Immediate evacuation of stranded citizens from other States need of hour: Mukul Sangma

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: Former Meghalaya Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Dr Mukul Sangma has urged the State government to expedite measures for immediate evacuation and relief for stranded citizens of the State, adding, "Any victims of a disaster must be attended to by both the Union and the respective State governments; and as per law all those affected due to a disaster must be evacuated." Dr Sangma pointed out that due to the delay in evacuating the stranded citizens of the State, many youths who returned have been infected with COVID-19.

The Opposition leader also said that the governments — both Union and State — should have properly handled the issue of evacuation of migrant workers. Dr Sangma further said that the stranded migrants due to the sudden lockdown announced by the Centre are "victims of disaster".

"If they had been brought well ahead in a controlled and staggered manner with advanced preparation for quarantine centres by the districts, by now we would have completed the evacuation; and everyone would have been free from the virus," the former Chief Minister said.

He also said that the Centre should have anticipated how the pandemic would have panned out taking lessons from past pandemics. "The peaking, flattening or declining of the pandemic curve and also the long lockdown have been evident for everyone to anticipate," Dr Sangma said.

The Opposition leader also stated that he had on various occasions advised the State government to sensitise the community to take care of the requirements of the quarantine facilities in all districts and then start evacuation of stranded citizens in a controlled manner. "Now they have started evacuation after all the the railway stations are thronged with millions of people," he added.

Dr Sangma also said that the Centre thought that the lockdown was a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19, but the fact remains that many migrants have remained stranded. The former Chief Minister added that the present COVID-19 situation brought to the fore two things: First, those stranded were exposed to a kind of situation where they are likely to contract the virus; second, continuity of the lockdown.

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