ASTD asks inmates in QCs to act responsibly

Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) has expressed gratitude to all agencies involved in the fight against COVID-19 which it termed as “people’s war” but at the same time, expressed regrets at the manner in which government functionaries had shown negligence in following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the government while sending returnees to quarantines and subsequently sending them to their respective districts.

ASTD president L. Wati Jamir and general secretary K. Mar Lemtur in a statement also drew attention on voice messages and video clippings which have gone viral on social media. ASTD said in the voice messages and video clippings, the returnees were heard and seen complaining against the authorities for lack of proper facilities in the quarantines as well as the irresponsibility and negligence of quarantine authorities and officials. 

ASTD has focussed on the personal behaviour of some returnees at various quarantine centres (QCs)  who have been creating a situation by not following social distancing norms, socialising among themselves and also “complaining so much” as if they were entitled to everything under the Sun.

ASTD reminded those unruly lot to realise that they were put up in quarantine in their own home( state) and given basic needs free everyday provided by the government, churches and NGOs.

ASTD advised returnees to instead realise that they must behave well for 14 days as the fate of COVID-19 in Nagaland was in their hands to defeat the virus together to create a new Nagaland for the future generation. It stressed on stringent measures at quarantines to prevent untoward incidents between official and returnees. ASTD also cautioned that if any Ao individual made unwarranted allegations or issues defaming the union’s integrity, it shall deal with such individual in a way it deemed fit and proper.

ASTD also informed that its frontline workers at Dimapur spearheaded by the convenor empowered committee has been working tirelessly to shoulder maximum burden in taking care of more than 70% of returnees to contain COVID-19. Therefore, ASTD appealed to public, especially the returnees to cooperate with frontline warriors such as doctors, nurses, task force and security personnel on COVID-19 duty. It also expressed need for more medical personnel in Dimapur by requisitioning required doctors from less burdened districts.