Mizoram Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai has ‘breached the protocol of the Raj Bhavan’ to open its door for the people in distress during the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.
After learning that at least four teachers of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Lawngtlai, who arrived Aizawl on May 25 after travelling 250 km on their way to home, got stranded at the capital following cancelation of their flights to different places outside the state, the governor arranged their accommodation at the Raj Bhavan.
“They are now guests in Raj Bhavan, even as protocols do not permit such a stay. But the governor firmly believes that there is no harm in breaking the protocols when it comes to helping people in distress and so the doors were opened for them,” Deccan Herald newspaper quoted an official at Raj Bhavan in Aizawl, as saying.
Pillai not only offered the four teachers of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Lawngtlai accommodation and food till their flights are restored, but also promised them help to make sure that they return home safely.
Two of them hail from Kerala and one each from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Governor Pillai is also from Kerala.
The schools are shut since the lockdown was announced due to coronavirus pandemic. But after the travel restrictions were relaxed and it was decided to resume the flights, the four teachers reached Aizawl on May 25.
But they were at a loss after the Aizawl-Kolkata flights were cancelled due to cyclone Amphan. They did not have sufficient money to stay in hotel in Aizawl.
The official further said that they came to meet the governor in Raj Bhavan on May 26 and sought his help. The governor welcomed them as guests of Raj Bhavan. They will stay there till their flights are resumed.
Edit: An earlier version of the story carried a wrong photograph. Error regretted.
