The state unit of North East Human Rights Organization (NEHRO) has filed a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission against the Arunachal Pradesh government for “allegedly compromising with the safety of Covid-19 frontline warriors.”
The NEHRO in its complaint said “following its visit to Dirak check gate in Namsai district to verify Covid-19 preparedness, the members of the organization witnessed that there is complete lack of personal protection equipments (PPEs) for the sanitary staff and police personnel on duty.”
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The NEHRO said it also interacted with the doctors engaged in the screening centers, sanitary workers and police personnel during its visit to the check gate and were disheartened to find out the lack of basic facilities for those who are tirelessly working for the safety of others.
“This is a case of complete negligence from the government’s end. The government is risking the lives of all the frontline workers by engaging them in the fight against coronavirus without proper safety and protection,” Buteng Tayeng, state affairs secretary of NEHRO, said.
“We all know that thousands of stranded people are returning to the state from various parts of the country including red zones, so the risk of the frontline warriors being infected is extremely high,” Tayeng said.
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He called upon the state government to immediately provide sufficient PPEs to all the frontline warriors and also come out with an insurance policy for them.
Namsai superintendent of police Ankit Kumar Singh, however, denied the allegations and said that more than 1000 PPEs have being provided to the frontline workers.
“Sufficient PPEs have been provided to all the healthcare workers and police personnel on duty. We are also following all the standard operating procedures (SoPs) fixed by the central and state governments.
“The ones raising such issues should have contacted me or the deputy commissioner for more information before coming up with such adverse complaints,” Singh said.
The SP, however, said the sanitary workers have not been given PPEs but they have been provided with all the other necessary equipments which are required to safely carry out their works.
Calls made to Namsai deputy commissioner R K Sharma were not answered.