The mid and long-term plan has to address the availability of daily needs, public transportation, education, MSMEs and enabling earning livelihood at the same time checking the spread of the virus under control
Biswadeep Gupta
Manipur Thinkers Forum represented by its Secretary M. Asnikumar Singh and President, Lt. Gen. LN Singh (Retd) had submitted a policy proposal on COVID-19 – a way ahead for Manipur on 29th April to the Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh, which is now being reviewed by the Government.
Among the short term recommendation, the proposal suggested Manipur society has great strengths as it has very effective and robust civil society organizations, namely clubs and meirapaibis. They can be used to educate the public and help in maintaining the social distance between individuals, preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Some of the mid and long terms suggested measures include Market Regulation Policy to be put in place for proper channelization and flow of the market structure. A Price Protection Policy also needs to be established to prevent unchecked price hike by the retailers/shopkeepers.
Khwairamband, Thangal and Paona Bazars in Imphal is a hub of activities that is most vulnerable. Hence it has to be decongested. These bazaars could be kept exclusively for wholesale purposes only. Restrict the entry only to retailers or shopkeepers with photo-permits. Preventing parking or entering all motor vehicle including those of the residents will decongest the roads and free the footpaths.
While advising on transportation issues, it suggested that emphasis is to be given on NO physical contact during all activities, be it walking, travelling, sitting, standing in line, sitting, or buying things. Adequate space between individuals has to be maintained in all types of transportations both for private and public transports.
The report suggested proper training for the educators be it clubs or meirapaibis in order to take up the monitoring and educating activities.
Regarding the education sector, it advocates online classes with limited contact classes, and the role of parents are stressed. It stated ‘involvement of the parents to educate their wards is a must and these contact classes shall be meant for the mentoring purpose only in order to clear doubts of the students while the maximum of learning shall be devised through the online mechanism and home-work modules’.
In order to start up the economy, the proposal devised by Manipur Thinkers Forum suggests that for MSMEs, easy availability of finance as announced by the Central Government has to be facilitated.
Deputy Secretary, Health and FW, Soiminlian Lengen has informed that the proposal received is being examined for necessary action.
