April 25, 2020

Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 138

DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 Pages 6 (Online Edition)

COVID-19 outbreak under control: Govt

FOLLOW US ON @Nagaland_Post

NATIONAL, PAGE 3

State govt initiates austerity measure DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): As a measure of austerity in view of the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the state government has directed that there would be pro-rata cuts of 15% under ‘non- development’ from the budget estimates (BE) of 2020-21 in respect of all departments for the following expenditure items: travel expenses; office expenses; motor vehicles; and maintenance. According to an official bulletin, the details of demand-wise cuts on the listed items would be issued separately.

Farmers urged to carry out activities

DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): The State government has appealed to all farmers to carry out various farm activities and asked everyone concerned to take necessary steps so that farm activities could be carried out without any impediments.

Wholesale medical shops to open on alternate days

DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): The deputy commissioner Dimapur, Anoop Kinchi has stated that the wholesale medical shops along GS Road, MP Road and Sosino Market have been permitted to open on alternate days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with effect from April 25, 2020. In an order, DC said that only retailer shops with permit/passes issued by the Nagaland Medical Dealers Association along with NOC from CMO, Dimapur-- following strict medical protocol prescribed for the containment zone-will be allowed to procure medicine/medical equipment from the wholesale shops. DC further asked all to strictly follow all precautionary and safety measures.

DC said that assistant drug controller will be monitoring all the activities NDMA refutes false claims: Nagaland Medical Dealers Association has refuted the claims on social media that NDMA had called for a bandh and also rejected the claims of “lack of communication between Police officials and personnel on duty�. NDMA president A. Ato Yepthomi clarified that medicine dealers of NL Road area had converged to wait for Police to receive the order and open Sosino Market area (medical market). NMDA has appealed to all concerned not to spread false propaganda.

It also warned of taking legal action against those who had spread wrong message in the name of NDMA.

This is it!

“Strangely, I don’t like to imagine what life will be after lockdown. Life’s so good. No work, free food etc.�

K Y M C

Trump for phased reopening of economy

nagalandpostofďŹ cial nagalandpostofďŹ cial

INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 6

Supervise scientiďŹ c disposal of Controversy over COVID-19 patient COVID-19 waste: Green Tribunal

Spl. Correspondent

GUWAHATI, APR 24 (NPN): Several reports on the status of a patient from Dimapur (Nagaland) who was referred to Guwahati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) on April 11 and then tested COVID-19 positive on April 12, have added a twist to the case due to contradictory claims.

E a r l i e r, r u m o u r s claimed that the patient was actually tested negative for COVID-19 at the Guwahati Medical College & Hospital. Later it went viral on social media and followed up by a section of the media, which reported that the patient was tested negative for COVID-19 in the second test.

In order to confirm facts from GMCH, Nagaland Post contacted a senior official at the hospital and published a report on April 22. The GMCH official had also confirmed to Nagaland Post, that the patient was tested positive for COVID-19 on April 12 and again tested positive in the second test done within seven days. GMCH official also informed that the third test was due on Day 14 (or

sometime by the last week of April). The newspaper also reported that the patient who was in critical condition had shown marked improvement and was shifted out of the ICU into the isolation ward of the hospital.

The matter, however, took another turn on April 23, when the secretary health and family welfare, speaking on behalf of the department, told media at a briefing that the patient had been tested for positive for COVID-19 three times.

The secretary said while the first test was positive, the second was negative and third again positive. The secretary had also informed that the fourth test was due in a few days.

Following the contradictions, Nagaland Post again contacted GMCH authorities on Friday for a factual status of the patient.

GMCH source reaffirmed information based on which this newspaper had based its report and also adding that the third test was yet to be done.

When asked to respond to the claims made by the Secretary H&FW of Nagaland, the GMCH

authorities said they would prefer not to react as they were not privy to the claims made by the Nagaland government official. “They (Nagaland health officials) perhaps misinterpreted our report, but I would not like to comment on that. The patient is now recovering well and we will carry out the third test on him on Day 14,� a senior GMCH official remarked.

Besides the controversy over his medical status vis-a-vis COVID-19, the patient from Dimapur has not been listed under either Assam or Nagaland and thus excluded from both the lists.

Assam maintains that the status of the patient referred from Dimapur and tested positive in GMCH, should be included under Nagaland. According to a health worker, a student or employee from another state and working in a permanent job in Assam and who is tested positive for COVID-19 can be included under the state.

On the other hand, the Nagaland government was disinclined to include the patient’s case under the state on the ground that the

testing for COVID-19 was done in Guwahati.

Meanwhile, a report

by The New Indian Express said that Assam’s figures updated by the state’s Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Twitter did not include the case from Nagaland.

Sarma told journalists, “I stand by my tweets,� reported TNIE. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio told this newspaper on Friday, “I cannot comment if it is the responsibility of Assam to count him. I don’t take the blame either (for not counting it as Nagaland’s case).�

He agreed that the case referred but said the man was referred from Nagaland as a patient and not as a COVID-19 positive. So, those medical terms will come into effect, he said. “We are checking up with Assam. Since he was found positive in Guwahati, it is proper to record him as he is undergoing treatment there. If he is shifted to Nagaland, we have to keep that record with us. We will see in what manner it will go after he is discharged from the hospital,� Rio added.

NEW DELHI, APR 24 (PTI): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Friday directed a team, comprising the Centre and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), to supervise handling and scientific disposal of COVID-19 waste in accordance with the guidelines.

The tribunal said that while the Bio Medical Waste Rules deal with waste generated in dealing with infectious diseases, the coronavirus pandemic has presented further challenge in terms of capacity to scientifically dispose of generated waste.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the chief secretary of states and union territories to closely monitor the scientific storage, transport, handling, management and disposal of COVID-19 waste as its improper handling poses a grave threat to the environment and health of people. “At the national level, let a high level task team of Ministry of Environment, Health, Urban Development, Jal Shakti, Defence

Health ofďŹ cials in COVID-19 protection kit removing waste materials from the isolation wards of Ernakulam Medical College. (TNIE File)

and CPCB supervise the handling and scientific disposal of COVID-19 waste in accordance with the guidelines,� the bench said.

It also directed the state departments of environment and pollution control boards to ensure compliance of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 and furnish action take report to CPCB. “Let CPCB take further steps and furnish a consolidated report to the NGT of the steps taken and the ground status as on May 3, 2020. The report may be furnished by June 15,� it said. Disposal of COVID-19 waste in general bins so as to

be part of municipal waste or unscientific handling sewage and other liquid waste without safeguards can also be hazardous, the tribunal said.

There is also need for creating awareness about the precautions and steps to be taken by all handlers and workers as well as citizens, the tribunal added.

The green panel had on Tuesday urged the State Pollution Control Board and Pollution Control Committee to put in serious efforts to mitigate the possible risk of unscientific disposal of the bio-medical waste arising out of the handling of the COVID-19 disease.

Probe into data leak No objection to burials of COVIDFraudulent registrations for ďŹ nancial aid will be punished: CS underway, says Govt 19 victims at Naga Cemetery: NCD

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 24 (NPN): State chief secretary Temjen Toy has expressed dismay over complaints of some Naga youths who took advantage of the relief/financial aid extended to Nagas stranded outside the state and warned that action will be initiated against any found involved in such practices.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, Toy took strong exception to the action of those who have taken advantage of the state government’s good intention to extend financial help to Nagas stranded outside the state by fraudulently registering themselves with the CS dashboard- iamstranded. nagaland.gov.in.

Toy said there may be people in the state who were applying for the financial help even though

they are not stranded but in Nagaland. He reiterated “This is not a freebee� and asked people to understand that the financial help was meant only for those people who are stranded outside and in need of help.

Toy also informed that he had already directed the DGP to trace out such people through Geo tracking and that those involved be brought to book and penalised for committing an offence.

He said it was unfortunate that, even pregnant women had started applying for financial assistance under its programme meant only for a specific purpose.

He also lamented that such a behaviour was indeed a blot to the society.

He reiterated that the government is determined to crack the whip on those who have committed fraud by initiating legal action.

Two held: Nagaland police Friday reportedly detained two persons for fraudulent registration in financial aid extended to citizens of Nagaland stranded outside the state.

It may be mentioned that the state government recently announced a special package under which citizens of Nagaland stranded outside the state could avail financial assistance by registering in the “iamstranded. nagaland.gov.in� web portal.

According to Nagaland police PRO, the duo had fraudulently registered in the web portal to avail the financial aid meant only for Nagas stranded outside the state. Upon a complaint received from the principal director school education, the two accused were summoned to Cyber Crime police station and later released on personal bond.

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 24 (NPN): Following the report of breach of personal details of Nagaland citizens stranded outside the state, the chief secretary Temjen Toy Friday said that the state government has traced the person involved in leaking the data.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, the chief secretary said the source of leaking the data was traced to outside the state. Toy said that some of stranded Nagas had shared the data through social media by mistake and not with a mala fide intent. The chief secretary, however, said that the investigation was underway. Department of information technology and communication and home also confirmed to Nagaland Post that the data was not leaked from their source, but from the stranded citizens outside the state.

NPCC concerned over data breach: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has expressed serious concern over what it described as “major security breach of data� relating to citizens of Nagaland stranded outside the state. NPCC through its communication department demanded that the state government take cognisance of the data breach and take action to restore “some semblance of order�, which it said had been missing in government’s approach in dealing with pandemic (Cont’d on p-3) situation.

DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): In a u-turn, Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) on Friday informed that the council would have no objection to bury the bodies of COVID19 patients at Naga Cemetery although there was very limited space at the cemetery. The decision comes following a meeting between state government officials and representatives of NCD at Hotel Saramati here, NCD general secretary Thsapongkyu Sangtam stated in a press note.

On April 17, the council, in conformity with government guidelines/orders and in view of the concerns raised by residents of Lake View colony, for containing the spread of COVID-19, issued several guidelines for burial.

The next day, NCD president Bangerloba Ao in an interview with Nagaland Post also pointed the concerns raised by residents around the cemetery in case of burial of COVID-19 victims.

Bangerloba said NCD had requested state government to be prepared to identify an alternate

burial site in case of any victims of COVID-19.

However, on April 24, NCD said that the communication gap caused by earlier statement of NCD stood resolved. Both the sides agreed to strictly adhere to the guidelines on dead body management issued by the Health ministry.

It was also agreed that the Dimapur district administration and medical department would jointly create awareness among the people regarding burial and its guidelines. NCD agreed to fully support and cooperate with government authorities.

The meeting was attended

by APC & secretary and head of Special Committee, COVID19 Dimapur Y Kikheto Sema, commissioner of police Rothihu Tetseo, DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi, DMC administrator Albert Ezung, NCD representatives.

Meanwhile, NCD hoped and prayed that there would not be a single death due to COVID-19 pandemic.

India’s Covid-19 cases jump by 1752, highest ever single-day spike Major landslides block NH-2 recorded 1,752 fresh cases taking the total number of infected people to 23,452 even as doubling rate of the

disease improved to 10 days .BIBSBTIUSB

from 7.5 reported earlier

this week, according to the (VKBSBU

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NEW DELHI, APR 24 in coronavirus infection on According to a PTI (PTI): In the biggest spike a single day, India on Friday tally of figures announced

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by various states and union territories, as on 9.30pm, the number of confirmed cases has reached 24,356

with at least 778 deaths, while 5,170 patients have recovered and have been discharged.

