Collective efforts of people, govt helping Mizoram overcome COVID-19 challenges: CM

Aizawl, June 2 (PTI) Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Wednesday said collective efforts of people and government are helping state in overcoming COVID- 19 challenges despite lacking equate manpower and facilities.

Highlighting how state is battling COVID-19, Zoramthanga, in his 12-minute-long video-recorded speech, said way government and people are collectively fighting Covid-19 is quite interesting as all communities, organisations and people from all walks of life are involved in it.

chief minister said that when state fought against first wave of COVID-19 it was relatively tolerable and "we could somehow man to tackle it".

"n came second wave, which is more problematic and burdensome", Zoramthanga said.

During first wave of pandemic, local volunteers in large numbers h stepped up round--clock vigil along borders by setting up makeshift duty posts in forests for several months even during rainy season to prevent cross-border movement of people.

Mizoram shares about 325-km- long inter-state borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura, and 828-km-long international borders with Banglesh and Myanmar.

At onset of second wave when Covid-19 Care Centres (CCC) were fully occupied following spike in number of coronavirus patients, churches and NGOs came forward to government's aid by offering ir halls to be converted into Community Covid-19 Care Centres (CCCCs), chief minister said.

"se Community Covid-19 Care Centres are mand and monitored by local people with ir contribution much to relief of government," he said.

Private nurses, retired doctors, healthcare workers and or unskilled people have volunteered to serve se CCCCs without any remuneration.

Communities, local people and church authorities are providing food and or facilities to inmates (Covid-19 patients), chief minister said.

Zoramthanga also said that many organisations, churches and individuals came forward to assist government by contributing towards Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) for Covid-19.

Even children contributed to fund by opening ir piggy banks, he said.

According to officials, over Rs. 23.61 crore has so far been contributed towards CMRF, of which more than Rs 22.25 crore has been spent in fight against Covid-19 till Tuesday.

Communities also came toger extending help to needy.

Food, vegetables and or provisions are transported and supplied free of cost from vills to Covid-19 patients and or needy people in cities and towns, who are facing hardship due to coronavirus-induced lockdown, according to Zoramthanga.

Mizoram takes pride in existence of hardworking volunteer groups like vill task forces and local task forces, who maintain round clock vigil to ensure that people follow Covid-19 protocols, chief minister said.

chief minister also mentioned in his speech that he recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a free vaccine supply.

He said that pandemic has a far more serious impact on a small state like Mizoram, which has limited resources.

Earlier, Zoramthanga h said that state is facing a financial crunch due to a drop in quantum of revenue collection at Centre following outbreak of Covid-19, which in turn has led to a significant reduction in state's share of taxes.

He h said that state's share of taxes h dropped by Rs. 1,500 crore during fiscal 2020-2021. PTI COR MM MM