Newmai News Network
Tura | April 9
Following the objections raised by the Achik Youth Council (AYC), the Achik Youth Welfare Organization (AYWO) has also questioned the state government of Meghalaya decision to reopen weekly markets in the region.
Terming the decision as a hasty one, the organisation said that the move was made abruptly and is not in conformity with the present situation.
“The surge in COVID-19 positive cases in Assam is a clear sign that the government has to reconsider the move as the borders are porous. The credit for no cases being positive in Meghalaya goes to the frontline warriors including the medical teams, police, district administration, MeECL, volunteers and other departments and donors. However, the early jubilation can lead to repercussions later as the danger still lurks,” said AYWO Urban Affairs secretary, Herrybirth Marak.
The AYWO then said that the nationwide lockdown called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to ensure that there is no community transmission to safeguard the residents of the country. However, the spate of infections in in Assam has put a fresh threat of transmission of the virus once again.
“The decision to open up the weekly markets and to resume construction work is needless and AYWO sees the development as insensitive towards the wellbeing of our people,” added Marak pointing to the rising number of cases in the country despite the 21-day lockdown.
“We feel that the opening up of weekly markets, without placing any mechanism to check the antecedents of every trader will ruin all our efforts of staying indoors. Due to a lack of manpower it will be difficult to control and to check every trader from outside Meghalaya,” felt the AYWO while adding that they will not allow traders from outside to be a part of the weekly markets without clearance from authorities.
It may be noted here that Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had categorically stated on Tuesday that while the weekly markets will be opened, the involvement in these markets will be restricted to the local populace and that nobody from outside the state will be allowed to have any part in them for the time being.
On the issue of construction labourers, the AYWO felt that it will be the prerogative of the contractors or firms. The organisation asserted that it will conduct random tests to ensure workers from outside are properly checked.
The organisation also felt that if there is no filter on the inflow of outsiders then the lives of people will be at stake, something that the organisation would not allow.
