Sikkim: Relief Packages Arranged in Rows to Send Out "Social Distancing" Message

Gangtok, April 9, 2020:

Relief packages were seen arranged according to the prescribed one metre social distance in Sikkim. Potatoes and onions, two of the essential items, were packed and arranged at a distance from one another, resembling that of the Assembly line at Schools.

This disciplinary way of ensuring that people maintain social distance at public spaces while collecting the relief materials was seen at Poklok Kamrang constituency in South Sikkim.

The relief packages were arranged in rows at Dong Sirisey ward under the Poklok Kamrang constituency. Ravi Khaling, a local of this village said that the aim was to prevent the crowd from breaking the social distance norm and the people were seen taking the items judiciously. The other relief materials will be distributed likewise, he added.

ALSO READ: Khalsa Centre Northeast Fights Hunger amid Corona, Supplies Nutritious Meals to 3500 People Daily

Meanwhile, as the lockdown continues, Sikkim Government has directed that the process of relief ration distribution should be initiated and completed by April 10. Accordingly, free distribution has begun and beneficiaries have queued up in their respective wards on the dates fixed by empowered distribution groups.

Sikkim Ministry of Women and Child Development also informed that the take-home ration is being distributed to the beneficiaries at their doorsteps on Thursday. "Doorstep distribution of Take-Home Ration to beneficiaries underway by Anganwadi workers due to lockdown in Chungthang Tribal Project, North Sikkim district," the ministry tweeted.

It may be mentioned here that a total of 5734 confirmed cases were reported in the country with 549 new cases and 17 fatalities in the last 24 hours.

Sikkim has not yet reported any positive case of COVID-19 so far. The State has been preparing for the coronavirus fight by fencing the porous borders to check unauthorised infiltration in the area in the wake of COVID-19 threat.

ALSO READ: NFR to Run Parcel Train from Guwahati to Dibrugarh on April 13 to Deliver Essentials

Sikkim authorities have also appealed to the members of the Muslim community to cooperate with the Government and inform if anyone had visited the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi or had a travel history to the national capital.

Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of the Education department, G P Upadhyaya on Tuesday signaled at schools and colleges remaining shut for a longer period post the 21-day lockdown.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.