Editor,
The North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA), a premiere institution of the country, situated in Umsaw, near Umiam lake, is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. This Institution should have joined hands in helping out distressed families during the pandemic. Alas! NEPA has not responding to the needs of those around it.
Right from the commencement of the lockdown in the first phase, the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, have not been complied with. The directive regarding 33% attendance was violated. Staff over 50 years of age and suffering from different ailments, were all made to attend to their duties. They were not allowed to ‘work from home’ although the classes for the trainees are reportedly conducted online.
NEPA is located in Ri-bhoi district which is considered a green zone. Hence there is little chance for anyone within its campus to get infected. But in March, 2020 on the plea of workload for financial year ending, the staff from East Khasi Hills (orange zone), were compelled to attend office regularly even after commencement of the first phase of lockdown. And they continue to attend office despite regular courses not being conducted due to the lockdown. Govt. of India has imposed restrictions on spending. Yet the official vehicle of NEPA is sent to pick up and drop staff from different locations in East Khasi Hills. Some staff from the surrounding areas are attending office regularly. This puts them at risk of exposure to COVID-19.
It is also a matter of concern that the second in command of this institute (since Director is not in the station presently) who is from the Border Security Force (BSF) has been visiting Guwahati along with his family members in the official vehicle of NEPA on several occasions during the lockdown just for shopping purposes. Because of the NEPA tag the police personnel on duty at Byrnihat check post (entry/exit point of Meghalaya) do not restrict the NEPA vehicle. Probably the mindset of NEPA officers is that they are exempted from coronavirus because of their location in a campus within green zone.
As per Govt. of India directives, all activities in training institutes are to discontinue during the lockdown. Educational institutions including colleges and universities have been holding online classes but in NEPA, trainees from different north eastern states assemble in the parade ground to give their regular attendance and listen to their instructors’ advice as they do in normal times. These novice trainees are seen in uniform performing duties along with police officers of Meghalaya Police at different locations even around the Bethany hospital, Shillong in the month March & April, 2020 when the lockdown was in full swing. Immediately thereafter the cases of COVID-19 were detected in Bethany hospital of Shillong.
Even after repeated directions by Govt. of India, no building or premise has yet been earmarked as quarantine cell/center within the NEPA campus. The residents of the villages surrounding NEPA also avail medical services from NEPA hospital. In NEPA approximately 800-1000 people including ladies, children, senior citizens, trainees from different north eastern states, staff above 50 years of age are residing in the campus. In case any of them test Covid positive they will have to undergo quarantine in the residential premises.
Another instance of deliberate contempt of Govt. of India’s directives by this institute is
when official orders are issued by a concerned officer to celebrate the farewell of a staff who completed his deputation at NEPA. The function was held at the auditorium on May 19, 2020 where 100 plus staff had assembled inside the auditorium hall. It is not known if farewell functions are permitted by Govt. of India.
The Govt. of Meghalaya has constituted over 7000 COVID-19 committees in both urban and rural areas to combat the coronavirus pandemic. It is imperative that such committees functioning in the villages around the NEPA campus communicate to this institution that they should not violate Govt. of India & Govt. of Meghalaya guidelines since there is none in NEPA who can take constructive decisions in compliance with such directions.
Yours etc.,
Prakash Gupta
Umroi, Ri-bhoi
Meghalaya