From Our Kokrajhar Bureau
Kokrajhar (Assam), Mar 28 : Nearly five thousand people from Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts of Assam as well northeastern region are presently stranded in South India .Around one thousand of them are stuck in one of the worst affected Kerala since March 22 while they were on their way to their home state due to nationwide lockdown declared in the wake COVID-19.
According to a sources from Mumbai Bodo Society, groups of people from from here and entire northeastern states have been stranded at different states,cities who had gone out of this region in search of jobs or were employed in private sectors. They stayed in hotels and railway stations for some time but were eventually chased away .
Residents from here in several groups are presently stranded at various cities including Chennai, Bangalore,Pune,Kerala,Mumbai due to the ongoing lockdown. The stranded are facing severe hardships as their family members are unable to send them money for food and stay .
Majority of them are spending nights in the open air without food .
The stranded people are from the northeastern states including BTR . The local administration in BTAD have appealed to extend help and cooperation for bringing them back from those areas .
Residents from Assam state are struck at different locations in the southern states have appealed chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and finance minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma for rendering help to them at this hour of crisis so that they can safely return back home .
According to reports in Kerala itself,nearly 1000 people from different districts of Assam are stranded at Malapram,Pokkootur,Manjari Road who went there in search of jobs in various private companies.
They have appealed to Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal to ensure safe rescue from Kerala through special initiatives from government.
“Save our lives by communicating and consulting with your counterparts in Kerala as we are facing severe hardships and starving at the railway stations ,streets”, said a stranded person from Bodoland .
Meanwhile ,Mumbai Bodo Society is working day and night by providing necessary communications to those stranded at various places in southern state capitals,cities for the past few days.
“We request all kind all the people, social workers to help these stranded brothers and sisters at this hour of crisis. Their health and security is at risk and immediate intervention should be made for their safe return “, said a member of Mumbai Bodo Society.
The All Bodo Students Union(ABSU) has submitted a memorandum to the chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday urging the state government to take measures to ensure their safe return to the state
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The students union in its memorandum has lauded and extended utmost sincere to the government for taking all possible measures and special initiatives in Assam to overcome the outbreak of worldwide pandemic COVID-19. The Union also welcomes the “Janata Curtew observed on 22nd March and the ongoing complete nationwide 21 days “Lockdown” declared by the PM with the slogan “Jaan Hey toh Jahan Hey” calling to “Stay home to save the nation” and the welfare schemes announced by the Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman for the BPL families during the national crisis.
I “The students union extend all possible support to overcome in this Nationwide Emergency like situation.Taking into account of the vulnerable and most concerned part of the state, ABSU appeals the state govermment to take prompt necessary steps to overcome COVID-19”, said ABSU president Dipen Boro.
The students union has urged the state government for making upgradation of Fakuruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College & Hospital, Barpeta, Tezpur Medical College to Corona Hospital to fight with COVD-19 and the rest of the Medical Colleges of Assam into full-fledged hospital.
The students union have also urged the govt to take initiatives for establishing of a L&T hospital for Corona patient in the Kokrajhar and Chirang districts of BTR ,upgradation of all the districts model & civil hospitals of Assam with well-equiped ICU ward and advance Lab for Corona testing, establishment of quarantine centres in all the districts of the state.
Meanwhile,Assam Social Welfare minister Pramila Rani Brahma visited the inter-state check gate with West Bengal at Srirampur on Friday where Corona test is being provided to those persons who are on their way for home from neighbouring states in the wake of the 21 day lockdown .
Nearly 400 persons from different districts of the state are camping in designated medical check points set up at Srirampur forest bungalow in Kokrajhar district and its adjoining areas.
She visited the camps and took stock about the health conditions of the people and urged them to maintain social distance .
Brahma said that state government has been taking initiatives ensure prevention from the outbreak COVID-19 in the state and accordingly a medical check point has been set up at Srirampur.
She has urged all sections of society to maintain social distance and follow directions from from the government and health experts .
