AGARTALA, April 12 (TIWN): On behalf of Chief Minister Biplab Deb, ICAT Dept has counterattacked former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on ESMA, PPE related allegations raised by Manik Sarkar.

A brief of the allegations and counters are :

Allegation 1. Appropriate measures for PPE has not been taken for people involved in Heath services sector.

Ans: PPE Kits are required for only those health workers who come in contact with COVID positive cases. There are enough PPE Kits in the state at the moment. There are 4,525 PPE kits in Tripura at present. Additionally 8000 PPE Kits have been ordered from HLL. There is absolutely no shortage of PPE at present. Any rumour of inadequacy of availability of PPE will unnecessary spread panic among people and health workers. There is also enough availability of other medical protection items like gloves, masks, sanitizers etc in the state. There is regular supply of these items by different suppliers which are being transported by cargo planes.

Allegation 2. ESMA has been clamped in response to expression of concern of their health security and protection by nurses of GB Hospital & Unakoti District Hospital

Ans:- The imposition of ESMA is for ensuring uninterrupted medical service to people at large. At a time when whole country is fighting against Corona virus epidemic, it is utmost important to provide assured health service to needy people. The ESMA has been imposed to declare health service as an essential service and prohibit any strike in health institution by any group of staff or persons providing service to these institutions. At this stage, any call of strike by any group of health worker or any person providing service to health institution like sweeping & cleaning staff, security service etc is not desirable at all so that there is no dislocation of essential health services to people. It is noteworthy that Govt of India has considered health services as essential and hence kept it out of the lockdown measures. Nobody will like to any disruption of health services in any health institution which is an essential service at the moment.

Allegation 3. This is a measure of suppression. This is highly objectionable, unjust and authoritarian step.

Ans:- ESMA has been imposed with a noble objective of ensuring uninterrupted health services to people at this hour of crisis. Any strike in this sector by any group at this critical time cannot be justified. By the ESMA order, only strike by any group of health worker or any person providing service to health institution has been prohibited. They can air their grievances, if any, through proper channel even now.

Allegation 4. Govt of Tripura is trying to mum and muzzle people in expressing their mind.

Ans: At this point of time, the concern of every noble minded person should be to ensure the medical needs of all corona affected and other patients. The action by government is for ensuring the health service to needy. Raising any unfounded allegation of non-availability of PPE by any group of person without knowledge of stock and protocol for their usage only creates panic in public at large and among health workers in particular.

Leader of Opposition should have checked the facts relating to availability of PPE before supporting any baseless claims of any group of lack of PPE in the state. If he supports strike in this sector at the moment, it is highly unfortunate.