Demand for State specific Covid policy continues Relay hunger strike completes one week

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 28: The relay hunger strike of six student bodies demanding State specific COVID-19 policy entered the 8th day today.
It may be noted that the six student bodies, AMSU (All Manipur Students’ Union), MSF (Manipuri Students’ Federation), DESAM (Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur), KSA (Kangleipak Students’ Association), SUK (Students’ Union of Kangleipak) and AIMS (Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup) had launched the relay hunger strike highlighting their grievances on COVID-19 issue and demanding a State specific policy to effectively face the pandemic which has claimed 150 lives in Manipur.
Denouncing the authorities’ handling of COVID-19 crisis when the State is facing rise in the number of deaths and  positive cases, one of the students, Thongam Bijoykumar alleged that the elected leaders, MLAs, Ministers and Chief Minister are all busy preparing for the by-elections instead of focusing on the ‘real issue’ (COVID-19).
He asserted that the Chief Minister holding the Health portfolio has had and will continue to have negative impacts on the State’s COVID-19 fighting strategy.
“Given the nature of the post, the Chief Minister has a hectic and busy working schedule and has immense pressure regarding many issues. Him (Chief Minister N Biren Singh) holding the Health portfolio is taking a toll on the State’s COVID-19 strategy. He is not able to focus and dedicate himself in facing COVID-19 crisis as someone who is holding the portfolio and responsible for should,” he said.
He further said that the State is running out of proper facilities for admitting and treating newly infected COVID-19 patients. Exhausted workforce is also a main cause for the rise in the number of positive cases. Authorities are not able to conduct COVID-19 tests on time and results come late, he said.
The six student bodies had launched the relay hunger strike demanding 12 points including a State specific COVID-19 policy. The sheer negligence on the part of the State to act on their demands has shown that the Government has ‘little interest’ in facing COVID-19, he said.
Bijoykumar also asserted that the Government’s response so far on COVID-19 has not been satisfactory.
Drawing the Government’s attention to their demands and suggestions, he appealed people of the State to follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines. He urged people to wear face masks, maintain social/physical distance of two yards between two persons, wash hands frequently using soap and use alcohol based hand sanitisers.