IMPRI Team
In continuation with the ongoing discussions on the Rural Realities during the pandemic around the country, the Centre for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies (CHURS), IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi organized a panel discussion on “Rural Realities | North East Practitioners’ Experiences in Tackling the Second Wave in Indian Villages” on May 16, 2021.
The IMPRI team informed the discussion by locating for the event participants the situation of COVID 19 in India and North East. The team also provided an insight into the geography and Socio economic conditions of the region. The rationale was to provide the participants with an overview of the North Eastern region.
In the introductory remarks, Dr Simi Mehta, CEO & Editorial Director of IMPRI, spoke on the necessity to discuss the way rural practitioners and population were coping with the pandemic. Moreover, there was a need to focus on the way forward in tackling the pandemic.
Medical Facilities in Manipur
Mr. Sadam Minjabam, Founder Ya All, Manipur, spoke about the situation prevailing in Manipur for the past ten days. According to Mr. Sadam, Manipur had 7000 active cases and only 1800 beds for COVID care.
Home isolation was proving to be a challenge as people were unable to access medicines, oximeters and oxygen cylinders. The oxygen (PSA) plants commissioned in Manipur weren’t yet functional. Further, there were only four-five oxygen refill centers across the state.
He stated that costs of basic services and products such as Ambulances and pulse oximeters had drastically risen, people were getting fleeced and black marketing was widely prevalent. For instance, ambulance ride for five kilometers cost Rs. 5000, while the pulse oximeters cost Rs. 2500. He stated that the state government had been unable to increase the capacity of COVID specific hospitals.
