WHEN THE COVID-19 infection broke out, they were among the most vulnerable states in India. Ringed by China, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, and with extensive ties with hotspots in Southeast Asia, the five northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland—faced a major threat, but they have so far been successful in tackling the pandemic.
Aided generously by the Central government, the five states have streamlined their economic activities, adopted safe cultural practices and have undertaken rigorous testing protocols, reaching around 100 people per million population as against the national average of 70 per million. People have stopped going to neighbouring villages, and shops are open only for a few hours. All states except Meghalaya have inner line permit systems, which have been invoked to prevent the entry of outsiders.
“Our only concern today is mainland India and we will have to somehow stop people coming from there,” said Alo Libang, health minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He said the cities in the state were a little reckless, while the villages—largely tribal—were much more disciplined in practising strict lockdown. “Whenever there are disease outbreaks like malaria or any kind of unknown fever, villagers stay indoors and shops are closed. Local village councils ensure the supply of goods and essential services,” said Libang.
This story is from the April 26, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 26, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BIOPIC AND BEYOND
Randeep Hooda may have proved his acting credentials with biopics, but typecast him at your own peril
Flutter of flimsy wings
Butterfly Research Centre in Bhimtal boasts 3,500 butterfly and moth specimens
SIMILAR STATES, DIFFERENT BATTLES
The Congress seems to have the edge in Telangana while in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy are locked in a bitter battle
A RIDE TO REMEMBER
On board Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s bus as he was attacked
Winning 14 of 17 seats is my target
Anumula Revanth Reddy is on a mission to demonstrate a democratic and egalitarian facet of power and leadership.
LOTUS TAKES ROOT
Buoyed by its slowly growing acceptance among the voters in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is mounting its fiercest offensive ever
BLANK CHECK
Several factors favour an increase in the BJP’s vote share in Kerala, but whether the party can win a seat remains uncertain
CONGRESS HAS A HISTORY OF MAKING ADJUSTMENTS WITH COMMUNAL FORCES
In April 2021, as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was leading the CPI(M)’s assembly poll campaign to win a second consecutive term, a spirited debate erupted in Kerala over an epithet that party workers had bestowed on him.
POLL PLOT
Congress hopes its five guarantees’ will blunt BJP’s aggressive push
MODI'S GUARANTEES REMAIN IN SPEECHES, MY GUARANTEES ARE FULFILLED
The transformation is unmissable. The old-school mass leader Siddaramaiah has suddenly switched into the new avatar of a master strategist.