Nagaland: Results of 33 awaited STATUS REPORT AS ON APRIL 24, 2020 NORTH EAST

Nagaland Assam Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Arunachal Pradesh Tripura

CONFIRMED Nil 36 2 12 1 1 2

RECOVERED Nil 19 2 Nil Nil 1 1

DEATH Nil 1 Nil 1 Nil Nil Nil

DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): State principal secretary Home Abhijit Sinha has informed that 613 samples had been sent for testing from the State till 3 p.m. on Friday. Of these, results of 580 samples were negative, while results of 33 samples are awaited. Altogether 1,519 persons were screened throughout the State and 112 persons are under facility quarantine, he added..

Meanwhile, in connection with the COVID-19 positive case of Dimapur, the surveillance team in the containment zone in Dimapur have covered 5,667 persons from 1,005 households as on Friday. Altogether, 733 primary and secondary contacts connected to the positive case had also been traced and are being tracked.

An excavator clearing the debris along NH-2

Cracks appear along the highway (NH 702-D).

places on National Highway 2 (NH 2), completely MOKOKCHUNG, APR 24 blocking the highway even (NPN): Incessant rains since as massive cracks reportedly the past few days caused occurred on NH 702-D. (Cont’d on p-3) massive landslides at two Correspondent

K Y M C

state

2

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

COVID-19: Preventive measures continue to be undertaken across the state

DIMAPUR: Various preventive measures, meetings and relief to needy people are carried out on a daily basis to combat possible outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the state. The government and its various agencies are ensuring that all possible measures are undertaken to protect the health of the citizens of Nagaland. District administrations continue to keep vigil with follow up guidelines and reminder to public through PA system. The requirements of the needy and under privileged people are also taken care of through distribution of food ration by various civil organisations in collaboration with respective district administrations. Designated COVID Hospitals and quarantine centres are being provided with the requisite medical equipments across the state. Quarantine facilities are also running smoothly with regular visits and inspections from concerned authorities.

dimapur

Y. Khiketo Sema chairing the Dimapur district core committee meeting at Hotel Saramati Dimapur on April 24. (DIPR)

Dimapur district core committee meeting: Convenor, Empowered Group, Dimapur district, also the APC and commissioner secretary Agriculture, Y. Kikheto Sema convened a meeting of Dimapur district core committee on April 24 in the conference hall of Hotel Saramati Dimapur. According to DIPR report, the committee was formed basically to oversee the preparedness for institutional quarantine/observation and to facilitate the people returning to the state after the lockdown period.

Kikheto re-iterated that the government has been focussing more on Dimapur district owing to the fact that Nagaland would fail if Dimapur fails.

Secretary, Food & Civil Supplies, Honje Konyak informed that he has physically verified all the hotels at Dimapur and highlighted on the available accommodation.

DC Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi advised the various committee members to start planning and to start implementing their roles as assigned. The meeting also discussed for partitioning of rooms in the government institution facility centers and also appealed to the churches through the JCF to discuss and work out whether church rest houses can be used as observation centers. Various sub- committees for Dimapur district has been constituted, comprising of accommodation committee with revenue officer, Mhalo Humstoe as the convenor, reception committee with EAC Chümoukedima, Thejavizo Nakhro as convenor, transportation committee with AGM, NST, Thomas as convenor, control room/grievances cell with general manager NIC Tokugha Achumi as convenor, food committee with EAC, Avonuo Kire as convenor, media and publicity committee with DPRO, Lolano Patton as convenor, water supply committee I/c Er.Vikeduolie EE Rural and Urban, power committee I/c EE Power, Er. Imsankaba,

sanitation committee I/c Albert Ezung, administrator DMC. Government and private doctors meeting held in Dimapur: A meeting was held for government and private doctors of Dimapur at Hotel Saramati on April 23, to update the private practitioners on the status of COVID-19 preparedness and activities in the district.

A press release from CMO office Dimapur stated that, Dr. T. Pangjung Sangtam CMO, Dimapur chaired the meeting, while Dr. Kheshito, medical superintendent, District Hospital Dimapur informed the members that District Hospital Dimapur was designated as COVID Hospital Dimapur. He gave a brief report of the status of the hospital preparedness on COVID-19, such as number of beds, manpower, facilities available, etc. He further stated that the manpower at COVID-19 Hospital will be exhausted within a month if any positive case is admitted.

Dr. Temsu, pathologist, DHD highlighted the protocol followed while collecting samples and stated so far 481 samples have been sent for testing from the district. The second sample testing for the direct contacts who are high risk have also started.

Dr. Imtiwabong, district surveillance officer highlighted all the surveillance activities being carried out in the district since January 2020 and that contact tracings were carried out to trace those individuals in Dimapur connected with the Nizamuddin case, Brahmaputra Mail case and the first COVID-19 positive case. 25 contact tracing team are carrying out active surveillance in the containment zone for 28 days, and the district surveillance unit is in contact with home quarantine individuals daily.

Dr. Kavito, quarantine officer informed that 57 hotels were requisitioned by the government to use as quarantine centers. At present 9 hotels are being used as quarantine centers. All individuals

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A

B

A Yes. B No. C Can’t say.

C

20% 80% 0%

Next poll

Q: Has global lockdown

restored health of planet earth to a great extent?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t say.

WEATHER FORECAST april 25

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Mostly cloudy with a t-storms 30 21 Aizawl

Mostly cloudy with a t-storms 24 16

Guwahati Partly sunny with a t-storm Imphal

An a.m. t-storm, partly sunny

Itanagar A morning t-storms or two

25 18 25 16 22 16

Shillong

Heavy thunderstorm

19 12

Kohima

A stray thunderstorm

20 13

Dimapur A heavy t-storm in the p.m.

Mkg

27 17

Clouds and sun with a t-storm 22 14

Tuensang Clouds and sun with a t-storm 14 10 Wokha

Times of clouds and sun

Zunheboto A stray thunderstorm

K Y M C

20 16 19 12

Holy month of Ramzan: Muslim Council Dimapur (MCD) has appealed all the community members that with the coming of the Holy month of Ramzan from April 24, nobody should organise any rooftops/parking/apartments Namaz-e-Taraweeh. A press release from MCD working president A Rahman stated that, the Taraweeh Namaz can be performed individually in one's respective house during this Holy month of Ramzan keeping in mind the importance of social distancing. MCD also requested all to pray for every human being during this month.

CECS Dimapur initiates ‘Hope Alive’ rainbow campaign: Community Educational Centre Society (CECS) Dimapur has initiated a social media campaign “Hope Alive” rainbow campaign COVID-19 to honour and pay tribute to all the frontline workers around the world for their unprecedented and selfless sacrifices to keep everyone safe. A press release from CECS director Dimapur, Subonenba Longkumer stated that, this campaign calls upon people of all ages to draw a rainbow and write a message for frontline warriors and take a picture and post it on its social media accounts like Facebook/Instagram/twitter mentioning school/institution/location and tag #hopealivecovid19 or #rainbowcampaign.

One can also send their campaign pictures to WhatsApp 7005520021 which will be uploaded in social media. One may follow the campaign on Facebook @HopeAliveCovid19, Instagram @HopeAliveCovid19, Twitter @ HopeAliveCovid.

Tuensang DC Tuensang permits various activities: Deputy commissioner (DC) Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant has permitted the following activities within Tuensang district jurisdiction with immediate effect: Food processing industries in rural areas, i.e outside the limit of Town Councils; Industries operating in rural areas, including stone crushers, sawmills, brick kilns in rural areas, i.e outside the limit of town councils; Collection, harvesting and processing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) by schedule tribes and other forest dwellers in forest areas; Bamboo, coconut, areca nut, cocoa, spices plantation and their harvesting processing, packaging, sale and marketing; Construction activities in rural areas, to include water supply and sanitation, laying/erection of power transmission lines and laying of telecom optical fibre and cable along with related activities; Functioning of research establishments dealing with agriculture and horticulture activities; Inter and infra state movement of planting materials and honeybee colonies, honey and other bee hive products; Shops of educational books for students; Shops of electric fans; Recharge facilities for prepaid mobile connection; Function of food processing units such as bread factories, milk processing plants, flourmills, dal mills etc located in urban areas. However as specified in the lockdown measures, National COVID-19 directives and standard operating procedure for social distancing for offices, workshops, factories, establishments and farms must be ensured.

kohima

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Is the govt right in not reducing oil prices in view of reduction in global price of crude oil?

whose sample was collected are sent to quarantine centers and kept in QC for 14 days regardless of the sample result. He stated that hotel staffs along with the security personnel were all trained on COVID19. Till date, 230 persons have been quarantined at the centers and at present, 98 are still in quarantine centers. Upon discharge, they are made to download the nCOVID Nagaland app for further home quarantine surveillance.

During the meeting, all the members resolved to constitute a joint co-ordination committee for COVID-19 which will comprise of both government and private practitioners. This committee was therefore formed and will have the first committee meeting on April 28 at 3 p.m. All the suggestions and opinions shared during the meeting will be discussed in detailed during the first committee meeting.

NMDA medical camp for quarantined inmates: Nagaland Medical Dealers Association (NMDA) in collaboration with the district administration organized a medical camp for the quarantined inmates including pregnant women at Sports Stadium, Dimapur on April 23 led by NMDA general secretary Basu Damani. A press release from NMDA president A. Ato Yepthomi stated that, there were no serious medical ailments except skin infection and general ailments. The inmates were given face mask and hand gloves beside required medicines and educated about maintaining personal hygiene by a team of doctors Dr Sundar Pareek, Dr Diliangbo Chawang, Dr Sunepenla Jamir.

MCD Dimapur informs on

State commissioner for PwDs reaches out: During the nationwide lockdown, the state commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) Nagaland, Diethono Nakhro has been reaching out to PwDs all over Nagaland in every possible way.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, Nakhro stated that PwDs needed more attention at this hour and mentioned different kinds of disability but most of the time they needed to be attended to, be it medication or others.

She said since it was not possible for her to personally go and help each individual, she had been reaching out to the churches, district administrations and village executives to give importance to people with special needs. Her office is working with the Civil Society Organisation, district administration and churches of all denominations where they had been very helpful.

Deithono remarked that there was no accurate number for the PwDs in Nagaland because it was still based on 2011 census which mentioned 29, 631 PwDs in Nagaland. However, at this present time, she mentioned that the number was much higher as it has been 9 years since the old data was updated and they were working to bring the latest data very soon. Nakhro also said that some PwDs needed regular medication but may not have private vehicle to travel and that may pose a problem for some families. She informed that she had been reaching out to every small village and remote areas as much as possible to help each individual. She also mentioned that in this COVID-19 crisis, PwDs may contact at +918258953837; Email: scpdnagaland@gmail.com and for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, may whatsapp, video call

Minister of Health and Family Welfare, S. Pangnyu Phom on April 23 inspected quarantine centre at K-Blaze, Rotsoma Kohima. (IEC State Bureau Kohima)

the following number, wherein sign language interpreters will be available to talk on +919862300893. (Correspondent) COVID-19 block wise training in Kohima district: Block wise training for Sechü and Kohima Sadar administrative officers/police, NYK and NDRF volunteers for COVID-19 duty under Kohima district was held at DB's Court, DC office Kohima on April 24.

