Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday told the Assembly that the state was staring at twin crises — novel coronavirus and Japanese encephalitis.
“We don’t know where we will be if science can’t discover a vaccine for coronavirus. Amid this, we are going to face another more dangerous disease, Japanese Encephalitis, from next month. While the mortality for coronavirus cases is around three per cent, the survival percentage in JE is only five per cent,” he said.
In view of the coronavirus pandemic, Assam locked down from 6pm on Tuesday till the midnight of March 31. “We never faced such a situation earlier,” Sarma said.
He said the state government had received informal messages from New Delhi to impose a curfew as it had been proved that the lockdown was not getting the desired results in different states.
Meanwhile, legislators on Tuesday decided to donate a month’s salary to the government to combat the virus. The Opposition also promised all possible support to the government. Sarma told the House that if the lockdown prolongs, development activities will take a back seat and releasing MLA funds will also become uncertain. He said the state government may have to go for a special Assembly session to change the budget in such a situation.
The opposition Congress raised the issue of financial relief for those working in the informal sector and tea garden workers. Sarma said considering its financial condition, the state government was not in a position to give financial assistance till March 31.
Sarma said the state government had the bank account numbers of around 40 lakh people, including daily wagers and other financially weak families, who have been covered under various government schemes, which could be used to give financial relief if the situation aggravates.
“However, we will have to help each other till March 31. If someone in the neighbourbood faces shortage of essential items and is not in a position to buy them, others should help them out,” he said.
Sarma elaborated details of the constraints of the state health department, like shortage of ICU facilities, and the steps the government has taken to tide over the crisis.
Sarma told the Assembly that medicine suppliers have told him that states which supply medicines have imposed restrictions on export.
He urged the legislators to return to their constituencies and motivate people to cooperate to tide over the lockdown and said social distancing was the best possible way to thwart the disease. Assam has not reported a positive case so far and tested 169 samples.
On reports of Assam people stranded outside the state, Sarma said, “We hope the other states will take care of our people the way we are taking theirs. We will contact those states.” The state government was also contemplating keeping milk out of the purview of the lockdown.
Child rights: The Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Tuesday opened helpline numbers to report any crime related to children. During the lockdown period, the commission will follow the work-from-home protocol.
“If, during the lockdown, any case of violation of child rights comes to your attention, you may reach out to ASCPCR at ascpcr@rediffmail.com and phone numbers of 9706341618/7086095992/9854469942/ 9954242961,” said an official statement by ASCPCR.
The Union ministry of women and child development has directed officials of Childline (1098) for supporting children in distress and function as an emergency service. “The service providers are working with limited staff. However, telephonic support and emergency intervention shall continue,” a Childline official said.
