State natives in Canada in dire straits

By Our Staff Reporter
OTTAWA, May 23:  As coronavirus outbreak has forced countries to lock down their borders and curb businesses except essential services, Manipuris stranded in Canada are facing immense problems and difficulties, said Manipuri Association of Canada (MAC).
MAC in a statement said that the Canada Government had imposed lockdown due to COVID-19 on March 13. Even as lockdown has been eased in some places now, it is still effective many places which are worst hit by the virus, said MAC.
With schools and colleges remaining shut till September, the Manipuris, particularly students are left stranded facing immense difficulties.
There are a little over 500 Manipuris in Canada with most of them staying at Toronto city in Ontario province and Montreal city in Quebec province, which are the worst hit provinces in Canada. In Montreal alone, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in 23,413 with 2,454 deaths of far, while Toronto city has 9,615 positive cases with 945 deaths, said MAC.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Canada is about 82,480 with a total of 1,405,284 persons tested. 6250 have died due to the virus. Quebec has 46,141 positive cases with 361,628 persons tested and 3,865 deaths while Ontario has about 24,628 confirmed cases with 559,699 persons tested for the virus and 2,021 deaths, added MAC.
With many people losing jobs due to the lockdown, some of the Manipuris in Canada are also facing the same problem. With no jobs, many are dependent on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit provided by the Government. However, International students from India and Bangladesh are reportedly not getting the benefit of the Government. This has created a crisis like situation and increased the hardship of stranded Manipuris and Bangladesh Manipuri students, asserted MAC adding the Manipuri community is facing hardships that range from VISA related problem to money and stress due to the lockdown.
At present, MAC is providing all possible assistance to the stranded Manipuris including those from Bangladesh (Manipuris). Manipuri Canada citizens are also providing assistance to many in Manipur and Bangladesh in their personal capacity, said MAC.
Even though "one or two" have been infected by the coronavirus, there has been no deaths in the Manipuri community due to the disease. They are not hospitalised as the cases are not serious, said MAC.