According to DIPR report, Dr. Rupert DIO Kohima gave a brief introduction on COVID-19 and also highlighted the containment plan of Kohima district. He said the containment plan is to focus attention on a specific geographic area reporting COVID-19 cases so as to prevent its spread, which will be of 14 days duration. Mapping of the affected area will be decided by the CMO coordination team in consultation with the block volunteers and District Task Force where an area of 3 km radius around the epicenter will be the containment zone while a buffer zone of an additional 5 km radius (7 km in rural area) will be added where new cases

are most likely to appear. Dr. Rupert said that the area of operation will be defined and active search of cases, symptomatic contacts, contact listing and tracking, quarantine and follow up of contacts will be taken up and all precautionary measures for safety of the community will be followed and disseminated where the services of healthcare workers, ASHAs, Anganwadi workers and ANMs and additional workforce from Red Cross, NSS, NYK and NDRF and Ayush Students volunteers will be required to activate the task in coordination with the community health centres.

Dr. Rupert also informed that under the district, facilities have been set up and available at COVID-19 Hospital at Chedema and NHAK, Isolation Hospital at TB Hospital, Khuzama and quarantine facilities at ATI, Meriema and K. Badze while in block level quarantine facilities available at Tseminyu CHC Govt. High School, Town Hall, Chiephobozou CHC, Touphema Dormitory Tourist Village, Botsa Guest House, Khonoma, Jotsoma and Sechü near ABCC Prayer Centre.

Resource person, Dr. Asunu DTO Kohima presenting on the personal protective measures highlighted on the importance of hand washing, social distancing, masks management and also highlighted in detail on the importance of respiratory hygiene/ etiquette, which can reduce the spread of microorganisms (germs) that cause respiratory infections (cold, flu). Dr. Asunu also demonstrated on how to put on and how to remove (donning and doffing) of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before and after visiting a treatment center or isolation unit with one of the volunteer present in the training.

kiphire

Kiphire DTF meeting on COVID-19: Kiphire DTF held a meeting chaired by DC and DTF chairperson Sarita Yadav at DPDB hall on April 23. According to DIPR report, chairperson said social distancing was being maintained smoothly and the same would be followed as per the government given guidelines. HoDs/officials/ staffs were expected to return to Kiphire, stranded students/workers outside the state were about to return after May 3, and border road from Zunheboto-Aghunato-Kiphire to be resumed. SP Police department has been directed to give extra effort to the checking, in all the gates. Regarding construction works and activities, it has been directed to report to the administration and take permission before actual start of works. It was also decided that no person from outside the district would be allowed to come and carry out works at the construction site. Briefing on SOP, chief medical officer Motsuthung said that, if any one died due to COVID-19 disease, the corpse will be taken care of by the dead body management wing that includes the Police and Medical staff, and only four relatives of the dead would be allowed to attend. The properly disinfected corpse will be packed and transported for burial anywhere and public should not object to allot the land for burial of the dead body. DC has also informed that the government has assured an ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakhs to the front line workers including the Police/Medical workers, incase any fatality occurred during the duties of COVID-19.

She also notified that if any person was found trying to harass the doctors/medical workers would be jailed starting from 6 months to 7 years, and fined Rs.50,000/for the offence initiated. SP Erie Kajire has informed that misuse of social media is still prevailing, which was creating a lot of misunderstanding in the society's environment.

Therefore he requested everyone to refrain from circulating messages in social media.

According to CMO's latest report on preparedness, the portable ventilator installed in ICU at COVID Hospital is functional.

Four varieties of PPE have been received.

In regard to quarantine, 13 beds in DUDA Girls Hostel, 10 beds in ZPC Boys Hostel, 18 beds in IRB camp (exclusively for medical staff) have been furnished in Kiphire. In Pungro sub-centre, 20 beds for quarantine, 8 beds for isolation are said to be completed.

One bed each for isolation has also been prepared at Seyoching, Likhimro, Sitimi and Amahator. Quarantine in Seyochung has 2 beds at present, and can be increased

upto 20 beds if needed. 6 beds in Amahator, 5 beds in Likhimro and 2 beds Sitimi has been prepared as per CMO (medical department) reports.

Kiphire farmers back to their fields: Farmers of Kiphire have started going to fields while adhering to government's guideline to maintain social distancing.

District agriculture officer (DAO) Kiphire Abenthung informed that, prior to lockdown, the department had already distributed seeds free of cost to the farmers besides being prepared to assist the farmers to ensure crop cycle is not affected. Farming activities in Seyochung-Sitimi area are fairly normal stated L. Chokhaba Anar, chairman of Seyochung Village Council.

He said although there was an absence in participation of more numbers of people or extra hands in the field due to social distancing, farmers in Seyochung-Sitimi area were actively involved in their respective fields.

Khamong, who is the former deputy chairman of Pungro Town Council said, given the advantage of fertile land and organic cultivation, cultivators can do much better if more support in terms of marketing, transportation, financial and technical aid is given to the villagers in the days to come.

Shilemthong, executive chairman of Yimchunger Tribal Council said that giving more importance to the agricultural sector by the government will not only help at times like this when the entire nation is locked down but can generate revenue by way of marketing organic produce. Meanwhile, DSCO Kiphire, department of Soil and Water Conservation has advised the farmers to go for four crops a year cultivation by making use of rain water harvesting, check-dam, vermicompose and land development under various soil and water conservation programmes like ILDP, IWEP, PKVY etc. The department said it will help the villagers to sustain even if crops fail.

It must be mentioned that on Tuesday severe hailstorm had lashed several villages in Kiphire district causing heavy losses to the farmers as hailstones reportedly damaged standing crops in Moya, Salomi, Old Vongti, New Vongti, Penkim, Pungro town and village, and Khongsa town. As per sources, Salomi and Penkim villages are said to be worst affected. Sources also indicate that hundreds of houses were damaged in the hailstorm. Economy of rural people largely depend on agricultural activities and Kiphire district is one district situated away from commercially active hubs and population rely on the produce of the fields.

wokha OPD by NMC l a u n c h e d i n Wo k h a : Out Patient Department (OPD) by Nagaland Medical Council (NMC) was launched at Wokha town dispensary by Orenthung Lotha, deputy commissioner Wokha and chairman District Task Force (DTF) on April 24. A press release from CMO office stated that, DC expressed gratitude to the NMC members for their service in the district during the COVID-19 crisis and assured full cooperation from the administration and police department to the medical fraternity. Dr. Joyce Angami, president NMC stated that the OPD was launched as majority of government health facilities were facing shortage of medical personnel.

OPD is a joint effort of Health and Family Welfare department and NMC, she

DC Wokha Orenthung Lotha, SP and CMO along with members of NMC, Lotha Eloe Hoho and district medical officials.

added. As the District Hospital Wokha is designated as COVID-19 Hospital, the NMC with 10 volunteers will be providing health care services to patients at the OPD, said Dr. Sashimeren, vice president NMC. Dr. N. M. Kithan, member NMC, who is spearheading the OPD in Wokha town dispensary, announced that more volunteers will be joining them soon in the OPD. He also informed that minister of Higher and Technical Education

and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along has donated 100 masks and five litres of hand sanitiser for the NMC members in the Wokha town dispensary. Earlier, a dedicatory prayer was pronounced by Rev. Thungrio Khuvung, pastor Wokha Town Baptist Church in the programme chaired by Dr. C.W. Tungoe chief medical officer Wokha. Wokha SP, Dy.CMO, NMC members, Lotha Eloe Hoho and medical officials attended the launching programme.

longleng Longleng DTF on COVID-19 discusses on need of anaesthesiology: An immediate posting of an anaesthesiology at COVID-19 Hospital, Longleng was discussed at a review meeting of the Longleng District Task Force (DTF) on COVID-19 held at DC’s conference hall on April 24.

According to DIPR report, representatives of NGOs and civil societies who are the co-opted members of the DTF expressed their displeasure with the department for not deploying an anaesthesiology to the lone hospital and asserted that it was an injustice to the people of Longleng district. They informed to take the matter to the government for necessary action at the earliest. EAC Yachem Pichano Kikon presented powerpoint on the structure of COVID-19 incident response system comprised of various sections, the roles and responsibilities of each sections and checklist for effective response to combat COVID-19.

Accordingly, the members discussed and deliberated on requisition of vehicle and driver for transportation of COVID-19

corpses, identifying of burial and cemetery, safe disposal of COVID-19 corpses, man power and volunteers from NGOs and civil societies to assist the operation section, awareness programme & directions to village council, training for volunteers, mock drill on COVID-19 IRS system and detail action plan with relevant to Longleng district. CMO, Longleng also presented action plan prepared by the Medical department, Longleng. DC Longleng who is also the chairman of the DTF on COVID19 chaired the meeting and appealed to all the members to be aware about their respective roles and responsibilities. ADC Longleng D. Robin, commandant 12 NAP (IR) Chingtok, Major Assam Rifle Longleng, executive secretary PBCA Lempong Tialemba Phom, medical superintendent, Dr. Meren, Adl. SP Atopu Sumi and district surveillance officer Longleng shared their activities and suggestions. Executive secretary PBCA Lempong distributed masks prepared by the association to the DTF members.

K Y M C

national/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

COVID-19 outbreak under control: Govt Tharoor slams government

Medics screen police personnel for COVID-19 during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI)

doubling rate increased to five. By then, we had already put in place travel restrictions and had created an environment of social distancing.

“There were some disturbances in between and we went back a little. But from April 6, the doubling time started improving,” he said.

Paul also said the big decision of imposing the nationwide lockdown taken

by the prime minister has “proved to be very timely and beneficial”, as shown by the change in the growth trajectory of India’s COVID-19 cases. “The curve has begun to flatten. Had we not taken the decision of clamping the nationwide lockdown, we would have had around 1 lakh COVID-19 cases by now, as per a reasonable estimate. Now, the outbreak is under control,” the Empowered Group One

chairman said.

Officials, however, said these projections are based on the growth pattern at a particular time.

Director of National Centre for Disease Control S K Singh that surveillance has been the country’s primary weapon in the fight against novel coronavirus.

“We started our surveillance mechanism even before the first case was reported in India. This played

an important role in helping us contain the spread of the infection,” Singh said.

He informed reporters that around 9.45 lakh suspected coronavirus cases are under the surveillance network at present and upon detection of symptoms of the infection, samples are taken from these people for testing.

Singh said the surveillance network has been set up at district level as well, so that household survey, quarantine and isolation are done as part of cluster containment plan.

Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said in the last 28 days, as many as 15 districts have had no new case, while there are 80 districts in the country that have not reported any new coronavirus case in the last 14 day.

He also said in the 24hour period since Thursday morning, 1,684 COVID 19 positive cases have been reported taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 23,077.

“A total of 4,748 people, which is 20.57 per cent of the total number of cases, have been cured so far,” Agarwal said.

NAP unit in Delhi donate Rs.1.5L Arnab Goswami gets for stranded Naga students 3-week protection from SC

(2nd from L) Kethosituo Sekhose receiving the donation from NAP personnel.

DIMAPUR: Rank and file of Nagaland Armed Police unit based in New Delhi donated Rs. 1.5 lakhs to Deputy Resident Commissioner Nagaland House Delhi,

Kethosituo Sekhose for stranded Naga students in and around Delhi. The amount was handed over by Dy. Comdt. Thipuzoyi, on behalf of the NAP, Delhi.

