SHILLONG, May 21: Congress legislator from Rangsakona in South West Garo Hills, Zenith M Sangma, highlighted that the constituency is being faced with challenges of acute shortage of testing facility, acute shortage of vaccine and acute shortage of COVID-19 beds.
Chairman of the Constituency-level COVID Management and Monitoring Committee, Zenith Sangma, convened a meeting at Rerapara Block and discussed various aspects of the challenges faced in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases. The meeting was attended by BDO, member secretary, in-charge of all police stations and outposts, besides doctors from local PHCs.
The meeting also highlighted different developmental works within the Block and the constituency as a whole.
Expressing concern, Zenith informed that in South West Garo Hills, there are only nine oxygen-supported beds out of which six are already occupied.
“There were reports of police highhandedness in certain villages. I appeal to all concerned and the people in uniform not to manhandle the people while coming across certain challenges whereby people don’t cooperate with the authorities but try to convince and win over their hearts,” Zenith said in a statement.
The meeting also observed that despite invoking the provisions of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and Disaster Management Act, 2005, the “authority or the government is not giving any essential materials as relief measures”.
“When the government is curtailing or restricting the free movement of the people, it is incumbent upon the government to look after their daily needs in terms of essential commodities,” the statement said.
On the day, Zenith also visited Asinagre village, which was declared a containment zone for the last few days. He distributed rice, dal, soaps and eggs to all the households at Asinagre and Dolbari villages and will be distributing essentials to some more villages on Saturday.
