SHILLONG: The state government has taken steps to increase the real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test capacity by deploying GeneXpert machines at NEIGRIHMS.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the government is currently waiting for the cartridges which are due to arrive soon and the installation of these machines would enhance the state’s sample testing capacity to 80 more tests per day in addition to the existing 90 tests per day. The machines will be operational by next week, he said.
The samples tested on Tuesday are 933 out of which 821 were tested negative, altogether there are 12 positive cases (11 active) and test results of 100 cases are awaited.
Grant, price rice
The chief minister informed that under CM’s Special Grant, 2,995 people stranded outside the state have been given the benefits and the money has been transferred to these beneficiaries.
On concerns related to price of essential commodities, the chief minister said, “I would like to inform you that we have already asked the respective deputy commissioners to take action against any case of over pricing. It has also been mandated that every shop must display the price of different products for the benefit of consumers.”
He also urged the citizens that if there are any specific cases regarding over pricing in any part of the state, they should inform the deputy commissioners, who have been authorised to take immediate steps to address the matter.
He also informed that all pending bills under MGNREGS has been cleared upto March 31 and DCs and BDOs have been asked to instruct the VECs to submit their annual work plans as per the guidelines.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that there are a total of 21, 45,144 beneficiaries who have received the NFSA ration of Rs 3 per kg rice.
He said the number of beneficiaries under the non-NFSA is 7,72,694.
He said the figures prove significant as about 29 lakh people are benefitted through the Public Distribution System (PDS) out of a population of 34 lakh in the state.