Freezing of DA insensitive, inhumane: Cong New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI): Noting that it was “insensitive and inhumane” to freeze dearness allowance, the Congress on Friday said instead of “hurting” the middle-class employees and pensioners, the government should

shelve bullet train and Central Vista redevelopment projects to save money for the coronavirus fight.

“It is insensitive and inhumane on the part of the government to cut the DA of central employees, pensioners and jawans who

Yogi to bring back stranded migrants Lu c k n ow, A p r 2 4 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked his officials to draw up a plan to bring back all migrant workers from the state who are still stranded in other states.

Yogi Adityanath said that he wanted that the workers who are brought back to the state are provided employment here so that they do not have to return to other states in search of jobs.

The government spokesman said that Adityanath has already asked officials to start working towards creating employment opportunities for about 15 lakh people in the next six months and strengthen the economy.

The chief minister said that when the workers are brought back, they would be quarantined for 14 days before being allowed to return to their homes. Each worker would be given Rs 1,000 and a ration kit when they go home. Modalities in this regard would be worked out soon.

All departments have been directed to prepare a presentation for creating jobs within a week, said an official release.

K Y M C

Yogi Adityanath The chief minister said that the challenge is to generate employment and strengthen the economy after the lockdown. Preparation should be started without delay.

He directed that employment should be provided through the Common Service Center at the village level. The platform should be strengthened.

The chief minister suggested that employment can also be created by providing training in relation to mobile repairing. He suggested training in collaboration with polytechnics, science labs, ITIs etc.

After the lockdown, he has instructed the officials to provide employment opportunities by holding loan air and employment fair.

are serving the public while fighting coronavirus, instead of suspending the bullet train project and the Central Vista beautification project of lakhs of crores (of r upees),” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

New Delhi, Apr 24 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Friday granted three weeks protection from arrest to Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami in connection with multiple FIRs against him in various states for alleged hate speeches and for defamation of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justice M.R. Shah observed there should be no restraint on the media. “I am averse to imposing restrictions on media,” said Justice Chandrachud making an oral observation.

The apex court ordered transfer of case registered at Nagpur to Mumbai where investigations will continue in the case against Goswami, and probe in all other cases and complaints has been stayed. Also, there would be no investigation into fresh FIRs arising out of the April 21 show, and asked senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Goswami, to club all FIRs

and complaints, and bring them on record.

Goswami, in the petition, urged the top court that no coercive measures should be taken on FIRs registered against him in Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

He contended that action against him is an attempt to curb free speech and the Freedom of Press under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution.

Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, representing Chhattisgarh governments, urged the court to issue directions asking for a restraint order on Goswami from making such statements. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Maharashtra government, suggested the Nagpur FIR could be transferred to Mumbai. The court observed that it intends to protect the petitioner from the day and permit him to move anticipatory bail application before the trial court or the High Court.

over ‘faulty’ rapid test kits

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI): Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday attacked the government over reports of India getting faulty rapid antibody test kits from China and asserted that the answer to the problem lies in indigenous development of test kits as done by countries like the US, South Korea and Germany.

India’s apex medical research body ICMR advised states to stop using the rapid antibody test kits till it examines their quality in the wake of complaints that they are not fully effective.

Last week, India procured five lakh rapid antibody test kits from China.

Reacting to the reports of faulty test kits, Tharoor said he read comments on social media over the issue stating that what can the Modi government do about it as other countries also had the same experience. “Yes, that’s exactly the point. How smart is a government if it does not learn from the mistakes of other governments. Isn’t it foolishness to make the same mistake at the cost of public health

Shashi Tharoor and money?” Tharoor said in a series of tweets.

The EU Medicine Agency’s guidelines, on par with the US Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC), require that rapid tests be 80 per cent accurate and the Chinese kits bought by India have shown an average of five per cent accuracy, which is the lowest by their own standards, he said.

Noting that China said that the kits should be procured from authorised manufacturers, Tharoor highlighted that one of the companies that India ordered from is the same company that the UK government had ordered and then

rejected for being flawed.

The British are seeking a USD 20 million refund from the two Chinese companies, Tharoor said.

“Spain, with one of the largest counts of positive cases, returned around 600,000 faulty kits to China.

Czech and Filipino authorities also discarded testing kits imported from China, claiming they had only 20 per cent & 40 per cent accuracy respectively. Slovak PM: ‘throw straight into the Danube’,” Tharoor tweeted.

“We have options: The answer lies in indigenous development of test-kits, as USA, South Korea and Germany have done. Indians are no less capable but has the government been smart enough to facilitate it?” he asked. There are two successful initiatives from Thiruvananthapuram, with which, Tharoor said, he is closely associated. These are the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, both Indian government centres of excellence.

NPCC concerned over data breach

(From p-1) Congress party maintained that the earlier excuse of overloaded website and “now this data security breach” reflected “unpreparedness and inefficiency” shown by the state government machinery so far.

It stated that clarification by principal director of school education Shanavas C, who is also the nodal officer for ‘monitoring & coordination with other states’ was more about shifting blame on those point of contacts such as union leaders in different parts of country tasked with verification process.

NPCC stated that nodal officer and his team must, in the first place, own moral responsibility for “not applying their minds” while handling personal details of stranded people. For verification, Congress said they could have sent only

the details of name, address and phone number given by applicants to respective point of contacts. It also stated the details sent in MS Excel format should have been password protected file known only to the point of contact.

By resorting to sending the entire information which includes Aadhaar and bank account details, NPCC said the concerned nodal officials have committed serious blunder. Meanwhile, NPCC has urged the state government to expedite the process of disbursing financial assistance to stranded people. It also asked the government to ensure that those applying fraudulently were strictly penalized.

NPCC said that political leadership at the helm of government must rise to the occasion and motivate government officials to perform even beyond the call of duty in these extraordinary times.

Major landslides block NH-2

(From p-1) Speaking to Nagaland Post over telephone, national highway Mokokchung executive engineer Er. Chubatoshi said a massive landslide occurred around 11 am on Friday on NH-2 (183 km) near Unger village, which he said would require at least 2-3 days for clearing because it was a long stretch.

He said at 162 km near Impur junction on the same stretch of NH-2, the road was completely blocked since 3:30 pm Thursday. He claimed that two machines were continuously working to clear the debris.

Mentioning that he was hopeful that the stretch could be opened for traffic by Friday evening, if there was no further landslide, the executive engineer however added that he could not guarantee that it would be opened as rock and mud were continuously sliding down from the hills above.

On the other hand, Er. Chubatoshi said massive cracks had occurred on NH702D (19.15 km) near Chungtia village sinking the area. He said vehicles were now plying through a newly-extended part of the road.

WB gov pans Mamata over COVID-19 handling, minority appeasement Kolkata Apr 24 (PTI): West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar mounted a fresh assault on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her monumental failure in tackling the COVID- 19 crisis that resulted in “incremental spread” of the pandemic.

He also accused her of “explicitly appeasing” the minority community, while referring to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi, which has often been blamed for the spurt in the noval coronavirus cases.

D h a n k h a r wa s r e sponding to Banerjees missive on Thursday where she accused him of “repeatedly interfering” in the functioning of her government and reminded him she is the elected chief minister of a proud state and he a nominated governor.

Dhankhar said the chief minister’s “outburst” is an alibi strategy to cover up “monumental failures” in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

Urging the TMC supremo “to shun politics and confrontational approach”, Dhankhar said her conduct is only compounding the miseries of the people.

“Your communication is part of the alibi strategy that emanates from a

Jagdeep Dhankhar script that seeks to cover up monumental failures in these challenging times by a series of blunders,” the governor said in his second letter to Banerjee after her Thursday letter set off acrimonious exchanges between the two constitutional functionaries.

“Your appeasement of the minority community was so explicit and awkward on the Nizamuddin Markaz incident...This is most unfortunate and cannot be appreciated,” he said, referring to an event where Banerjee was asked to comment on the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in the national capital.

Banerjee had then reportedly told the journalist not to ask “communal questions”. Referring to the controversy over actual COVID figures in the state,

Mamata Banerjee he said the approach in dealing with the crisis has shamed the state nationally and globally.

There awaits a catastrophe, if the health care system is persistently ignored, if the COVID cases increasingly coming to hospitals are consistently denied and suppressed, if the quarantine facilities remain for namesake, if tests are not allowed honestly, if the health workers are treated inhumanly, if the already politicised PDS is thrown open for wild loot by unscrupulous people,” he wrote.

He asked Banerjee to disable her political antenna, shun confrontationist approach and be in action mode.

In the letter replete with barbs, Dhankhar said the civil administration and

police have been emascu- those who may pick cour- mike and broom day after lated as a consequence of age to show the mirror- how day in this grim situation, their politicisation and that sagacious is it for CM to take he wrote. the human rights of those who do not belong to the rulAPOLOGY ing party are under virtual suspension.

We, Mr. N. Baumei, S/o Nyamkai and Miss L. Taking a swipe at Ba- Cheuyaü, D/o Lungkam tender our humble apology nerjee for visiting various towards Pongching Students’ Union for exposing parts of the city and advising unwanted image in the social media (FB) which had people to stay indoors, he hurt the sentiments of many people. said, real-time action on the Therefore we really regret our stupid act and part of the state government seeking forgiveness on which we shall not repeat the is needed and not theatrics same in future. or politicking. Please ask N. Baumei L. Cheuyaü DC-382

New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI): The government said on Friday the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a timely step, without which there would have been an estimated one lakh COVID-19 cases in India by now.

In a press briefing, officials said the virus outbreak is under control in the country and credited a robust surveillance network along with implementation of the lockdown and other containment measures for it.

Of the 11 empowered groups formed to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track and reduce misery of people once the lockdown is lifted, chairman of Empowered Group One and Niti Ayog member V K Paul said according to their analysis, lockdown has been effective in slowing the rate at which COVID-19 cases is doubling in India, and it now stands at 10 days.

“If we go back to March 21, the cases were doubling in around three days. An important turn came on March 23 after the Janata Curfew had happened. The direction changed and the

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GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND

STATE COUNCIL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH & TRAINING NAGALAND : KOHIMA

No. SCERT/NTSE/3/2016

Dated Kohima the 23rd April, 2020

POSTPONMENT OF NATIONAL TALENT SEARCH STAGE II EXAMINATION – 2020 It is notified for the information of all concerned that National Talent Search Stage – II Examination scheduled for May 10th, 2020 in all the States/ UTs of the country has been postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The new date will be intimated by NCERT, New Delhi. Kindly visit NCERT website www.ncert.nic.in for updates.

Stay Home, Stay Safe.

