https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Fighting Covid19 in Tawang

When coronavirus hit Tawang district, one of the most picturesque places in the North-East, the district administration fought back with all its might. Through village commitees, apps and the local National Informatics Centre (NIC), District Collector Sang Phuntsok ensured that peopes’ suffering remained very low and tolerable.
Indian Masterminds Stories

This has been a difficult year for the whole world due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The picturesque Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh is no exception. When India went into lockdown, it was just the start of tourism season in the district. Due to the lockdown, it was hit badly. At the same time, Tawang also started facing issues such as lack of proper health facility. Even reaching out to the people became a challenge. 

However, under the leadership of District Collector Mr Sang Phuntsok the district not only came out of the economic crisis but also alleviated the suffering of the people.

Handling the Returnees

Talking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Phuntsok says, “to deal with COVID-19 Pandemic the entire administrative machinery had to be geared-up. We started working in close coordination with health officials and police personnel.” 

Tawang is filled with majestic mountains, lakes and natural scenery. On the one hand, its vistas are treat to the eyes but at the same time it’s a difficult place to live in. Pandemic doubled the peoples’ difficulties. Besides providing basic necessities to the public, the main challenge was to quarantine all the returnees to the district. Around 1004 student and 1786 other professionals and workers lived outside the district. When the pandemic was announced, they all started to come back. 

Recalled Mr Phuntsok: “There was no testing facility available in Tawang. So all of the returnees had to be quarantined for 14 days, first in quarantine facilities of the district and thereafter in 14 days of home quarantine. To ensure this, village-wise committees were constituted. After the receipt of testing kits for Covid 19, all the samples of returnees were collected and were sent to Guwahati, and later to Tezpur. ”,   

Using an App to Monitor Peoples’ Movements

Mr. Phuntsok discussing the preparedness on corona with armed forces

The District Administration of Tawang also developed and launched an app to monitor the people entering Tawang. The online registration of person entering Tawang was done through this app. This enabled the officials to have direct information about the people coming from outside the district. “In order to strictly monitor the people entering Tawang, the check-gate at Jang was strengthened; along with the Police Personnel, the Health Department officials were also deployed for checking each and every person entering Tawang. The details were uploaded in the App, but we realised that due to network problem it was not possible do it all time. To come over it, we started doing it in an off-line mode, and the app started working smoothly.’’

At the same time, the district ddministration also took a meeting with all the NGOs and monasteries, and they all agreed to deliver essential commodities to people door-to-door, without any extra charges. 

NIC was a Big Help

Situated at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet, Tawang often faces lots of communication and transport problem. But the district administration, perhaps due to the consistent nature of such issues, is more or less always prepared to tackle any eventuality. A National Informatics Centre (NIC) is already in existence in Tawang to help students and youth in filling up online application forms for higher studies and for applying for jobs online. During COVID -19 pandemic, the district administration was able to connect with people through Google Meet and Webex, through the technical support provided by NIC, Tawang.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
_REI-EXPO-2025
Renewable Energy India Expo 2025 Set to Drive Innovation, Partnerships, and Sustainability in India’s Clean Energy Sector
IOB_Strengthens_Vigilance_Awareness_Campaign_
IOB Hosts Walkathon in Chennai to Promote Vigilance and Integrity for Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
BEML_and_VSCB_Member_Organisations_Organise_Walkathon_
BEML Walkathon in Bengaluru Promotes Integrity, Transparency During Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
Sariska Tiger ST-2303
Rising Tiger Presence in Lakhimpur’s Maheshpur Range Sparks Fear Among Villagers, Urging Stronger Forest Department Action
Coal-Production-resized
NCC Ltd Secures ₹6,828.94 Crore Contract with Central Coalfields for Major Coal Extraction Project in Jharkhand
Indore police arrest
MP Administration Shows Swift Action: Man Who Molested Australian Women Cricketers Arrested Within Hours in Indore, CM Yadav Orders Strict Action
ONGC_resized
PESB Calls for Applications for Director (Finance) Position at ONGC; Vacancy to Open on May 1, 2026
IAF MRFA project
India and Brazil Set to Finalize Landmark Defence Barter Deal: Tejas Fighters and Prachand Helicopters for C-390 Aircraft
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
_REI-EXPO-2025
Renewable Energy India Expo 2025 Set to Drive Innovation, Partnerships, and Sustainability in India’s Clean Energy Sector
IOB_Strengthens_Vigilance_Awareness_Campaign_
IOB Hosts Walkathon in Chennai to Promote Vigilance and Integrity for Vigilance Awareness Week 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT