A saying that -you can’t please all- holds true with regard to the efforts of the government of Nagaland, which finds itself in an unwanted situation with regard to the handling of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Whatever the government does is not being appreciated and though the reasons are not enough justification, yet these point to the need for further streamlining. The government of Nagaland has, as per official admission, spent a total of around Rs.10.33 crore on stranded citizens of the state. Out of the amount, Rs,1.65 crore was spent on arranging transportation by train and bus, to bring the stranded persons as on June 12,2020. Another Rs.8.68 crore was spend for managing quarantine centres in various districts. As per the government’s admission, the government of Nagaland has provided cash grant to 19,464 people stranded outside and transferred the amount to their bank accounts. Under the scheme a patient outside undergoing treatment was paid Rs.20,000 ; a professional or working person was paid Rs.4000 while a student from the state studying outside was paid Rs.3000. All these were as one-time grant to tide of the crisis. In addition, the state government has also reportedly paid Rs.10,000 each to those who have decided to not return to the state as ‘incentive/grant’. So far, as per official details and as on June 17, around 14,000 stranded citizens have reached Nagaland and over 5000 are still remaining in various quarantine centres after almost and equal number have been released on completion of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period and to undertake another 14-day home quarantine. The state government has incurred huge expenditure in managing scores of quarantine centres. The complaints heard from inmates mostly on social media, cannot be totally dismissed. First, the government has never imagined that it would one day, have to provide food and lodging for so many persons on emergency basis on their arrival. All returnees are not COVID-19 positive till tests confirm. However, prior to testing results, the returnees are kept in quarantine facilities together but adhering to Standard Operating Procedures such as –social distancing, wearing of masks and avoiding contacts etc. Much of the resentment happens at this period when many of the inmates believe they are not infected and that placing them together greatly enlarges the risk of infection. Besides anger and resentment, driven by a sense of being ‘clean’ or uninfected by COVID-19, there are also reports of inmates raising issues over quality of food. While there may be a few cases where quality of food provided leaves much to be desired; yet overall, the quality of food is far better than those served at quarantine centres of other states. Those managing the quarantine centres deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated, especially the medical teams under various district task forces. The government should look into the problems faced by these frontline workers in terms of providing proper accommodation during COVID-19 duties as well as enabling them to have proper food and rest. Many churches and NGOs have been rendering an excellent service by providing and cooking food for the frontline workers and even quarantine centres. This is the most significant outcome of the pandemic. It has brought out the best in the worst of times.
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