DC-383

(T. SEKHOSE) Director SCERT, Nagaland: Kohima K Y M C

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post

Post-mortem

Vol. XXx NO. 138 Dimapur, SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

Dishonour to the warriors

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fter the much-hyped show of gratitude to COVID19 frontline warriors across India weeks earlier, recent incidents and events have exposed the shallowness of the clapping, clanging of utensils and blowing of conch shells. After all the praises heaped on frontlines warriors such as medical doctors, nursing staff, health workers and security personnel, the praises turned into vilification and also rejections. It was widely reported in Meghalaya where the body of a renowned medical doctor of a prestigious hospital who succumbed to COVID-19 was not allowed to be buried nor cremated for over 36 hours. First, a village authority refused to allow the body to be buried in the deceased’s own land. Secondly the state government failed to cremate the body, when some colony residents resisted by raising objections and protested even as they clearly violated curfew and social distancing. The body was finally given a burial after intervention by several churches, at a funeral conducted by a local church. A week later, a similar incident took place in Chennai to neurosurgeon who died of Covid19. A mob comprising local residents attacked the ambulance in which the body was kept, chased away sanitation officials and undertakers and prevented burial at two cemeteries. The doctor was eventually interred at a cemetery by a colleague - in the dead of night - with the help of two hospital ward boys. It must be remembered that members of the medical fraternity, who have been risking their lives to contain the spread of the pandemic, have been subjected to all kinds of indignities: threats and insults, physical assault, harassment by landlords and neighbours. In both instances, there was laxity on the side of the law enforcement agencies. Though police personnel, like the medical staff, are working under extremely tough conditions, it’s apparent that their laxity emboldened the miscreants. There should be inquiry into the failures of the cops and magistrates and also arrest of troublemakers. Doctors and frontline health workers are heroes who are putting their lives on the line, like soldiers. Like soldiers who are decorated for valour, the nation has also lauded the services rendered by medical doctors and health workers against the deadly and dangerous COVID-19. What happened to the two doctors who fell victim to COVID-19 may also be likened to disrespect and dishonour to the bodies of decorated soldiers. Such elements who have no qualms in dishonouring the bodies of heroes are a blot on society. People with such mindsets are selfrighteous and cynical and think that society must adhere to their skewed outlook. They minds are directed by misconceptions that give rise to prejudice due to ignorance. The incidents have again underscored the misconception that the contagion may spread if the victim is buried or cremated in the neighbourhood.

In the past, those who succumbed to HIV/AIDS were also treated most inhumanly in the same manner by stigmatisation in life and in death. Such unsavoury episodes indicate that the authorities have largely failed on two counts - spreading awareness about the WHO guidelines on the ‘safe management’ of bodies and countering misinformation and fake news that are no less lethal than the virus itself.

DailyDevotion The Warning Against Desiring Spiritual Success

Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you… —Luke 10:20 Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned after, the form set by this religious age in which we now live.

Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:13). In Luke 10:20, Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in successful service, and yet this seems to be the one thing in which most of us do rejoice. We have a commercialized view— we count how many souls have been saved and sanctified, we thank God, and then we think everything is all right. Yet our work only begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation.

Our work is not to save souls, but to disciple them.

Salvation and sanctification are the work of God’s sovereign grace, and our work as His disciples is to disciple others’ lives until they are totally yielded to God. One life totally devoted to God is of more value to Him than one hundred lives which have been simply awakened by His Spirit. As workers for God, we must reproduce our own kind spiritually, and those lives will be God’s testimony to us as His workers.

God brings us up to a standard of life through His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that same standard in others. Unless the worker lives a life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), he is apt to become an irritating dictator to others, instead of an active, living disciple. Many of us are dictators, dictating our desires to individuals and to groups. But Jesus never dictates to us in that way.

Whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced His words with an “if,” never with the forceful or dogmatic statement— “You must.”

Discipleship carries with it an option.

Quotes

There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart.

~ Charles Dickens

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

E

ver since the World Health Organisation declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic, the whole world has been engulfed in a daily struggle for survival against an invisible yet deadly enemy. As the virus spread across the nations of the world, it slowly made its way to our tiny yet beautiful and picturesque state of Nagaland, the state which all of us call our home and it has affected our lives in more ways than one. It is at times like this that we get to know who we really are. But looking at the reactions of our fellow Naga brothers and sisters for the past few weeks I am sad, heartbroken and disappointed at the same time, at what we have become. Now the question is,“Is this who we really are?”. We all admit and realise that times are hard at the moment but there is so much negativity and suspicion in our society at the moment. Much of our time is being spent on playing the blame game, finger pointing, spreading rumours and fake news, judging people and unnecessarily criticising those that are doing what little they can to lend a helping hand. I believe now is not the time for all this drama rather it is time for all of us to join hands and work together for the benefit of our people and our state because the ongoing corona virus pandemic is not

A

‘Humanity must Prevail’

a joke but it is a serious and deadly threat for us and all of our loved ones.

The Government of Nagaland has been facing criticism from day one and have been relentlessly accused of underperforming in its duties during the ongoing pandemic.

Yes one cannot deny the fact that the Government may have failed at certain duties and may have shortcomings in certain areas but we must also keep in mind certain aspects of the Government before drawing our conclusions.

Firstly the current ongoing pandemic is the first of its kind in our State and nobody has any experience on how to deal with such a situation and so like the rest of us the Government is also slowly but surely adapting and evolving day by day and learning how to deal with the situation better. Secondly we must all realise that the Government is very different in its functioning. Unlike our community organisations and civil societies the Government has a set of clearly laid out rules, regulations and procedures which are to be strictly followed while executing its duties and as such it takes time to get certain things done but it does not mean that the Government is not being responsive to the needs of its citizens.

We must all learn to be a little patient because there would be utter chaos and

anarchy if the Government starts ignoring protocols in its functioning. We are a Democratic Welfare state which means that the Government is of the people by the people for the people.

We must take collective responsibility for our own Government and be proactive in guiding it towards common good and criticize and point out its failures and shortcomings but we must also realise that everything the Government is doing is for the welfare and benefit of its citizens.

The sad part however is that ever since the countrywide lockdown began the Government has seen nothing but criticism from every corner of the State when we the citizens ourselves cannot even adhere to one simple rule that is to maintain social distance in public places. The sheer amount of public rushing and jostling with each other to buy essential commodities with complete disregard for public safety and health clearly amazes me. In a State with 79.6 percent literacy rate and with social media full of eloquent writers and intellectuals I am shocked and appalled to realise that we Nagas cannot follow a simple rule of maintaining a one meter distance at public places. Criticism is necessary and required for a positive and successful outcome but we Nagas should also learn to give credit when its

due. Despite the numerous criticism and blame, there are Government servants working tirelessly spending sleepless nights for the welfare of the people and I bear witness to many who despite everything continue to serve diligently with genuine concern for the people. Health workers, sanitation workers, district administrations and various other government personnel are working throughout the week putting theirs and their families’ lives at risk so as to lessen the hardships of the citizens. We Nagas should learn to look beyond the failures and at times learn to appreciate the effort that is being put into.

Nagaland is a Christian State and we Nagas pride ourselves at being devout Christians. But recent incidents have shown otherwise. We as a community and as Christians should all be ashamed of the discrimination and stigmatization meted out to our fellow Nagas and staff of a certain hospital who have served us dutifully in the past and will continue to do so even in the future, for no fault of theirs. The only thing they were guilty for was treating a patient in need of medical attention. The harassment of flight passengers that flew into the State on 24th March 2020 when their private info was leaked is also one incident which we as Christians

Preaching in the face of COVID-19

s I pen down these follow Him had to face the God why His promise to our congregations to be able lines, I trembled a same destiny. The severest protect us did not work out. to face pain and death in bit knowing not why, pain Christ bore for us was Why did the God of Moses great faith even if comes, perhaps for the fear that on the cross. He knew He not remove Moses’ disability and not preach an escapist I misrepresent Christ my had to suffer and die as the instantly and send Moses gospel. Let us not just say Lord. Earlier I had also humanity that follow Him to that urgent mission of ‘don’t worry, God will take put in media on disability had to suffer and die when saving the suffering Israel- care of you’. Let us teach that at times ‘non-healing time calls for. Christ was ites. God wanted Moses to our congregations again that is in the agenda of Christ raised from the death and is bear the infirmity and God the Loving God has also a the Wounded Healer’. It alive today as the champion took Aaron to be Moses’ purpose in our suffering and is not unrealistic to think of the believers and a suc- helper to accomplish the death. Let us teach them the corona virus comes cessful child of God. That mission. God allows infir- to do their part on earth to and takes away many of way Christ worked out our mities, pain and suffering avoid the worst as far as humanly possible obeying the our lives while Christ will victory as His disciples. The when required. be still watching over us. cost in bearing the destiny of Coming to Jesus’ ap- rules of safety the experts If this happens what will human was high. Except the proaches to facing dangers give us. God uses such wise the simple minded listeners words of dereliction on the in life He was very careful people to lead us through think of our preaching? The cross Christ did not pray, ‘O not to show the humanity the dangers with the minifirst thing they remember Father, you are an Almighty that God is so cheap to be mum casualties even when will be their pastor preachers God, remove this suffering manipulated in meeting we lose some lives. Let us who told them ‘nothing will from me’. It is because suf- human needs, suffering and teach them to have a strong happen, do not worry’. fering and death are adum- death. God is not to be used faith in God, faith enough I consider the lock- brated in humanity from the as a spare tire or a life boat even to face death. There down to prevent the spread beginning’. What we have to who can be invoked only in are some claims already in of this killer virus is by keep in mind as preachers times of danger. Jesus rather some corners that COVIDprovidence. Many preachers and comforters is that God stood beside the mourning 19 has not hit them because have supplied their recorded surely protects us but God sisters of Lazarus and wept of their continuous prayers messages to homes, assured wants us to bear the mark with them. Saint Paul, often and fasting. Churches have the families and individuals of humanity as Jesus Christ called the first Christian, made elaborate routines for that the church leaders are did. Being Christians does had such unbearable infir- prayers and fasting taking constantly remembering not mean the corona virus mity for which he prayed to turns family by family, secthem in prayers. Few of the will never attack us.

God so much. God would tor by sector and range by two scores recorded sermons When we take the tell him His grace was suf- range. Such religious rites I listened in both English, Words of the Bible like ficient as Paul bore the pain. sometimes make us forget Nagamese, and in my dialect Psalm 23 we do well to God’s grace is free and eter- that it is God’s grace that did quite well. But many reassure the presence of nal. We invoke God’s grace saves us, not our hard work. of them preached what God with us even in the anytime we are faced with We should pray constantly the believers know already midst of death. We should needs and dangers. But we but we should not take our and yet (the latter) seeking experience the presence of have to understand how prayers to be the reason to reinforce their neurotic God even in times of death God’s grace works in us, for God’s grace. Christians anxiety using the insensi- and bereavement without sometimes even by the sever- should not boast for having such a Loving and an tive preachers. These later questioning why the Lov- est pain and death. preachers did not take the ing God had done so. The Thank God we say the Almighty God we have. believer beyond their wishes most scratched verses of virus has not come to our God definitely wants us to but stayed with the believers the Bible at this pandemic place. But if it had come and do our part and cooperate in great fear shouting, ‘God appear to be Psalm 91. We had taken away some lives with His plan in saving us. I is able to save you; God can imagine how many of what could have been our was surprised when a friend promised to save you even if the thousands across the message to such situations? told me that God will not thousands die in your eyes; globe facing the virus and Just ‘God will save us, do kill us when we are gathered God saved His people when even dying must have read not worry’ alone? We have in worship together disreHe destroyed the unbelievers this Psalm. We wonder how to prepare our congregations garding the need of social in the wilderness; God will they and their families inter- to face the pandemic which distancing. I was thinking surely protect you do not preted the message as they is so cruel invading many also about a report in social worry...the readers may add died. This text certainly is beautiful lives God made. media that a bishop claimed more such slogans. a very strong assurance of We tend to feed the congre- he would not die of the viWhat did the human God’s care for the believers. gations with a cheap gospel, rus because God is greater Christ do for the humanity Some have experienced lit- rather a cheap Christ devoid than the virus. Allegedly for whom he was working eral fulfilment of this in their of pain and suffering. Don’t he died of the virus later. out a victory? Whoever told lives but others have died we also say we should not Such may be fake news but Him he should not suffer as reading this but keeping the preach the crown without it can happen. As we face the Son of God, Christ told faith. What we have to tell the cross? When thousands the COVID-19 let us preach him to get behind Him as He the common people is that of priests, pastors, doctors, the whole gospel truth, not did to Peter. Jesus did not the God of Abraham and of volunteers, all with good only the pleasant side of it. want Peter to tell Him, ‘don’t David who continues to love intent to save lives died was Let us expect the best from worry, you will not suffer and care for us today may it because of their sins, as God but also prepare for or die because you have a also allow some sufferings we often interpret? Or was the worst if God so designs.

