Villagers of Lauri gewog in Samdrupjongkhar say that the concerned authorities should move those who tested positive for Covid-19 with their livestock to an isolated place until they recover.
Tshewang Tenzin from Momring village said a member from every household looks after the cattle with permission from the security personnel, and they do not meet.
He said although the Covid-19 cases in the villages are increasing, they had to look after the cattle because most of them in the villages depend on livestock. “We wash our hands after reaching home.”
Dendup from Phajo Goenpa said that since most people own livestock, cattle herders stay at Gishiwoong and Lazor herding them. Gishiwoong is about an hour walk, and Lazor is about four hours walk from Phajo Goenpa.
He said that they kept ration outside the house for cattle herders to gather whenever they require as others cannot move out of their homes. “But we are worried about how long we can do this. We are also worried about how we could feed our cows.”
Lauri gewog mangmi, Tenzin, said they told residents that only one member from each household could feed and look after the cattle because the people of Momring and Phajo Goenpa depend on livestock.
He said that the worry at the moment is that all members of a household might test positive.
“What would happen then because the residents are hesitant and afraid to look after cattle of those who tested positive,” he said. “It would be challenging for the authorities to deploy people to look after the cattle.”
“But it would be helpful if the concerned authorities could isolate those who tested positive with their livestock at the places where there is no one until they recover. It would also reduce the expenditure for the government,” Tenzin said.
Meanwhile, one of the shops in Lauri has been catering food for those in the quarantine at the renewable natural resource (RNR) centre.
Tenzin said that the gewog administration told the caterer to serve good food.
By Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar
Edited by Tshering Palden