Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, May 1: A nationwide lockdown is in progress at the moment. Many people including NRIs from the Gulf as well as public stranded in others district and states is waiting to return back to their respective places.
With the lockdown imposed more than a month ago, the governments and district administrations has been having a close watch over the situation and revising guidelines for public.
Amid this hapless situation for many, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel speaks to Daijiworld founder and editor-in-chief Walter Nandalike on Public Challenge programme on Daijiworld TV and gives a clear picture of what is in store for the district.
Q: First of all I congratulate you for making this lockdown effective in the district under your leadership. Every department has relentlessly worked with less complaints. Result was out in the open as the district moved from red zone to orange zone. People are now looking up to you to know how it will be until May 3 and after that.
A: The lockdown will be in force until May 3 and the guidelines will continue till then. In the initial days, our district registered nine cases which made us to take certain decisions such as sealing the Kerala border which brought the situation under control to some extent. Our district had to take certain decisions which were not taken by the central or state government such as allowing grocery shops to open from morning to afternoon which will continue till May 3. After May 3, the central and state government have taken its decision such as to bring back people who are struck in other district and states. Public transportation such as buses, flights, trains would be difficult till May 14. Some relaxation will be made for workers, farmers, and industries in some ways. There are many migrant workers stuck in the state for which arrangements will be made to help them return back to their respective destinations after May 3. Arrangements will be made to bring back people who are stuck in other states. There are Gulf Kannadigas and Maharashtra Kannadigas in which Mangalureans are the highest. As per report from the central government, people who are stuck overseas will be brought back. As many as 4,000 people will arrive at Mangaluru airport. At the same time, they have to be quarantined. It is difficult in Mangaluru as there are no arrangements for huge number of people to be quarantined. The deputy commissioner has taken a decision that whoever arrives to the airport will be sent to their respective districts where they would be quarantined. It is not about the expenses but about the arrangements for 4,000 people to get quarantined in the district.
Now in Maharashtra, there are over 50,000 people who are willing to come to Mangaluru. Where to quarantine them? It does not mean they will be neglected. Chief minister B S Yediyurappa has started a helpline and arrangements will be made to quarantine people at the border itself by arranging some halls. People will brought back on priority basis.
Q: What about Udupi and Mangaluru as students are eagerly waiting. There has to be a valid reason with pass to move to either side of the district. Will people be allowed to travel without passes?
A: Decision will be taken on this after May 3. Permission has to be taken to travel. Time will be assigned for anyone who wants to travel from Udupi to Mangaluru or vice-versa in their private vehicles in case of any emergency. A decision will be taken after May 14 if people are to be allowed to travel to Udupi or to Mangaluru on daily basis.
Q: Do you think people have cooperated in controlling the spread of the pandemic after lockdown was announced.
A: People have given tremendous support for the lockdown decision taken by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have locked down the district for 3 days in order to break the chain. Then we decided to open from morning to afternoon. People have supported the lockdown which helped to control the spread.
Q: Many complaint that there people like bus cleaners, drivers, hotel workers, and Yakshagana artistes who depend on daily or weekly wages. Is any decision taken by the central or state government for this section of workers?
A: Lockdown has hit the economy severely. Individuals as well as the government has been hit. Government had introduced Jan Dhan scheme, Ujwal scheme, and Krishi card. Whoever availed this scheme, money has been credited to their account. Those who have not opened Jan Dhan account are in problem now. Government is thinking about it and soon decision will be taken in this regard.
Q: Once coronavirus cases were totally under control. But suddenly they are back as reported at First Neuro Hospital. Can you assure the public if this will be controlled or it will spread? In what way you want to give confidence to the public?
A: As many as 12 patients have been discharged and two were awaiting to be discharged. We were happy about the situation. Unfortunately, Bantwal and First Neuro cases have come. Today, the cases are all connected to First Neuro case. Patients from outside are all discharged. Unfortunately, we had three deaths. If lockdown is relaxed after May 3, people should take preventive measures and maintain social distancing. Three vulnerable groups of the society should undergo test like those who have asthama, breathing problem, and people above 60 years and children. Do not be afraid of anything whenever ASHA workers visit houses and share information. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Do not hide anything.
Q: During initial days, Kerala was in danger zone, but today Kerala is taken as a model state because of the effective control of coronavirus. Earlier, we stopped Keralites from entering our district and now it has turned vice-versa.
A: When airports were open, five were tested positive. But we did not send them back even if they were from Kasargod. We treated them. As there was rise of cases in Kasargod district, we had to seal the border. It was not because we cannot treat them, but because we had only one COVID-19 hospital and we had only 16 ventilators during the starting stage. If there is rise in cases in Kerala and we allow them to come to our district, then where will we admit patients from our district? If at all it spreads in Mangaluru, where to keep these patients? So we had to seal the border. We had also sealed Chikkamagaluru and Udupi border just because we did not have necessary arrangements. Now with some conditions, non-coronavirus patients are allowed into our district who would be treated at Deralakatte hospital.
Q: In the case which emerged from First Neuro Hospital, only after death, the reason was diagnosed as coronavirus. Do you know how the patient possibly contracted the deadly virus?
A: We have looked into two to three angles about the source if is it from Kerala or Dubai. An expert team was formed to trace the source. However, at this point of time, controlling the pandemic priority than finding the source.
Watch full interview: