Some ‘key departments’ told to resume office with skeletal staff

Kohima, April 13 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio conducted a meeting with all the administrative heads of department (AhoD) and heads of department (HoD) on Monday to review the situation of lockdown in the state and to ensure governance is not hampered.

Informing this to journalists in Kohima, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy said that Rio had addressed the senior officials and reminded them of challenges the government had gone through and the lessons learnt.

The chief minister also encouraged the frontline departments, Toy said.

According to the chief secretary, during the meeting, some of the key departments were told to start functioning their offices with skeletal staff for smooth transition of the government.

He informed that the state government’s decision after the expiry of 21-day lockdown will be based on the central government’s directive, expected to be delivered when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on April 14 at 10 am.

Toy said that Nagaland will adhere to the lockdown guidelines from the central government in letter and in spirit; and added that the state government has decided to take ‘calibrated measures’ to deal with the post-lockdown scenario so that public life is made as normal as possible, and ensure that government offices as well as educational institutions function.

“We will be taking another call after about two-weeks, depending on the ground realities,” said Toy.

He maintained that despite the lockdown, transportation of essential commodities will continue, except in Bhandari subdivision which share border with Assam’s Merapani.

On the report of a resident of Dimapur being tested positive for Covid-19 at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), he said: “We are trying to find out, this should not have happened when the state is ready for Covid-19. We felt that is not necessary when we have Covid-19 hospital in Dimapur and staff dedicated to look such matter; and we are finding out why the patient had to be referred to another state.”

The chief secretary also informed that the state government has taken up the matter of transporting testing lab equipment with the Defence ministry, via Indian Air Force aircraft, from Mumbai.