Refrain from venturing out, Meghalaya CM urges elderly citizens, children

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday urged elderly citizens to refrain from going out as far as possible, and parents and guardians should ensure that children do not venture out and engage in outdoor games in locality streets. “We have seen throughout the world that the virus affects the elderly more. Therefore, I would urge our elderly, our senior citizens to refrain from going out to crowded places,” the chief minister said in his daily media briefing on Monday. “They should keep themselves safe because this virus (COVID19) is something that we have seen throughout the world affecting the elderly more,” the Meghalaya CM added. Sangma also urged parents and guardians to ensure that their children/wards do not venture out in the localities and engage in outdoor games in locality streets and they should monitor them and maintain social distancing.

Regarding body management protocol, the chief minister said the body management protocol has been prepared and it has already been circulated to the deputy commissioners for necessary intervention at their level. The chief minister informed that financial aid under Chief Minister’s Special Grant for individuals stranded in different parts of the country is under process, wherein, workers, students and working professionals will be given lumpsum support of Rs. 3000 each. The government has first selected the workers’ group beginning with a list of 1,617 people stranded in different parts of the country and the disbursement has started. On drivers involved in the supply of essential commodities in the state, the chief minister said they are being screened and tested and trucks and vehicles are being disinfected coming into the state. “There is the delay in the transportation of products because these processes and protocols are being followed,” the chief minister added.

On concerns regarding labourers from other states stranded in Meghalaya, the chief minister clarified that daily wage earners stranded in the state are taken care of by the state government through respective DCs. “It is very clear that every state government in every part of the country is supposed to take care of all migrant labourers,” the Meghalaya CM said. “Like other states, the Meghalaya government has been supporting and taking care, providing food and shelter to all migrant daily wage earners from different parts of the country stranded in our state,” the CM informed. On setting up of relief camp in mining areas of the state, he said ghat some suggestions were made to set relief camp in mining areas, where many labourers are stranded. The government is helping the labourers in those areas, and if there are any areas which are left out, the government will take necessary action. The 21-day nationwide lockdown, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from March 24 midnight as a preventive measure to contain the spread of COVID19, has been extended up to May 3.