The NPF Legislature Party is aggrieved and appalled to witness the colossal failure of the PDA Government in running the State. The misgoverning the State of Nagaland by PDA is galore and horrendous to say the least. When the whole world is on war footing against invisible enemy in the form of a virus, the government of Nagaland seems to limp and lag behind in countless area. This war against a virus is best fought by medical fraternity and the hospitals however it is distressing to see time and again about ‘sealing’ of hospitals due to detection of COVID positive cases. On what logical reasoning and advice are hospitals sealed and patients not allowed to get admitted? Isn’t there a precautionary and preventive mechanism to sanitise the hospitals on a regular basis so that the hospitals itself does not become a super spreader of the virus? Rather than working to help the sick, hospitals gets sealed and refuse to see people who come to hospitals for medical assistance. It is no wonder that this government is ever ready to seal off hospitals and offices in the State but would not dare to do the same for the Treasury & Accounts department and also the banking institutions as this would mean no extra earning for the greedy lot that runs the government.
It is a fact that the corona virus is deadly and needs an all-out effort to contain further spread and infection yet the mortality rate from other sickness and disease is no less than that of COVID. The PDA government’s lack of direction and wisdom has put many lives at risk and brought many tears of sorrow and grief to Naga families who are unable to get access to the basic medical assistance other than COVID related. It is unprincipled and hazardous to copy and do exactly like others without considering the ground reality of one’s own State condition and shortcomings.
The amount of money received by the State Government from the Central Government and also the freewill donations by the Church bodies, NGOs and individuals have vanished into thin air unaccounted in the name of COVID. Besides the negligible amount parted to the respective District Task Forces in the State during the first wave of the pandemic, what financial assistance is accorded to them? What incentives are being given to the frontline workers viz. the medical fraternity, the state security forces and the various other groups who are tirelessly working for the general welfare of the people of the State? The Chief Minister of the State as head of the Government should be held accountable for all the misappropriation of funds in the name of this pandemic. I reiterate that the pro rata cut on all non-development funds of 15% in 2020-21 and 20% in 2021-22 from all departments is nothing but a sheer daylight theft of public money and not to mention the tax on petroleum products as COVID cess in the year 2020.
On the appointment of Medical Officers under the department of Health and Family Welfare, all recruitment guidelines and norms are flouted and randomly in a kneejerk reaction appointments are given. Nevertheless if this will help in the fight against the pandemic all options should be explored. Yet, it also remains a fact that these Medical Officers are denied of their remuneration for months after joining and being placed in the field. Case in point, the MOs appointed in the month of December 2020 received salary only in the last week of April 2021 and continues to be denied further payments till date. Where are all the money gone? If Doctors and Nurses cannot be paid on time even after all the sacrifices and hard work they put in, what moral authority does this government have to be still running the affairs of the State?
Medical Officers are being appointed in huge numbers but some hospitals in the State still does not have any Doctors posted? So for what cause and purposes are these appointments made? Are these Doctors not appointed to utilise their services in the State of Nagaland? It is sad to read about the case of Shamator and Tening hospitals wherein there is no doctor in the hospital. It must be pointed out for context that these two hospitals fall under the constituency of ruling NDPP MLAs. If hospitals run in the absence of doctors and other medical personnel, what hope can the people have in their fight against COVID? The apathy of PDA government for the general welfare and well-being of the people of Nagaland is glaring case of a failed state.
Imkong L Imchen.
Spokesperson,
NPF Legislature Party