NPF accuses Nagaland govt of not answering questions on Covid

DIMAPUR: The Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) today accused the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government of attempting to dodge direct and pertinent questions put up by its legislature wing and central office on Covid-19.

“Do they feel that the questions raised by the principal opposition party deserve no answers or they do not dare answer them as that would disprove their so called ‘transparent’ government theory?” NPF press bureau asked in a statement.

It said though there has been clear direction from the Ministry of Home Affairs to utilise 60 percent of the grants received under the State Disaster Response Fund to provide relief to Covid patients who underwent treatment in Covid hospitals and ex-gratia grant to the Covid-related deceased families, nothing on the ground is being implemented.

The NPF said neighbouring states like Assam and Meghalaya have even gone to the extent of giving additional grants to the Covid patients and to the families of the victims expired due to Covid from the state’s own resources in addition to the normal central grants received.

It said the second wave has been more disastrous than the first and many families lost their near and dear ones in their fight against the pandemic, yet the government of the day remains nonchalant of the plight and struggle of the people.

Also Read: 16 Northeastern Doctors Lost Lives In Second Wave Of COVID: IMA

The party said even on the issue of absence of doctors and nurses in community health centres and primary health centres, the government remained mute and no positive action has been taken nor explanation given for such lapses.

“The act of providing machineries for hospitals but having no technical personnel on the ground to run those machines is self-defeating in itself,” it stated.

The party demanded immediate posting of doctors and nurses and also technical persons in the health centres on priority as without them, an empty hospital cannot help the people in their fight against this pandemic.

The NPF also alleged that the PDA government has also failed to answer with clarity as to how the 20 percent pro-rata cut from the entire non-developmental fund has been utilised. On the matter of Covid cess on petroleum products, the revenue figure given at Rs 13.64 crores is unrealistic, it stated.

The NPF added that it is not on its agenda to keep pointing fingers at the ruling party for the sake of opposing but said it has serious concern for the general public as the present government appears to be least bothered about the wellbeing of the citizens of the State. It should also not be the government’s agenda to accumulate wealth while the people suffer in ignorance, the party stated.

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