The recent statements by some Dorbar Shnong that they cannot provide quarantine facilities to returnees and people testing positive within their jurisdiction is worrisome. What has changed between now and 2020 which has made the Dorbar Shnong adopt this belligerent stance at a time when they are most needed to help contain the virulent Covid wave? The Dorbar Shnong are best placed to maintain strict vigil over their residents that test Covid positive. Government does not have the human resource needed to exercise control over the residents of a shnong during these times. Besides the Dorbar Shnong are supposed to be the local governance mechanism that are closest to the people. If they shirk their responsibilities at this time, they may live to regret the decision.
Of course, the Dorbar Shnong may have some genuine reasons for expressing their inability to take on the responsibility of quarantining Covid positive individuals. Firstly, they don’t have the space. As expressed by a Rangbah Shnong, in the past they were using educational institutions for quarantining Covid positive people. This time the Government has announced a lockdown that ends on May 10 and there are no announcements as to whether educational institutions will be under lockdown for an indefinite period. Hence educational institutions are wary of giving out their classrooms to be converted to Corona Care Centres. There is also the question of separate toilets for the inmates which need to be put up considering the infecting capacity of the virus. Also, the garbage generated by the inmates at the Corona Care Centres cannot be collected at random since it may contain infectious matter. Such garbage cannot be treated like ordinary garbage and needs to be handled with strict precautions.
However, what is bothering most of the Dorbar Shnong is the financial resource which has perhaps not been forthcoming since the last year when they had diligently assisted the Government. Without Government assistance it will be difficult for the Dorbars to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the Quarantine centres. The Dorbar Shnong collect a minimum fee from residents for garbage collection and maintenance of water supply systems and street lights etc. As expressed by one of the headmen some people from the localities will have to be enlisted and paid for doing their duties at the quarantine centres. It will be difficult to find “volunteers” who will undertake what is a tedious task, pro-bono. Perhaps what has irked the Dorbar Shnong is also the short-term liaison between themselves and the Government. A more sustainable, formal relationship is the need of the hour and also a proper funding mechanism so that Dorbars are not left out on a limb.
