Vikramaditya & John Wilbert
Port Blair, June 07: Regarding Extension of Lockdown in South Andaman till 14 June 2021, Andaman Sheekha Daily spoke to representatives of BJP, Congress Party, Dweep Janta Party and NGO AMSO to know their opinion about this extension of Lockdown.
Talking to this press, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Vice President, BJP & A&N State Unit. In-Charge, Seva Hi Sangathan-II said that he believes that extension of lockdown is happening in other states too, but what they are doing is simultaneously unlocking some shops and allowing them to open their shops for some period of time, so that they don’t suffer.
“However in Andaman and Nicobar Islands also I think some shops like Hardware shops, electronic shops etc through which our construction labourers are earning, should have been allowed. Administration is doing their best, but along with essential shops more shops like electronic and hardware etc should be given some concession. Also I think that passengers coming from mainland should be sent to quarantine and allowed to go out only after proper testing,” Mr. Singh added.
Ms. Mariyam Bibi, Coordinator, North and Middle Mahila Congress and Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress committee told Andaman Sheekha that about extension of lockdown she thinks that the worst sufferers are the people who are from inter islands who had gone stuck in Port Blair, they are facing financial problems and couldn’t go back to their home and those who are daily earners.
“Administration should provide some relief in terms of money and food. Passengers arriving at Port Blair airport, after their 7 days quarantine period, again a RT-PCR test should be conduct on them so that it would be easier contain the spread of Coronavirus,” she added.
Taking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Govind Ram, General Secretary, Dweep Janta Party, A & N Islands and Director, Disaster Management) (Retd.) said that he strongly stand by the decision of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration regarding extension of lockdown for one more week.
“It is a pandemic (disaster) management, and any complacency at this juncture can lead to loss of whatever gains so far achieved. No doubt, difficulties on all count are being faced by the general public, but the step taken by the Administration being in larger public interest we have to bear with it,” he said.
When contacted Mr. Abdul Siddiqui, General Secretary, AMSO said that the move of lockdown extension for another one week by the Administration is indeed welcomed considering the results it is showing in the decrease in number of cases.
“However, it is also pertinent that the daily wage earners, petty retailers, auto drivers are in severe distress. The administration must consider few relaxation to these vulnerable sections so that they can also earn their daily bread and also extend the limited time of 2 hours daily to atleast 1 PM which will ease out the rush in the market places,” he said.
