Delhi: Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh held a meeting with the Chief Secretaries of Northeastern states over COVID-19, via video conference, on Saturday.
Singh said that the North-East has fared better than most of the other regions of India in tackling COVID-19 and that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the North-East has emerged as a model of development.
The minister further said that in the last six weeks, the North-East has emerged as a 'model of corona management' and it was possible because of the 'early preventive steps taken by the Modi government' and the 'cooperation of the people of the region'.
"To a great extent, the disciplined and civilized manner in which the people there cooperated both in social distancing and following the guidelines; people came out with very innovative ways of maintaining social distancing. It was there that people started putting those white rounds while standing in the queues," said Jitendra Singh.
"Since the summer has set in, they have started using make-shift umbrellas for the queue to beat the summer heat, and I'm sure that other parts of the country will also emulate it. People in the region have been much more receptive and hospitable to those who have been coming from outside," added Singh.
The minister assured that supplies were being made available in adequate quantities and there was no shortage despite the topographical and geographical constraints. He also appreciated the government's decision to ensure the sealing of all the borders.