Shillong, May 15: The Grand Council Chief of Meghalaya (GCCM) today has written to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mr Conrad K Sangma to request the state government for the constitution of Constituency Covid-19 Committee to assist government in quarantining returnees and in the fight against covid19 spread in the State of Meghalaya.
In the letter the GCCM congratulate the efforts of the state government to arrange for the return of the stranded citizens of Meghalaya, we would like to refer to our earlier suggestions that Government may please consider to quarantine the returnees in Government Quarantine Centers or Community Quarantine Centers so as to effectively contain the possibilities of the Coronavirus or Covid-19 spread in the State.
We learn that Manipur Government is quarantining all returnees as a mandatory and it appears they have one individual who had tested covid-19 positive yesterday and who and has been transferred to the Covid-19 designated hospital. This detection and effective containment has been possible as the Manipur Government quarantined all the returnees for 14 days.
Similarly if Meghalaya Government can also adopt the same policy as it is not yet late given that a number institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, churches and their assets, hotels, play grounds etc are available and where some of the Dorbar Shnong have facilitated setting up of the community quarantine center while some are only verifying the quarantine space available in the individual place of residence.
A coordinated effort is required and in this regard we would like to suggest that a “Constituency Covid19 Committee” be constituted at the earliest to be chaired by respective MLAs and to include the MDCs the traditional heads Syiem, Lyngdoh, Sirdar, Wahadar, Doloi, Nokma, Village Chiefs within the 60 MLA Constituencies.
The GCCM is of the opinion if the formation of Constituency Covid19 Committee is to help in the facilitation and support to the community quarantine centres through their respective MLA & MDC schemes this will be most helpful in coordinating inputs especially relating to the returnees and to building confidence and awareness between the various agencies at the village, C&RD Block, District and State Level Committees
This step is necessary in the long term as latest reports and indication from WHO scientist suggest that containing coronavirus could take 4 – 5 years as the vaccine being developed currently may not be a guarantee. The above mechanisim in the interest of containing the spread of Covid-19 in the state of Meghalaya Said Mr John F Kharshiing Chairman of the GCCM in the press statement issued today.
