The Nagaland government on Saturday appealed to the tribal hohos, churches, colonies, wards and villages to be mentally prepared to accommodate their own people coming from other states with quarantine facilities.
Agriculture production commissioner Y Kikheto Sema, who is also in-charge of Covid-19 activities for Dimapur district, made the appeal during a coordination meeting.
He said the accommodation committee could identify accommodation for around 3,500 returnees.
The meeting decided to enhance the capacity within a few days.
Out of more than 18,000 registered returnees besides many unregistered stranded persons, around 50 percent are bound for Dimapur and their accommodation would be a cause of concern, the meeting noted.
It was decided that returnees bound for Kohima, Wokha, Zuneboto, Kiphire, Longleng, Mokukchung, Tuensang and Phek will be sent to Kohima.
Dimapur will host the returnees bound for Peren and Mon districts and they would be sent to their respective districts after registration with their details.
“From the total incoming people, people from Dimapur district alone will comprise 50 percent and with Peren and Mon, it will come to around 65 to 66 percent. So it will be a huge challenge for Dimapur,” Sema maintained.
The meeting noted the complaints being raised by the village councils/organisations with regard to setting up of quarantine centres in the government established infrastructures as well as school and college hostels.
Sema appealed to all concerned to extend cooperation during such extra ordinary times and said the government is working on a war footing for the welfare of everyone.
“How can anyone deny their own brothers, sisters and children who are in distress and willing to come home and be with their parents and loved ones,” he asked.
Sema hoped that the churches would keep their rest houses and infrastructures ready to be used as quarantined centres, if not for others but at least for their own members.
All the villages under Dimapur district have also been advised to arrange quarantine centres for their own villagers as has been done in other districts and states.
Sema said such times call for joint responsibility both by the government and the community.