Loving Father’. He rather and even death! There are it because the Loving God Even so God is Love.

Rev. Dr. Ezamo Murry, told Peter and the others times in the believers’ lives was not among them? that the Son of God had to to expect the worst, even Before the pandemic 5th Mile, Model Village, Dimapur suffer and whoever would then we cannot question arrives visibly let us prepare Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this

cannot ignore nor justify in any way. A recent incident where a good friend of mine, a photo journalist, who while trying to help a family was being accused of doing it for his own benefit also sheds poor light on our people as a whole. Now all these incidents have really made me wonder and made me come back time and again to the question I mentioned earlier, “Is this who we really are?”. We Nagas have become too judgemental in many ways. I believe it is time for us to come off our high horses and humble ourselves and work together as one family and as Christians. It may seem funny but today our people have even started criticising and started judging people who are out there helping the needy saying this and that should not be done and giving pointers on how to help the people.

We need to stop all these Negativity that is slowly eating away our society and rather adopt a positive attitude towards everything because that is what our society desperately needs at this dark times.

As the saying goes “A crisis either brings out the best or the worst in people”, we should also wonder what the ongoing Crisis of Corona Virus is doing to us and the Naga People as a whole. We need to ask ourselves where do we stand as a community and question ourselves who we

really are?”. I am lucky that my job has given me the opportunity to witness and experience personally the situation at present in our State during the COVID19 Pandemic and I must confess that it is all not as gloomy as the picture I have painted above. I have come across inspiring stories of human kindness and triumph in these testing times but they have all been overshadowed by the negativity of our people and it is sad indeed. We Nagas are known worldwide for our honesty, generosity, hospitality and hard work.

It is these traits that we inherited from our forefathers and it is our culture and our heritage. It is time to make our forefathers proud who forged these lands with their bare hands and many who gave their lives defending it. We must remember these traits when we ask ourselves who we really are.

Now we Nagas need to join hands and work together, encourage one another, help a fellow Naga in need because we need each other now more than ever during these dark days. ‘Together we can and Together we will’ should be our motto.

I strongly believe that this crisis will bring out the best in our Naga people and our unity be stronger than ever post the corona virus pandemic. Lastly but most importantly “Humanity must Prevail”.

Morotsung Longchar (DIPR feature)

World Malaria Day

E

very year 25th April is observed as World Malaria Day, the theme for 2020 is “Zero Malaria starts with me”. The state of Nagaland is in the elimination phase of malaria where the state is working towards zero indigenous malaria positive cases in the state. It is with concerted efforts of all that malaria disease has sharply declined over the years and we stand to even achieve complete malaria elimination from the state in the coming years. Towards this end, the programme appeals to public to remember to take preventive measures against malaria as we all stand in the throes of COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevent mosquito breeding by taking the following measures: 1) All water storage containers should be covered with well fitted lid.

2) Remove / destroy all disposable, unused materials lying in and around the house like old tyres, broken pots, crockery or plastic items etc. to prevent water collection.

3) Fill up ditches and unwanted water collection sites in and around your surroundings.

4) Introduce larvivorous fishes if large water bodies like pond, fisheries etc are around your surroundings.

The larvivorous fishes can be collected from District Vector Borne Office Dimapur.

Prevention from mosquito bite: 1) Daily sleep under mosquito net preferably under Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) provided by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).

2) Use mosquito repellent.

3) Wear long sleeve clothes especially when working outside.

Early Diagnosis and Complete Treatment: 1) Do not take any fever casually.

2) In case of fever get your blood tested immediately by an ASHA/health worker or at the nearest hospital.

3) If tested positive for malaria take complete course of medicine prescribed to you.

National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP), Kohima

Reader’s Post

Sir,

Lockdown thoughts

There was a time when people were smarter than their mobile phones, but the last decade has witnessed smart phones revolutionising our lives in a variety of ways. Sadly, it has made our lives run on an autopilot mode.

The lockdown has helped many of us realise how humans cannot be replaced with apps. We have an innate need to be around people and today we miss hearing the sounds of cars passing by and crowds bustling on streets. May we all cherish each moment we spend with one another once all this is over.

Aben Tzudir, Tuensang newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

northeast/state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

M’laya’s COVID-19 source still unknown Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 24: It is almost two weeks since Meghalaya recorded the first COVID-19 patient, who succumbed to the virulent virus attack within 48 hours, but the Meghalaya government is still in the dark about the source of infection.

“We are still trying to ascertain the source of the virus that had infected and killed the first positive patient. Contact tracing and surveillance are on a war footing to ascertain the source of the virus,” Director of Health Services, Dr. Aman War said.

Meghalaya recorded the first COVID-19 positive case on April 13, that of Dr. Sailo, the Director of the Bethany hospital, which is now declared as COVID-19 hotspot in this state capital.

The patient succumbed to the virus in less than 48hours.

Out of the 11 active

File photo of Bethany Hospital in Shillong.

COVID-19 patients, two are domestic helpers and eight of them are family members of Dr. Sailo. Another woman, who had met Dr. Sailo has also found tested positive for the virus.

Till Thursday evening, over 1,100 samples tested for COVID19, out of which 1,000 samples found negative.

“Out of 1109 samples sent for test, 1000 samples have been tested negative and the results of 97 samples

KMC notifies on vehicles for medical emergency DIMAPUR: KMC administrator, Kovi Meyase has notified that in the interest of the public and to ease and facilitate the weak & the sick during the lockdown period, the following vehicle in the under mentioned wards within the Kohima Municipal Council has been earmarked to provide free transportation on a 24x7 basis for any medical emergency not related to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to DIPR report, in the event of any such emergency arising, public may contact the mobile phone numbers as listed below against their respective wards: WARD NO VEHICLE NO CONTACT NO WARD 1 NL01P/5214 9089320057 WARD 2 NL01H/5361 9856669062 WARD 3 NL01H/3903 9856333173 WARD 4 NL01H/8098 8974801896 WARD 5 NL01H/1545 9436400496 WARD 6 WARD 7 NL0IH/3610 8257852402 WARD 8 NL01H/9904 7635975355 WARD 9 NL01P/1140 9436831296 WARD 10 NL01P/8128 9856303230 WARD 11 NL01P/9025 9436434646 WARD 12 NL01P/2526 9436601231 WARD 13 NL01C/4859 8575217667 WARD 14 NL01C/5352 8837267942 WARD 15 NL07/5392 7005457801 WARD 16 WARD 17 NL07H/6301 8794304564 WARD 18 NL02C/4571 7641905725 WARD 19 NL01T/0417 8131893084

are awaited,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Thursday. “All positive patients are stable,” he said, adding that all primary contacts of all the positive patients have tested negative so far. “All known primary contacts of the positive patients have been tested for and are found to be negative so far,” Sangma said.

A total of 24,382 persons have been screened till now with 5,208 in home quarantine and 296 in insti-

tutional quarantine.

The family members of Dr. Sailo have also urged the Meghalaya government to “track down the source of the killer virus”. “In pursuance of truth, it is hoped authorities will thoroughly track the source of the virus, instead of allowing conjectures to dominate the narrative,” Dr. Sailo’s family members demanded.

Initially, Health officials suspected that the physician could have got

infected from his son-in-law, Arthur Wungthingthing, a pilot with Air India who returned from New York to Delhi on March 16 and reached Shillong on March 24.

However, Wungthingthing had tested negative twice after staying in home quarantine for more than 14 days after reaching Shillong.

“It might be pertinent to consider that one of the patients that Dr. Sailo treated in the line of duty may be responsible for the transmission. The search and isolation of this person is where the state’s energy and resources should be directed at, not target people with or without reason,” Wungthingthing said.

The million dollar question is about how the virus is being transmitted to the Shillong-based physician, especially when he had no travel history outside the country.

and morchas generously contributed towards the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund).

A press release from BJP Mokokchung district media and IT cell stated that, the BJP, Mokokchung district collected a sum of Rs. 28,400 which was deposited directly into the PM CARES Fund bank account. BJP, Mokokchung district president, Imolemba Jamir and convener of BJP, Mokokchung district COVID-19 control centre, Nukshi I. Ozukum appreciated the generosity and understanding of the party workers and contributing to the PM CARES Fund.

KLH and KLEE: Kohima Lotha Hoho (KLH) and Kohima Lotha Eloe Ekhüng (KLEE) organised a relief distribution mis-

Aizawl, Apr 24 (PTI): Amid the continuing lockdown that has confined life within the four walls, Mizoram’s largest philanthropic organisation found much relevance in the words of French poet and dramatist Victor Hugo: “It is from books that wise people derive consolation in the troubles of life.”

The Young Mizo Association (YMA) has come up with ‘doorstep library’ service to put an end to boredom, boost morale and promote the habit of reading.

The ‘Kawtkai Library’ -- offering books from a variety of genres in English and Mizo languages -- was rolled out by the Ramhlun

He said that one person received injuries and one cow and two poultry were killed in the incident.

Hliappui village is in the newly created Saitual district and is located about 35 km from the district headquarter town of Saitual and 142 km from the state capital. It falls under Lengteng assembly constituency.

The district administration and the local MLA L Lalthangmawia provided financial assistance, tarpau-

Correspondent

IMPHAL, Apr 24: A police officer and some staffs of state forest department sustained injuries in stone pelting by villagers protesting against eviction at a reserved forest area in Imphal amid the lockdown to check spread of COVID-19 on Friday.

Reports alleged that the villagers retaliated to police firing tear gas shells to disperse villagers who protested against eviction of three houses constructed illegally in the reserved forest area.

While the forest officials and police dismanted the three houses, residents of Macheng village agitated to stop the eviction defying police orders.

When they refused to retreat despite repeated warning, police fired some rounds of tear gas shell in

South branch of YMA on April 18.

Ramhlun South is one of the biggest localities in Aizawl with at least 1,500 houses.

“The idea was conceived soon after the imposition of the lockdown...

Our members are reaching out to people at their doorsteps with at least eight categories of books,” said B Lalmalasawma, chairman of the library and documentation subcommittee.

“The primary purpose was to encourage reading books and effective utilisation of free time, apart from boosting the morale of people,” he told PTI, adding, the idea

also found resonance with YMA’s theme of the year to promote reading and learning.

Under this arrangement, a reader can borrow a maximum of four books free of cost for 10 days.

Established in 1935, YMA is the largest philanthropic organisation in Mizoram with around 4.5 lakh members.

Young Mizo Association Ramhlun South branch secretary Hrathmingthanga said pictures of books are shared on a WhatsApp group of the locality to enable people to make their selection.

