‘Heart-warming’: Arunachal village quarantine model earns PM praise

GUWAHATI: The efforts of people in building rooms for home quarantine in a faraway village in Arunachal Pradesh found mention, and praises, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his monthly Mann ki Baat.
People of Mirem village in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh constructed rooms for home quarantine for migrant workers returning to the state from other parts of the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister said locals and migrant workers of Mirem village have helped one another, which “touches our hearts”.
“They remind us how every Indian is earnestly ready to help one another, to the best extent possible, according to one’s capacity,” Modi said.
“I got an opportunity to read one such inspiring story from Arunachal Pradesh in the media. Mirem village of Siang district attempted a unique feat that has become an inspiration for India. Most residents of this village stay elsewhere working for their livelihood. During the corona pandemic, they were returning to their villages. The villagers, on noticing that, decided to make arrangements for their quarantine, outside the village, in advance,” Modi said.
“They came together and erected 14 temporary huts at a short distance from the village, deciding that when those people reach the village, they would first be quarantined for a few days in these huts. The huts were equipped with toilets, water, and electricity, including essential items for daily needs. This awareness and collective effort on the part of village folk of Mirem attracted widespread attention and accolades,” the Prime Minister said.
Minimum 900 workers have returned to the district during the lockdown.
Reacting to the speech, Kinny Singh, deputy commissioner of the district, told TOI, “The people of the district are proud and honoured that efforts of Mirem village have been acknowledged and appreciated by the prime minister in Mann ki Baat. It will motivate us to do our bit more.”
While elaborating more about the quarantine huts, which are made for the returnees, Singh said it was a community effort and made by the self-contribution of the villagers. “The hut quarantines are managed by the community people. The community involvement and this kind of behaviour changes are important and positive signs in this pandemic period,” Singh added.
The Prime Minister also mentioned about one Rajni from Assam who wrote to him.
“She says, after watching what happened in eastern Ladakh, she has taken a vow... and the vow is that she will buy only ‘local’... and for the sake of ‘local’, she will also be vocal. I am receiving messages on these lines from every corner of the country,” Modi added.