SHILLONG: In a U-turn to their earlier stance, the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has extended support for the resumption of international border trade via Land Custom Dawki carried out conforming to proper safety measures as per government guidelines.
The union also expressed concern over the drivers, miners and other daily wage earners, who earned their bread through trade activity at Dawki, losing their livelihood due to the COVID-19-induced lockdowns. It has also rendered traders in extreme hardships due to pending loans and bad investments, JSU said in a statement.
While stating that the recent opposition was subjected to following the safety protocols, the union said that it wants the trade activity to last till vaccines are approved, developed, manufactured and distributed to the masses which could take an uncertain period of time.
Urging the people not to take the COVID situation lightly, the Union warned that it may worsen if the government has scarce ways to cushion the economy. “… especially in these times, the government is in dire need of funds in order to strengthen the COVID-19 response mechanism and infrastructure so as to prevent and fight the disease effectively,” the statement said.
If the government is unable to pay salaries of frontline workers such as doctors, nurses, police, etc, it will create a difficult situation, it added.
The JSU said that it feels the time demands for a stable economic condition, without which it could become difficult for people to even meet their basic needs.
“We feel it is a bad move to oppose international trade through the Land Custom Dawki as the trade with Bangladesh only involves entry at the land port while the interstate trade involves the import of goods from as far as Andhra Pradesh or other states which passes through various states to reach Amlarem or Dawki”, the statement said.
The Union has urged the traders to strictly adhere to protocols and ensure no physical contact with the Bangladesh counterparts.