Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday held a meeting with legislators from Shillong agglomeration and urged them to share the responsibility with the government in tackling the second wave of viral COVID-19 infection.
At the meeting which was attended by all the seven legislators from Shillong agglomeration constituencies and Chief Executive Member of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Titosstarwell Chyne, the Chief Minister called to join hands with the Government by sensitising citizens about the safety aspects of the vaccine and encourage them to participate in the vaccination program through the constituted COVID Coordination Committees.
The meeting is significant due to the spike of of COVID-19 infections in Shillong .
Sangma who visited the different community vaccination centres and later said that Meghalaya has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.
He vowed to ramp up the vaccination drive and added that in the next 10 days the target would be to vaccinate 6.5 lakh residents in the State over the age of 45 years.
Emerging out of the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong said , “All the legislators have agreed to share the responsibility with the government by requesting each and every individual in and around Shillong to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest.”
Advocating safety of the vaccine, he said the “impact of the virus is reduced” in people who get vaccinated. “please get vaccinated,” he appealed to the citizens.
Tynsong said the legislators also decided in the meeting that all the COVID-19 management committees in different constituencies in the State Capital would be reactivated.
“In these constituency-COVID management committees there would be regular review meetings and if necessary the committees can request for any help from the government,” the Deputy Chief Minister informed.
Moreover, Tynsong said the legislators have assured all assistance to the government in this fight against the pandemic.
On the other hand, the legislators have suggested the government to provide adequate rooms at the entry point rooms people who would be getting themselves tested with RT-PCR while entering the state.
“We have therefore decided to strengthen the enter points and would have more manpower and infrastructure,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Asked on the steps taken by the government to curtail movement into the State Capital amidst increasing cases, Tynsong said, to curb the movement of people form the rural areas into the State Capital non essential shops are being closed from April 26.
He said people from the rural areas come to the State Capital primarily to buy non essential items and by closing down these shops the movement can be curbed.
“Essential items are all available at the village level, so people would not come to buy the non essential items,” he said.
