By Felix Anthony –
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh sought support from all religious groups to fight the second wave of Covid-19 in the State at a meeting held in his official residence on Wednesday, 2 June 2021.
Members of All Manipur Citizen Organization, Sanamahi Temple Bord, All Manipur Catholic Union, Sri Sri Govindaji Temple Board, Jamati Ul Ulama, Imphal Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS), Manipur Catholic Youth Association and leaders from other organizations were present for the meeting.
The meeting was meant to take stock of the present situation of the virus in the State and to deliberate on strategies to stop its spread to the interior villages.
Describing the pandemic as a man-made disaster, the Chief Minister emphasized on the need for all religious groups to work together to fight the virus. Stressing on the importance of spreading awareness, the CM appealed to all the religious groups to take the right information to everyone in the State.
Speaking on behalf of the Catholic Church in Manipur, Father Biju Luckose, Director of DSSS, highlighted the various measures taken by the Church to help the people and Government in this critical time.
Father Luckose informed that the Church has formed a Covid Task Force to extend help to the needy and to collaborate with the civil administration towards the control of COVID. It has set aside a 40-bedded Covid-Ward in its Medical Center at Koirengei. It also has made available its 12 Wellness Centres in different parts of the State to be used as isolation wards in the villages. The Church also assured the CM of providing support to children who lost their parents due to covid19 with education and psycho-social support. The Church also promised to help the Government in spreading awareness on vaccination and to help people register for vaccination.
Appreciating the efforts made by the Church, the Chief instructed the Principal Health Secretary of the State, V. Vumlunmang IAS, to work in collaboration with the Church to set up the proposed COVID ward and assured all possible support for the functioning of this Covid facility centre at Koirengei.
The Chief Minister concluded the meeting with an appeal to all the religious groups to mark 7 June, Monday as a day of prayer in their respective places of worship for God’s merciful intervention in this painful time of human history. A joint all faith prayer meet will be held at the historic Kangla Western Gate at 10am and it will aired live on the local TV and on social media platforms at 10am.
Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal Archdiocese will deliver a message and will lead a prayer on behalf of the Catholic Church on the occasion.
According to the latest information available from the Government, Manipur has the second highest active cases among the seven States of North East India with 8942 cases and 825 Covid related deaths. Assam is the worst affected State in the region with 52680 active cases and 3416 deaths.