The Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns as consequence, is proving to be a great disrupter of all human activities across the world which have very little precedence. No country was adequately prepared for such an unprecedented happening and in India, it goes without saying that the situation has aggravated particularly due to extension of the lockdown. There will be little doubt about the rationality of the decision as there was no other route left either to save the millions from the lethal virus, which science is still struggling to tame. But, since the first phase of the lockdown starting April 25 came all of a sudden giving no time for those currently stranded far away from their homes due to occupational, educational, medical or reasons whatsoever, it has come as a nightmare. Arunachalees locked outside in mainland states are undergoing the same misery and their untold sufferings have caused deep consternation for their near and dear ones back home. To lessen their woes, the decision taken by state government on Monday to extend financial help was much-required and it’s now important that it reaches them in quickest possible time.

Making an assessment of the precise number of state’s people stranded outside was a difficult and time-consuming task. Still, a rough estimate has been made that as many as 14859 Arunachalees have no option now but to remain locked in those far-away states and Rs. 3500 per head will directly be credited to their bank accounts via DBT and the total package will amount to Rs 5.2 crore. The haplessness of these people had been highlighted in the state’s press since commencement of the first phase of the lockdown. Along with their economic hardships, a sordid and almost unthinkable addition has been the strange behaviour of the mainland people towards the Northeast people including may Arunachalees due to the unfortunate physiognomic resemblance with the people of China, the country that has ‘gifted’ the deadly Covid-19 pandemic and labelling them as ‘outcast’ took very little time.

To pull them out of the blues, which is a mix of as much as psychological as economic, the primary task for the state administration now is the deliver the package in least possible time, the target date being kept as April 21. Also, if requirement of any further financial help arises due to extension of the lockdown beyond May 3, similar help must be extended until full normalcy is restored.

These people have to stay outside the state exclusively due to certain unavoidable compulsions. And at this hour of crisis, the state should continue playing the role of an assuring guardian all throughout.