“We also collect the books from the readers’ homes, and social distanc-

ing is strictly followed while distributing and collecting books,” Hrathmingthanga said.

He said the YMA branch is also planning to give away prizes to readers borrowing the most number of books.

The Ramhlun branch of YMA started its own public library in 1985 and was recognised by the state government in 1991.

The librar y has a collection of over 1,500 books, Hrathmingthanga said.

With a literacy rate of 91.33 per cent, Mizoram is third in the country after Kerala and Lakshadweep, according to the 2011 Census.

Two militants killed in encounter with security forces

DIPHU/ GUWAHATI, APR 24 (PTI): Two cadres of Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) were killed in an encounter with security forces in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Friday, police said. District Superintendent of Police Debajit Deori said based on specific information joint

sion from April 22 to 24.

According to DIPR report, the relief rations were distributed to stranded students, low income families and daily wage earners from the Lotha community residing within Kohima town. Altogether 96 families including daily wage earners and 109 stranded students benefited. KLH vice chairman Y Likhao Humtsoe thanked all the colony representatives for success of relief mission.

A I DA D i m a p u r : ANMA Integrated Development Agency (AIDA) Dimapur under the aegis of the Salesians of Don Bosco, reached out to 188 families residing in different colonies of Dimapur on April 24. A press release from AIDA stated that, the relief items included the most basic commodities. Fr. Nazarius Lakra Sdb, the vice-provincial

268 houses damaged in rain and hailstorm in Mizoram

Aizawl, Apr 24 (PTI): At least 268 houses have been damaged by rain accompanied by hailstorm which hit Hliappui village in east Mizoram’s Saitual district, an official said on Friday.

The official said that heavy rain accompanied by hailstorm hit the village on Thursday late afternoon.

At least 189 dwelling houses have been completely damaged and 79 others partially damaged, he said.

Police officer, forest staff hurt as villagers protest eviction

Doorstep library service in Mizoram during lockdown

team of police and Army launched an operation at Dugudisa Reserve forest in Dhansiri area where the militants exchanged fire with the security forces.

“After an exchange of fire this morning between terrorists belonging to DNLA and a joint team of Assam Police and Indian Army in Karbi Anglong district

of Assam, two DNLA terrorists have been declared dead and one AK Series Rifle, one M-16 Rifle and ammunition have been recovered,” tweeted Assam ADGP (Law and order) G P Singh.

An M16 and an AK 47 rifle were recovered from the encounter site, the SP added.

Financial assistance, relief ration distributed across Nagaland Relief extended to needy at Jalukie town: District administration of Peren led by ADC & EAC Jalukie in collaboration with the ward chairmen of Jalukie Town extended relief services to the needy people to all the wards under Jalukie block by distributing food packages on April 22 at G.A Rest House, Jalukie. According to DIPR report, altogether more than 500 beneficiaries availed the facilities, mostly belonging to underprivileged background immensely affected by the nation-wide lockdown.

The distributed essential commodities were donated by the Leader of Opposition, T.R. Zeliang.

BJP, Mokokchung: BJP Mokokchung district COVID-19 control centre mobilized a fund drive where the party officials, workers, mandals

5

lins and bundles of tin roofs to the villagers.

The official said the village has also received financial assistance to the tune of Rs 2 lakh from public contribution and other relief from various sources.

Residents of the village and about 450 volunteers from more than 14 neighbouring villages gathered for community service to repair the damaged houses on Friday, official sources said.

of Dimapur Province, flagged off the distribution in the presence of Fr. Nebu Mathew Sdb, the financial administrator, other Salesians and some volunteers.

The colonies covered are Burma Camp, Rongmei Colony, Kevichusa, Ragailong, Chungaigang, Naga Colony, Master Colony, Viola Colony, D-colony and Karie Colony.

CHS & CHYN: Chümoukedima Hindu Society (CHS) with support from Chümoukedima Hindu Yuva Nagaland (CHYN) have distributed relief packages to 410 families, stranded students (hostellers), daily wage labourers including the orphanage and rehabilitation centres stretching from Chümoukedima till proper Dimapur town. A press release by Prakash Chetri, general secretary of CHS, stated that CHS would

continue such service on humanitarian ground under the supervision and guidance of Thejavizo Nakhro, EAC-cum-administrator Chümoukedima Town Council and Pintu M. Ghosh, working president of CHS as long as the lockdown continues.

It is further informed any person or groups in need of help can contact the following numbers: 76288 59113/8257907961/7005 816174.

DGU and GSUD: Dimapur Gorkha Union (DGU) in collaboration with Gorkha Students’ Union Dimapur (GSUD) distributed food packages to the DMC workers and Police personnel all around Dimapur on April 24. A press release from GSUD advisor Sunil Limbu stated that, this programme was initiated since April 24 and will go on till 30.

Safe,” the chief minister tweeted.

Tripura’s first COVID19 patient, a woman from Udaipur town in Gomati district, who returned from Guwahati right before lockdown, had tested positive for the coronavirus infection on April 6.

She recovered and was released from isolation on April 16. She was later shifted to a quarantine centre at Gomati district, approximately 50 km from here.

The arrested cadres along with bags of rice.

KOHIMA, APR 24: Troops of Assam Rifles under the aegis of Indian Army, in an operation, apprehended two Over Ground Workers (OGW) of NSCN(I-M) near Lower Kollam village and Khonsa Town in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh on April 23.

A press release by PRO ( Defence) stated that based on a specific intelligence input, the troops launched the operation in the area and apprehended the sympathizers of the proscribed group.

The apprehended individuals have been identified as Tewang Hangsik, r/o Lower Kollam and DongleyLowang, r/o Lower Chinghana. During the operation, the troops also recovered 1500 kgs of rice (30 bags) suspected to be siphoned off from PDS stocks and misappropriated for use by the insurgent group.

The apprehended OGWs along with recovered items have been handed over to Khonsa Police Station for further investigations.

M’laya Youth Cong files FIR against Arnab Goswami Correspondent

SHILLONG, APR 24: Naga Students’ Union Shillong (NSUS) as a guardian of all Nagas students hailing from the states of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, having received distress calls from the students community stranded in Shillong, have approached Home minister James P. K. Sangma, for his benign intervention. A press release from NSUS president, TP Dining stated that, minister reached out generous hands towards the Naga students in the city. He provided 100 bags of rice besides other items as an interim aid. NSUS therefore thanked the Home minister and also the Khasi Students Union (KSU), who had stood by the Nagas at this critical time and rendered invaluable help to the needy.

SHILLONG, APR 24: The Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress on Friday filed an FIR against Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami accusing him of making “willful defamatory attack” against Congress President Sonia Gandhi and to “communalise” the mob lynching incident at Palghar in Maharastra. In a FIR lodged with Circle Inspector of Tura Police Station under West Garo Hills district, MPYC leaders, Richard M Marak, Pangsang R. N. Sangma and Gamrik K Sangma, alleged that, “He (Goswami) tried to light this communal fire despite public statements given by both the chief minister and the home minister of Maharastra clarifying that the incident in Palghar had no communal angle to it.

dc-386

construction. On April 21, 2020, the concerned forest department served a notice to the owners of the houses to remove the structures failing which eviction will follow by April 24.

Encroachment, including illegal constructions inside the reserved forests, violates provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1972, Manipur Forest Rules, 1971 and instructions issued by the Central government.

In addition, it amounts to damage to government property under Indian Penal Code. Besides evictions, the encroachers are liable to punishments with imprisonment or fine or with both, a forest officer maintained.

He added that the encroachers were also liable to pay compensation for damage to the forest and all the material deposited on the land being encroached upon is also liable to be forfeited.

Assam Rifles apprehend ogws of nscn(i-m) in Tirap

NSUS receives aid from Meghalaya government

Tripura becomes covid-19 free after 2nd case tests negative

Agartala, Apr 24 (PTI): Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday said the state has become coronavirus- free after its second COVID-19 patient tested negative. “ U P DAT E ! T h e Second corona patient of Tripura has been found NEGATIVE after consecutive tests. Hence our State has become Corona free. I request everyone to maintain Social distancing and follow Government guidelines. Stay Home Stay

a bid to disperse them. The protestors however retaliated with stones and sling shots, injuring a police officer and some staffs of the forest department. The police officer was allegedly hit by a slingshot.

According to forest officials, the three houses were constructed at Macheng village at Mantripukhri area under Langol Reserved Forest area in Imphal West district.

The construction of the houses was suspended after a regular patrolling team of the Central Forest Division stopped the unauthorised construction detected around a month ago.

However, taking advantage of the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic and while the frontline staffs were fully engaged in controlling and fighting forest fires at different places, the encroachers re-started the

On top of it all, he also tried to bring the Christians and even Italy into the mix.”

“The above statement can be classified as a hate speech and it is an attack on the Constitution of India and is an offence under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, 2000 and guidelines of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting,” they stated in FIR. Senior Congress legislator, Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh who also took to Twitter on Friday said, “Freedom of press must be upheld, inciting religious sentiments and character assassinations is an unfortunate offshoot of the misuse of this protected press privilege in our country. Arnab must uphold ethics in his shows where he has often crossed the line.”

6

INternational/sports

Trump for phased reopening of economy Washington, Apr 24 (PTI): US President Donald Trump has favoured safe and phased reopening of the American economy, which has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000 people and infected over eight lakh in a matter of few months.

More than 95 per cent of the country’s 330 million people are under stayat-home order as a result of the social mitigation measures including social distancing being enforced till May 1.

Trump on Thursday indicated that this might be extended beyond May 1, but forcefully advocated the need to gradually open up the economy that is safe.

In the past few weeks, more than 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits and the figure is soon likely to cross 40 million, as per some estimates.

Both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have projected a negative growth in the US in 2020.

“To keep America gaining momentum, every citizen needs to maintain

B'desh bans Iftar gatherings during Ramzan Dhaka, Apr 24 (IANS): The Bangladesh government has banned Iftar gatherings during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan in an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, it was reported on Friday.

The decision was announced by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in a statement on Friday morning, reports bdnews24 In order to maintain social distancing amid the ongoing pandemic, no individuals or institutions will be allowed to arrange or participate in any gathering over Iftar, it said.

Legal action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the order, according to the Ministry.

Bangladesh has confirmed seven more fatalities from the novel coronavirus, bringing the death count to 127.

The tally of confirmed cases reached 4,186 in the same period after another 414 people tested positive, Health Minister Zahid Malik said on Thursday.

Donald Trump

the vigilance, and we all understand that very well we’ve gone over it many, many times this includes practising good hygiene, maintaining social distance, and the voluntary use of face covering,” he said.

“Safe and phased reopening of our economy it’s very exciting, but it does not mean that we are letting down our guard at all in any way; on the contrary, continued diligence is an essential part of our strategy to get our country back to work to take our country back,” Trump told reporters at his daily White House news conference on coronavirus.

The data and facts on the ground suggest that the US is making great progress, he said.

In 23 states, new cases have declined. In the peak

week 40 per cent of American counties have also seen a rapid decline in new cases. As many as 46 states report a drop in patients showing coronavirus-like symptoms, he said.

Trump said that the US is very close to a finding a vaccine for COVID-19.

“We are very close to testing... when testing starts it takes a period of time but we will get it done,” he said.

