The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has expressed disappointment to learn that the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Meghalaya will not be expanded to members of the public between 18 and 44 years from May 1, as was promised.
“We learn that the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is saying that there are not enough vaccines available for those in the 18-44 age group, which is another example of poor leadership under the Chief Minister,” the pressure group’s president, Donbok Dkhar, said in a press release today.
He was especially critical of the way the CM used the time when virus numbers were low in campaigning in Garo Hills rather than preparing Meghalaya to handle a second Covid-19 wave.
“When the virus situation was at an ebb Sangma found plenty of time to campaign all over Garo Hills for the GHADC (Garo Hills Autonomous District Council) elections and indulge in photo ops. But now, when the people of Meghalaya need real leadership from him, he hides behind the central government and the Serum Institute of India. Our state and our people need a CM with a spine, who will take the initiative on important issues rather than just wait in the wings until a problem becomes too serious. If Sangma is unable to live up to this, it would be better for him to resign and let someone more capable do his job,” he said.
Stating that this pandemic did not develop overnight, he said the State government cannot give excuses that it is not prepared for the second wave after what Meghalaya had to experience last year.
“Not only is the government unprepared, but it also abrogated its responsibility to the people it represents. We saw this clearly in the way that the Chief Minister addressed rallies in Garo Hills devoid of any Covid protocols being followed. Yet he was not ashamed of this; instead, he boasted on social media about how many thousands of people came to hear him speak, standing cheek by jowl with no masks,” he added.
HITO demanded that the CM act more “aggressively” in protecting the people of Meghalaya because, with mainland India barely able to cope with the second wave, the Centre will not have much time to care for a small state like Meghalaya.
