Shillong Aug 3: BJP MLA from Shillong South constituency, Sanbor Shullai on Monday hit out Health Minister and his party colleague A L Hek on issues related to management of COVID-19 situation in containment areas, and maintained as public representative, he was raising problems faced by the public, Dorbar Shnongs and their Covid-19 Management Committees and the concerned minister should consider suggestions of his party colleague and others in the coalition government.
“Shullai was only trying to address the real problems faced by the public, Dorbar Shnong and their covid-19 Management Committee in containment zones as he has received complaint faced by various Dorbar Shnongs including Maxwellton Estate Oxford Hills and residents of Mawbah (Barapather) that several high risk contacts have been kept at home for several days inspite of having accommodation problem at home and also the problem faced by the residents due to non supply of essential commodities,†a statement issued by Shullai’s private secretary, L. Marweiñ, said on Monday evening.
According to Marweiñ, Shullai has suggested that the concerned Minister should consider suggestions of his party colleague and others in the coalition government.
“In response to DHS (MI), Dr Aman War’s statement, Shullai was misquoted, and that he salutes health workers all across the state for their contribution in fighting this pandemic and he suggested that problems at grass root level need to be addressed to ease and streamline the work for health workers,†Marweiñ claimed.
The private secretary said that the MLA suggested that provision of additional financial assistance should be made available at the local level through MLA fund to assist the Covid-19 Management Committee for setting up community quarantine and isolation centres as per guidelines which in the long run, will ease the burden of frontline workers.
Marweiñ also said that Shullai applauded the effort of all frontline workers and also the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister whose initiatives to resolve at local level has helped the state to contain the Covid-19.
Marweiñ also quoted Shullai’s suggestion that the burden of frontline workers should be eased by coming up with an effective management system to resolve problems at the local Covid-19 Management Committee level.
“Sanitization teams should be formed for quick action as well as a proper coordination with the health teams for testing at the ground level should be done. The MLA will soon submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister with regard to the problem faced by the Dorbar Shnongs and their Covid-19 Management Committees,†the statement added.
Meanwhile on the issue related to sharing of ministerial post after two and half years the BJP MLA said that he is not power hungry, and left the matter to the party high command.
“On a report whether Shullai was annoyed for not getting ministerial berth, Shullai said that he is not power hungry and he shall abide by the decision of the party Central leaders after the completion of two and half years term. For him, the problem faced by the people of his constituency is priority and the rest, everything is secondary.
There have been questions whether Shullai will replace Hek in Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) cabinet led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
Hek, the BJP MLA from Pynthorumkhrah since 1998, is currently the health minister in the MDA government.