According to Vice President Mike Pence, data continues to show promising signs of progress in the New York Metro area, New Jersey, Connecticut, Detroit and New Orleans all appear to be passed their peak and “we are seeing consistent declines” in hospitalisation and cases in regions across the country.

Pence heads the White House Task Force on Coro-

navirus.

“Our task force actually believes that if we continue these mitigation efforts in the days ahead including phased reopening... by early summer, we can be in a much better place as a nation with much of this coronavirus epidemic behind us,” he said.

Pence said that 16 states have released formal reopening plans.

“States are beginning to make those plans and we were encouraged to see so many states embracing the phased approach to reopening their economies that’s contemplated in our guidelines for opening America again,” he said.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that restaurants and retail outlets would be allowed to reopen.

“We want to have the majority of businesses open before May 1,” Lee said.

“We are working around the clock to get Tennesseans safely back to work in 89 of our counties with the majority of businesses in a position to begin opening their doors next week,” he said at separate news conference.

Philippine prez threatens martial law Manila, Apr 24 (AP): Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has angrily threatened to declare martial law after accusing communist rebels of killing two soldiers, who escorted the delivery of cash and food aid to villagers as his government scrambled to deal with a growing number of coronavirus infections.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Friday said Duterte also approved during a meeting with Cabinet officials the extension of a lockdown in metropolitan Manila and several provinces and cities up to May 15.

“I’m warning everybody and putting the armed forces and the police on notice that I might declare martial law. There will be no turning back,” Duterte said in a televised speech beamed nationwide.

“I have two more years. I will try to finish all of you, including you the legal (fronts), you should go and hide.”

The Philippines has reported nearly 7,000 cases of COVID-19 disease, including 462 deaths.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020

China continues fortification of its claim over South China Sea

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, speaks after he reviewed the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy fleet in the South China Sea. (File)

New Delhi/Beijing, Apr 24 (IANS): Amidst the global coronavirus pandemic which originated in China’s Wuhan city last December, the Asian giant has been aggressively trying to lay its claim over the disputed South and East China Sea, triggering a major pushback from the big powers and ASEAN countries.

Last Sunday, claiming its sovereignty over South China Sea (SCS), Chinese authorities released names, longitudes and latitudes for 25 islands and reefs as well as 55 undersea geographic entities, standardizing the disputed region.

Part of the Pacific Ocean, SCS encompasses an area from the Karimata and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan.

It provides sea food security to Southeast Asia and also serves as a major shipping route with onethird of the world’s shipping dependent on it.

Ta i wa n , Vi e t n a m , the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia have disputed China’s sovereignty over the SCS and its islands.

However, China has been increasing its military and naval presence by constructing artificial islands

Taliban rejects Afghan NY City toll at 16,388; study says 1.9mn infected president’s call for ceasefire

Kabul, Apr 24 (IANS): The Taliban has rejected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s call for a ceasefire amid the coronavirus pandemic, saying that the government’s inattention to “thousands” of prisoners made the President’s appeal “insincere”, it was reported.

Amid escalating violence in many parts of the country, Ghani on Thursday appealed to the Taliban for a ceasefire, citing the special conditions of the countrywide spread of the coronavirus, reports TOLO News.

In his message, Ghani

called on the Taliban to stop “killing Afghans”, adding that the government will continue helping vulnerable families during the coronavirus crisis in the country.

Ghani’s appeal comes as dozens of Afghan security force members have lost their lives in Taliban attacks over the last week.

But Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said that asking for a ceasefire was not “rational” or “convincing” as “thousands of prisoners are being put into danger due to the coronavirus and hurdles are created in the way of the peace process and complete

implementation of the (USTaliban) agreement”.

The Taliban is demanding the release of 5,000 prisoners by the Afghan government based on the US-Taliban agreement inked on February 29 in Doha.

The Afghan government has agreed to the release of 1,500 prisoners but through a conditioned and gradual process.

According to National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib, five out of 15 prisoners specifically requested by the Taliban were involved in major attacks in Kabul.

29 SL Navy personnel test COVID-19 positive

Colombo, Apr 24 (IANS): Twentynine Sri Lankan Navy personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 taking the overall number of infections in the island-nation to 368 in the country, an Army official said.

Ar my Commander Shavendra Silva said that the 29 Navy personnel have contracted the virus during the recent search operation carried out in Suduwella, Ja-Ela to find out suspected

COVID-19 patients, reports the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Accordingly, the Army Commander said the Navy Camp at Welisara has been declared as an isolated area.

Meanwhile, he requested all sailors who went on leave after quarantine duty, to report back immediately to undergo PCR tests.

As of Friday, Sri Lanka has also reported seven COVID-19 deaths.

A person walks on Wall Street as the coronavirus keeps financial markets and businesses most closed in New York City on April 23.

New York, Apr 24 (IANS): As deaths in New York City from COVID-19 has reached 16,388, a study has shown that at least one in five persons or 1.9 million there may have had the disease.

G ove r n o r A n d r ew Cuomo said on Thursday that based on sample antibody tests the study concluded that 22.1 per cent of the city’s 8.6 million residents had had COVID-19.

That would work out to 1.9 million, although officially only 263,460 confirmed cases have been

reported.The discrepancy points to about 1.5 million having had a milder attack or not having any symptoms or not sought treatment or testing.

A significant outcome of the study is that the death rate from the disease is much lower than the 6 per cent with the lower number of officially reported cases coming down to about 0.5 per cent using the higher number of cases from the study. At the same time, the study points to higher risks from the large number of silent carriers of the disease

unknowingly spreading it.

Unlike the test used to diagnose if a person has COVID-19, the anti-body test of the blood shows if a person has had had the disease by looking for antibodies produced by the body to fight it.

While in the case of many diseases having had it gives immunity, scientists say it may also happen with COVID-19 but it has not yet been definitively proven scientifically.

The study was based on 3,000 samples collected from 40 locations like shops

A to resume Will not accept moving Asia Cup: PCB CEO Liverpool set to be crowned Serie in early August Premier League champions

Liverpool players during a training session.

Lo n d o n, A p r 2 4 (IANS): English giants Liverpool will be crowned Premier League champions if the season cannot be completed, according to local media reports. The Premier League had to be stopped after matchday 29 as a precautionary measure against coronavirus pandemic.

Liverpool were on the threshold of ending their 30-year drought before the season was stalled because of the outbreak. The Reds fans fear they won’t see their beloved team lift the

and carrying out other exercises.

The latest standardization of names of disputed islands came a day after the Beijing announced the establishment of two new districts in the city of Sansha in Hainan province to administer islands and reef waters in the disputed SCS. While the local governments of one of the new districts is to control the islands and reefs of the Paracel Islands, the other is to administer the Spratly Islands. The local government for the Spratly Islands is on the Fiery Cross Reef, which China has occupied.

Infuriated by China’s aggression in the SCS while the world is combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the US, Japan, Europe, Australia, Germany along with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries were now pushing back. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi lodged a protest on Tuesday against the Xi Jinping government sending its ships into the Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

title as ending the season as null and void has also been mooted.

According to a report published in the Daily Mail, Liver pool will become champions of England for 19th time if the season cannot be restarted due to Covid-19 crisis.

UEFA -- the European football governing body -- on Thursday stated that Champions League qualifications will be decided on ‘sporting merit’ which means the curent top four teams in England will en-

ter the tournament next season.

On that basis, Liverpool will end the season at the top of the league and hence could be named champions. The Anfield outfit are 25 points ahead of defending champions Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

After 29 matches, Liverpool have accumulated 82 pointed and have failed to win just two matches - 1-1 draw against Manchester United and 0-3 loss against Watford.

Rome, Apr 24 (IANS): Italy’s football federation President Gabriele Gravina has announced to resume the suspended Serie A in early August. “...it is the intention of President Gravina to adopt in the next few hours, in agreement with all the federal components, a resolution to postpone the end of the 2019/2020 sports season to 2 August,” the FIGC said in a statement.

Football has been suspended in Italy from March 9, leaving 12 rounds to play in the Serie A league, which was originally due to end on May 24.

The statement from the FIGC came hours after European body UEFA said that continental competitions could be concluded alongside domestic leagues or delayed until August, after leagues are completed.

The proposal, including a medical protocol for the safety of players during the training period, was discussed Wednesday with Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora, who said he will take a decision after meeting with other government officials.

Lahore, Apr 24 (IANS): Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Wasim Khan has made it clear that the PCB will not accept any change in the Asia Cup schedule in order to accommodate the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which currently remains suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic.

He also said that the board is hoping to hold the Asia Cup T20 tournament in the UAE as per schedule in September unless there are changes to be made because of issues related to the coronavirus outbreak which has brought the entire world to a standstill.

“Our stance is absolutely clear, the Asia Cup is set for September and the only reason it should not take place is continued health safety issues. We will not accept that the Asia Cup is moved to accommodate the IPL,” Khan said on GTV News Channel.

“I have heard that there is talk to move the Asia Cup to November-December but for us that is not possible. If you move the Asia Cup, you are making way for one member nation and that is not right and it will not have our support,”

Wasim Khan

he added.

The 2020 IPL’s initial start date was first pushed back from March 29 to April 15 before it was postponed indefinitely as the nation-wide lockdown got extended until May 3.

BCCI is now looking at the two options of having an IPL this year. They are looking to organise the event in September and early October before the T20 World Cup in Australia or hosting it at the expense of the T20 World Cup if the ICC, Cricket Australia and other stakeholders are all in agreement.

Khan further said that at Thursday’s ICC Chief Executives virtual meeting,

the BCCI representative did not raise the IPL window issue.

Khan, who represented PCB at the meet, said Cricket Australia informed other boards that it was exploring all options but no decision was taken on moving the T20 World Cup -- currently scheduled to be played in Australia in October-November -- to another date or to another country.

“The T20 World Cup might be played behind closed doors because if we don’t play T20 World Cup each board potentially stands to lose between 15 and 20 million dollars,” said the PCB CEO.

around the state over two days starting on Monday While sharing the results during his briefing, Cuomo said the findings were preliminary and put some caveats.

The people tested were outside their homes and were not those isolated at home the results could vary between the two groups.

“So we have to analyse that, what does that do to the numbers,” he said.

Officially, the first COVID-19 case in New York City was confirmed on March 1 when a healthcare worker who had travelled to Iran tested positive.

However, the wide prevalence of COVID-19 in the city’s population may indicate that the disease was circulating in the city much earlier.

Although the total number of cases and deaths continue to climb, the pandemic appears to be ebbing as the number of new cases reported is coming down, despite a small spike on Wednesday.

On April 18, Cuomo announced that the state had gone beyond the plateau and COVID-19 was declining.

ICC still planning for T20 WC in October Dubai, Apr 24 (Agencies): Planning for this year’s men’s Twenty20 World Cup and next year’s women’s 50-over World Cup is going ahead even though cricket remains suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

The ICC hosted a Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) meeting with the CEOs of the 12 full members and three associate representatives to discuss the challenges boards will face in the coming months in their respective countries.

The men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played in Australia from Oct. 18 to Nov. 15 while the women’s World Cup in 2021 is scheduled for Feb. 6 to March 7 in New Zealand.

“The CEC was updated on the continuing contingency planning for all ICC global events, including the men’s T20 World Cup 2020 and the women’s World Cup 2021. Planning for both events as currently scheduled is ongoing,” the ICC said in a statement.

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