On emergency response of Covid-19 in Nagaland

27th May 2021

The belated move of the state govt to constitute an advisory panel of experts to give its expert opinion on emergency response of Covid-19 to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and State Executive Committee (SEC) is a welcome step. However, by concealing the order of constituting an advisory panel until it was revealed through a particular local daily, the state govt has exposed its own insecurities and inability to inspire confidence in the people.

Moreover, the three names on the panel of experts, who are all from outside the state and will be communicating virtually, leaves much to be desired. A situation may arise when the advisory panel, bereft of understanding real time ground situation may become counterproductive in our battle against this pandemic. Therefore, more number of eminent people from the state who can contribute effectively must be included in advisory panel for effective monitoring and controlling this raging pandemic situation.

It is an open fact that the state govt has been clueless in functioning and relying more on adhocism ever since the pandemic lockdown began in Mar 2020. When the provisions of the National Disaster Management Act, 2005 was invoked for the first time on 24th March 2020, it automatically meant the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister and the State Executive Committee (SEC) headed by Chief Secretary were to take full control of the extraordinary situation.

However, contrary to provisions of National Disaster Management Act (2005), an ‘Empowered Committee’ headed by an Additional Chief Secretary was entrusted for over two months. It was only on June 2 that the state cabinet constituted a High Powered Committee (HPC) headed by Chief Minister which has been functioning till today. By deviating from the provisions of NDMA to have HPC instead of SDMA taking control, whether intentional or out of ignorance, the state govt has only exposed its shortcomings and ill preparedness from the very beginning.

The state govt has so far preferred to act through HPC rather than constitutionally mandated SDMA. This deviation from the provisions of National Disaster Management Act, 2005 at the top by state govt goes down to the level of some villages and colonies enforcing their own lockdown rules, thereby making a mockery of entire system. We therefore urge the state govt to stick to provisions of NDMA 2005 through SDMA instead of duplicating works through HPC, as decisions taken by HPC are not legally enforceable if one goes by the law.

Issued by: Communications Department, NPCC