Make Vaccination Compulsory for Politicians
Throughout India, a Covaxin revolution is taking place under the leadership of the government. In addition to the distribution of the vaccine, politicians are trying to instill a sense of pride that Covaxin is a ‘Swadeshi’ vaccine. Undoubtedly, it is a matter of pride that the country has produced a vaccine in the face of the Coronavirus that battered the country. But, politicians more than experts are issuing statements about Covaxin. The Centre is spending crores of rupees for Covaxin. In such a situation, it is very important for Covaxin to prove its reliability. The vaccine is being distributed even as a controversy has emerged around the government’s approval for the Covaxin being manufactured by Bharat Biotech even before the third phase of testing could be completed. The government is still not been able to respond adequately to the various questions that doctors and experts have raised regarding the vaccine. Already, it is being reported in the media that Covaxin is causing adverse impact on many of those who have been vaccinated. But, the government that has denied this has clarified that only 0.18 per cent of the vaccinated have been adversely impacted. Of those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, only 0.1 per cent of people have reported fluctuations in their bodies. The Centre has claimed that among these, only 0.002 people have been admitted into hospitals. At the same time, the Centre has regretted that doctors, ayahs, and health workers are refusing to get vaccinated.
One aspect should be observed here. The victims of the coronavirus are upper middle class and upper-class people. While tuberculosis, malaria, and other such diseases targeted the poor and slum dwellers, the coronavirus targeted people belonging to higher classes. The coronavirus entered India through airports from Indians living in foreign countries or those engaged in businesses or having connections with foreign countries and did not haunt the poor. But the lockdown that was imposed to check the spread of the coronavirus had a drastic impact on the poor. The number of people of the lower strata whose lives were destroyed due to the lockdown is far more than the number of upper-class people impacted by the coronavirus. And people from the lowest strata of society never demanded the Centre for the vaccine but asked to be rescued from hunger. “We are not scared of the Coronavirus but are scared of hunger”, migrant labourers said repeatedly and publicly. Ironically, having announced that the vaccine against the coronavirus has been manufactured, the Centre also announced that ‘civic workers will be given priority.’ If the coronavirus was truly a deadly disease, civic workers would have been the first victims. When the entire country was in lockdown and stayed indoors at home, these civic workers were cleaning the streets and collecting garbage without any fear of contracting the disease. They never feared the coronavirus, neither did the virus affect them. No labour organization requested to be vaccinated on priority. In such a situation, the government’s objective in showing its love and prioritizing civic workers for vaccination is clear. The malafide intention of the government to choose civic workers to test the efficacy of the vaccine and stop its distribution if they faced any adverse impact is very clear.
It is being alleged that hundreds of women who volunteered during the pandemic are being forced to be part of the vaccination drive. In Chitradurga, a nurse who refused to be vaccinated was forced by Minister Sriramulu to take the vaccination saying ‘Please take the vaccination. If you hesitate, what about the others’? Sriramulu could have taken the vaccine and encouraged the others to do so. Many politicians have been affected by the coronavirus and politicians mingle with the public in large numbers. Politicians should therefore be vaccinated on priority. In other countries, leaders have been vaccinated first. But, in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet been vaccinated. Not just Modi, no other important leader has come forward to get vaccinated and inspire people. Does it not prove that the leaders who are recommending the vaccine do not have any trust on the efficacy of the vaccine? Moreover, a large number of doctors have refused to be vaccinated. The government has expressed its regret over this. When doctors are refusing the vaccine, how appropriate is it to force people to get vaccinated?
Within two days of the vaccine drive, more than 50 per cent of health workers of six central government hospitals in New Delhi refused to be administered the Bharat Biotech vaccine. Of the identified 1,250 vaccine beneficiaries, a total of 551 health workers reported for vaccination on January 16 and 18. This means only, 44.8 per cent of people have been vaccinated. Of the 81 hospitals in New Delhi, 75 hospitals are run jointly by the Delhi government and private sector. In these hospitals the Covishield vaccine that has been produced by Oxford-Astra Zeneca has been distributed.
India is now divided over the vaccine. One particular vaccine is being distributed for the poor and another for the rich. Until politicians and doctors openly and fearlessly get vaccinated, the common man should not be forced to take it. The government should also not mess with the lives of people only to gain political mileage.
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Modi should leverage his ties with world leaders to de-escalate war in West Asia: Omar Abdullah
Jammu (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said India can play a meaningful role in de-escalation in West Asia, given Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong relations with the warring countries and their neighbours.
He said Pakistan was leveraging ties with Iran and the United States, and that any effort towards ending the war should be welcomed.
"As I said in the House (Assembly), we would like the war to end as soon as possible. The role that the prime minister can play may not be possible for anyone else because of his good relations with all these countries," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He, however, said any escalation would not be easy to manage.
"Any such move by US President Donald Trump, despite the long history of Iran resisting external domination, would not be easy," the chief minister said.
Asked about Pakistan mediating in the war, he said, "I will simply say that if any country can play a role in preventing this war, no one should have any objection to it."
He added, "I will repeat what I said … our prime minister has good and close relations with all countries — whether it is Israel, the United States, Iran, or the countries around Iran. If those relationships can be used to make some progress and help ease the situation, it would be a good thing."
Abdullah said attacks by terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in India, as suggested by a report from the United States, are not unlikely.
Meanwhile, he asserted that any efforts to end the war, be it from Pakistan, must not be resisted.
"Pakistan is using its good relations with Iran and the United States to its advantage, and it has done so. How can we object to that? If that angle helps in stopping the war, would you want them not to act and let the war continue? We want the war to stop. If any country can play a role in that, it should. And if we can play an even better role, then we should do so," he said.
On unemployment in J-K, the chief minister said the issue cannot be resolved overnight, and government jobs alone are not the solution.
He stressed the need to explore alternative avenues, highlighting the importance of Mission Yuva in promoting entrepreneurship.
"Mission Yuva provides not just funding but also support in preparing DPRs and post-startup assistance, such as marketing. In just nine months, distributing Rs 1,000 crore and approving numerous schemes is a significant achievement," he said.
Abdullah credited the coordination between the government and Jammu and Kashmir Bank for the scheme's progress.
