Covid fight: Darjeeling Catholic diocese offers institutions

A quarantine facility at Hotel Sanderling , Darjeeling sponsored by Sangay Tshering Bhutia 

REZA PRADHAN, SNS, DARJEELING, 24 May 2020: With people hailing from different areas under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) returning in large numbers, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Darjeeling has offered some of their centres and educational institutions to be used as quarantine centres.

"I had spoken to the Bishop of the Diocese regarding our people returning from different parts of the country and the problem we were facing to keep them. They have offered some schools and centres under them as quarantine centres for them. I would like to thank Bishop Stephen Lepcha for this." GTA chairman Anit Thapa said.

Bishop Lepcha, on the other hand, said that the GTA chairman approached them and that they discussed the matter with the Catholic priests and nuns who run such institutions. "We decided to come forward as I felt that our attitude should be service to humans in this hour of need." he said.

"The administration will shortly be checking the feasibility of using these places. As for how many people will fit in one centre will have to be negotiated,"Bishop Lepcha said, adding that they had, however, not offered schools which had boarding facilities.

The schools and centres offered by them are not only located in Darjeeling town, but also place like Kalimpong and Kurseong.

Paid quarantine in Darjeeling

Likewise, more hotels have also come forward to be used as quarantine centres.

"For all thepeople who are not comfortable with home or institutional quarantine. the GTA has also arranged for paid quarantine in consensus with the District Magistrate, Darjeeling. Around 16 hotels have come forward to work with the GTA as a paid quarantine centre," Mr Thapa said.

The hotels have been categorised under 'category A' which will charge Rs 2,000 for single bed and Rs 2,500 for double bed for a day. 'Category B' will charge Rs 1,500 for single bed and Rs 2,000 for double bed.Category C for a single bed will cost Rs 1,200 and for double bed its Rs 1500. Category D will charge Rs 800 for a single bed and Rs 1000 for double bed.

Also, more hotels like Pine Tree, Spa Resort in Darjeeling have come forward to offer their rooms for quarantine purposes for free.

"It has been proven time and again, how generous and big-hearted the people of Darjeeling are. PineTreeSpa Resort has decided to open its gates and convert its facilities into free temporary quarantine centre for our brothers and sisters returning home," Mr Thapa said.

Shops to remain shut

On the other hand, shops not selling essential commodities remained closed in Darjeeling and Kalimpong after an appeal made by Mr Thapa on Friday.

"In response to the appeal I made to keep Darjeeling Hills safe from corona virus, shops other than those selling essentials remained closed.I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire business community for their great support and positive thoughts," said Mr Thapa.

The Darjeeling Chamber of Commerce vice-president, Vimal Mintri, said. "We discussed the matter with our members and decided to close the shops not selling essential commodities We feel it is better that such shops remain closed with the hills not having any coronavirus cases. If such shops open, it is more likely that travel to places like Siliguri will start which has started reporting positive cases. We will continue to close our shops till things become more normal."
(Courtesy and source- The Statesman- https://epaper.thestatesman.com/2685936/Siliguri-The-Statesman/25TH-MAY-2020#page/2/2 )