misgovernance’ and stated that it is “appalled to witness the colossal failure of the PDA Government in running the State.”
When the whole world is on war footing against the coronavirus, the government of Nagaland seems to limp and lag behind in countless areas, NPFLP Spokesperson Imkong L Imchen stated on Sunday.
The party took exception to ‘sealing’ of hospitals due to detection of COVID-19 positive cases and questioned the logic behind sealing hospitals and not allowing patients to get admitted.
Rather than working to help the sick, hospitals gets sealed and refuse to see people who come to hospitals for medical assistance, it stated.
Imchen further pointed out that the State government is ‘ever ready’ to seal off hospitals and offices but “would not dare to do the same for the Treasury and Accounts department and also the banking institutions as this would mean no extra earning” for those who run the government.
The NPFLP further said that while the corona virus is deadly and needs an all-out effort to contain it, the mortality rate from other sickness and disease is no less than that of COVID-19.
The PDA government’s lack of direction and wisdom has put many lives at risk and brought grief to Naga families who are unable to get access to the basic medical assistance other than COVID-19 related, it highlighted.
Regarding the amount of money received by the State government from the Central government and the freewill donations by the Church bodies, NGOs and individuals, the NPFLP said that they have “vanished into thin air” and gone unaccounted for in the name of COVID-19.
It questioned the government on what financial assistance is being accorded to the District Task Forces besides the negligible amount provided during the first wave of the pandemic.
It further questioned as to what incentives are being given to the medical fraternity, the state security forces and the various other groups.
“The Chief Minister of the State as head of the Government should be held accountable for all the misappropriation of funds in the name of this pandemic,” the NPFLP Spokesperson asserted.
He reiterated that the pro rata cut on all non-development funds of 15% in 2020-21 and 20% in 2021-22 from all departments is “nothing but a sheer daylight theft of public money”, while also stressing on the tax on petroleum products as COVID cess in the year 2020.
The NPFLP further alleged that in the appointment of Medical Officers (MOs) under the department of Health and Family Welfare, “all recruitment guidelines and norms are flouted”, adding that the appointments are ‘a kneejerk reaction’.
While acknowledging that in the fight against the pandemic, all options should be explored, the NPFLP also alleged that these Medical Officers are denied of their remuneration for months after joining and being placed in the field.
Citing an example, it mentioned that the MOs appointed in the month of December 2020 received salary only in the last week of April 2021 and continues to be denied further payments till date.
“If doctors and nurses cannot be paid on time even after all the sacrifices and hard work they put in, what moral authority this government have to be still running the affairs of the State” it questioned.
It also highlighted the case of Shamator and Tening hospitals which are reportedly functioning without doctors and questioned why MOs are being appointed in huge numbers but some hospitals in the State still do not have any doctors posted.
“If hospitals run in the absence of doctors and other medical personnel, what hope can the people have in their fight against COVID?” it posed.
The NPFLP stated that the apathy of PDA government for the general welfare and well-being of the people of Nagaland is a “glaring case of a failed state.”
