Frontier resistance

Despite sharing borders with four countries, five northeastern states have controlled Covid-19 better than most of India

- RABI BANERJEE

WHEN THE COVID-19 infection broke out, they were among the most vulnerable states in India. Ringed by China, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, and with extensive ties with hotspots in Southeast Asia, the five northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland—faced a major threat, but they have so far been successful in tackling the pandemic.

Aided generously by the Central government, the five states have streamlined their economic activities, adopted safe cultural practices and have undertaken rigorous testing protocols, reaching around 100 people per million population as against the national average of 70 per million. People have stopped going to neighbouring villages, and shops are open only for a few hours. All states except Meghalaya have inner line permit systems, which have been invoked to prevent the entry of outsiders.

“Our only concern today is mainland India and we will have to somehow stop people coming from there,” said Alo Libang, health minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He said the cities in the state were a little reckless, while the villages—largely tribal—were much more disciplined in practising strict lockdown. “Whenever there are disease outbreaks like malaria or any kind of unknown fever, villagers stay indoors and shops are closed. Local village councils ensure the supply of goods and essential services,” said Libang.