Arunachal students' body calls for 2-week extension of lockdown

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) called for the extension of lockdown to 2 weeks more and also requested the State government for re-testing of those returnees from the other States.

Speaking to the reporters at a city hotel here on Friday, Union vice president, Meje Taku said that the demand for re-testing is to ensure that the spread is further contained.

"There have been cases where people who were earlier tested COVID-19 negative were later found to be positive after re-test," he said while adding that the re-test of the returnees should be made compulsory who have been tested negative and is under strict home quarantine.

The Union also stressed that those Chakmas found to be COVID-19 positive from Changlang district should be termed as refugees rather than calling them as Arunachalee in general.

"As a human being, the infected Chakma laborers have all right for medication and care. But they are refugees and the State government should not address them as Arunachalee," he added. The Union demanded for the closure of schools, colleges and other educational institutions till normalcy is retained in the state. It said that the State government should issue clear-cut guidelines on the matter and also urged for monthly review on opening and closure of educational institutions.

Stating that the Union has no problem in online classes, Taku added that the online classes should not be made mandatory as there are many districts deprived of good telecom communication and electricity. Meanwhile, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said that the State government should take strict action on those who are deliberately violating the standard operating procedures.

Bagang said that the Diyun sub-division under Changlang district should be declared as a containment zone at the earliest and strictly monitor the entry and exit of people in the area.

"We also request the State government to provide financial aid to those students who are willingly staying in different parts of the country during the lockdown," he added.

Further the Union requested the State government for speedy investigation into the firing incident in Longding by the Army in Pumao village killing one civilian and injuring many. The Union also requested for an odd and even system of allowing vehicular movement as it was introduced by Delhi government to avoid unnecessary movement. It also said that the State government should construct multi-purpose cold storages in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) for future purposes.

The Union on Thursday had submitted a representation to the Chief Minister Pema Khandu demanding the same. 

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