SHILLONG, Jan 11: In a bid to address the issue affecting the livelihood of people, West Shillong MLA Mohendro Rapsang has suggested that the Meghalaya government should not impose any lockdown in the city’s Iewduh area — the main commercial hub which sustains
thousands of people and their livelihood.
Observing that the government always tends to close down the bustling commercial area first thing when it comes to imposing lockdowns, Rapsang invited a revision into this scheme of action as he stressed that this could bring adverse impacts on the lives of the vendors, shopkeepers and hawkers who depend upon the market for their living.
In his statement, Rapsang mentioned that more than 90 per cent of the shopkeepers in Iewduh are vaccinated and if need be, even SOPs could be established specifically for the hawkers and shopkeepers to follow. But enforcing a stringent lockdown that brings all business and commercial activities to an abrupt halt might not be the wisest decision in favour of the larger working class community, he added.
Speaking further on how the matter could be otherwise handled, Rapsang stated, “We also have to see what the percentage of surge is and how the surge is taking place and if the surge is taking place, some precautions are required but lockdown should be avoided.”
It may be mentioned here that Iewduh, the busiest commercial market in the city, boasts thousands of visitors and buyers everyday and as such, the government, has remained cautious about closing down the space beforehand for controlling the surge in the state.
Reportedly, a PA system has been now made functional in Iewduh that repeatedly reminds people to follow SOPs and COVID protocols in place.
When asked about the precautions taken in Iewduh, an official of the KHADC said that they have no role in formulating SOPs and protocols and everything is decided by the district administration.