Trinamool councillor gives vaccine dose; BJP hits out
Asansol (WB), Jul 3: A Trinamool Congress leader administered COVID-19 vaccine to a woman at a vaccination camp in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district on Saturday, stirring a row.
The incident happened in the Sitarampur village in Kulti.
Tabassum Ara, Trinamool councillor, took the syringe containing the vaccine from a health worker and administered it to one Rubiya Mahato.
Later, when questioned by reporters, Ara said that she did no such thing at the vaccination camp.
As a video of her administering the vaccine went viral, she said that she was helping to raise awareness about vaccination.
"I had no other intention, but to raise the awareness among the people. I have good knowledge about how to push insulin and this is quite similar to that," she told PTI.
The state Health Department has sought a detailed report from the district's chief medical officer over the incident.
"We have asked the CMOH to file a detailed report. He has been asked how a non-medical person was allowed to administer the jab. This is a punishable offence," a Health Department official said.
Hitting out at the ruling TMC, Union minister Babul Supriyo said that it seemed as if the state government has no control over its administrators.
"TMC's Tabassum Ara, a member of the administrative body of AMC, has vaccinated people herself and risked hundreds of lives... Will her political colour shield her from stern punishment?" the BJP's Asansol MP tweeted, tagging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
State BJP president Dilip Ghosh also slammed the TMC over the incident.
"In a state where the chief minister knows everything -- from Engineering to Medicine -- it is in the fitness of things that her party members would also think in the same way. These acts show the real picture of the state," he said.
TMC's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said the district administration was looking into the matter.
"However, in our country quacks with no formal medical education are allowed to perform medical duty and in that context administering a vaccine by someone who does it to create awareness should not be dissected so much," he said.
"But again, if I inject something to build awareness, the basic condition is I should know the medical procedure, I should know the process, I should have done such thing earlier," Roy said.
Seems like TMC govt has no control over its administrators.TMC's Tabassum Ara, a member of the administrative body of AMC, has vaccinated people herself and risked hundreds of lives…Will her political colour shield her from stern punishment?@MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/EaF3EsK9Bw
— Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) July 3, 2021
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India eye U17 Women's Asian Cup history in decisive Lebanon clash
Suzhou (China) (PTI): Having lost to two continental heavyweights, India face a must-win game against Lebanon in the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup here on Friday, knowing that victory could seal a first-ever qualification to the knockout stage of the competition.
After losing to Australia (0-2)and Japan (0-3) in Group B, the equation for India has become clear: one final match and one final chance to make the quarter-finals.
India are alive in the race for the knockout stage as one of the two best third-placed teams.
India currently hold a superior goal difference of -5 compared to Group C sides Philippines (-13) and Chinese Taipei (-14), who face each other on the final matchday.
That means either side would require a heavy-margin victory to overtake India’s goal difference if the Young Tigresses defeat Lebanon.
Furthermore, if Thursday evening's Group A fixture between Vietnam and Myanmar ends in a draw or the latter wins by less than three goals, India will confirm their place in the last eight with a victory, irrespective of the Group C result.
For India, playing their first AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup in 21 years, progressing beyond the group stage would mark a historic achievement.
Head coach Pamela Conti expects a very different challenge against Lebanon compared to the previous two matches.
The Italian believes the contest will demand more attacking flair since both teams require a win to qualify.
The West Asians, making their debut in the tournament, opened with a 0-13 loss against Japan, followed by a sensational point in a 1-1 draw with Australia.
"I watched Lebanon's game against Australia that ended 1-1. They are a team at our level, but they have very good attacking players. We need to be careful and not open up too much, because they can hurt us on the counter-attack," said Conti.
Unlike the opening two matches, where India spent large phases defending deep against physically and technically superior opponents, the Young Tigresses now have to play with greater attacking intent.
On Wednesday, the girls had recovery sessions indoors in the gym and the swimming pool. On Thursday, they had a 90-minute official training session involving tactical and set-piece work, and small-sided games.
Conti revealed that the team had long anticipated this decisive final group-stage encounter.
"I expect the girls to continue working hard and giving everything. I trust them a lot. We have prepared for this. We knew our qualification would come down to the match against Lebanon, and now we must give it everything," she said.
The stakes are not lost on the squad.
For a generation returning India to the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup after more than two decades, the possibility of reaching the quarter-finals would represent another milestone in what has already been a landmark year for Indian women's football across senior, U20 and U17 levels.
While the former two could not make the last eight in their respective tournaments earlier this year, the U17 now have the golden opportunity to make it happen.
"If we qualify, it will be an incredible achievement for everyone, and for the country. We are focused on giving that joy to the nation. I hope it happens for the staff, for us, and especially for the players, because they are the protagonists," Conti said.
