Gujarat govt move for fewer Covid-19 tests 'pushing' people to edge: Activists, academics

Mallika Sarabhai, Prakash Shah, Fr Cedric Prakash, Prof Navdeep Mathur

By Our Representative
About 100 concerned citizens, including top social activists and experts, have strongly protested against the Gujarat government’s alleged move to “dictate” the medical community to “reduce” Covid-19 tests in order to suggest that the state has fewer number of cononavirus positive patients, stating, this is nothing but “criminal negligence” which would “push people towards death without their knowledge.”
Signed among others by well-known danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, litterateur Prakash Shah, human rights activist Father Cedric Prakash, and Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) professor Navdeep Mathur, in a letter to chief minister Vijay Rupani, they said, the “decision” to have fewer tests was taken after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revealed that 80% infected patients of Covid-19 were asymptomatic, and testing alone across cross sections could help identify infected patients and new clusters in order to stop spreading the pandemic.
Contending that the state government has been negligent towards the Covid-19 crisis from the very beginning, the letter said, before the ICMR insistence on tests, these were being conducted in a very selective manner. Worse, doctors and nurses were not being provided with safety gears, and the lockdown was enforced with the aid of police and drone.
Currently, the letter said, the situation is that a fear psychosis of getting infected is prevailing among medical, paramedical and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) staff, adding, working day and night, without any protective equipment, our saviours are under duress and are in dismayed.
Though attempts are made to “bury” the dangerous spread of Covid-19, in the last 10 days, the number of cases has doubled and the recovery rate in Gujarat is as low as 9.8%, one of the lowest in India and has been decreasing day by day, the letter said, adding, the situation has come to such a pass that the Ahmedabad municipal commissioner has gone so far as to say that by May 31 over 8 lakh cases of Covid-19 positive could be reported in Ahmedabad alone.

The letter comes amidst a state-run centre claim that high Covid-19 mortality rate in Gujarat could be due to the dominance of the L-type strain

The letter comes amidst the state-run Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) claiming that the high Covid-19 mortality rate in Gujarat could be due to the dominance of the L-type strain of coronavirus, found to have been more prevalent in Wuhan in China, where the outbreak started. Gujarat reported 133 deaths till April 27.
Pointing out that the commissioner’s statement is extremely scary, with people wondering what would befall their, the letter said, this situation is building up amidst “punitive measures” taken by police and administration, with “abiding citizens” being booked “under various penal clauses, arrested and fined”, and efforts to “communalize and politicize” the pandemic.
Asking the government to come up with a clear roadmap to fight the pandemic in the post-lockdown period, the letter demanded “safety gears in sufficient quantity to doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, cleaners, ambulance drivers, police and others.”
Also demanding increase the rate of Covid-19 testing, the letter said, there should be “sufficient arrangements for the indoor patients in the hospitals as well as corona care centres”, with private hospitals being asked to provide free treatment and care to all. At the same time, it added, sufficient “food, ration, cash doles and other necessities” should be provided to the poor and the needy.”

---

Click here for signatories

Comments

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

Kerala government data implicates the Covid vaccines for excess deaths

By Bhaskaran Raman* On 03 Dec 2024, Mr Unnikrishnan of the Indian Express had written an article titled: “Kerala govt data busts vaccine death myth; no rise in mortality post-Covid”. It claims “no significant change in the death rate in the 35-44 age group between 2019 and 2023”. However, the claim is obviously wrong, even to a casual observer, as per the same data which the article presents, as explained below.

PM-JUGA: Support to states and gram sabhas for the FRA implementation and preparation and execution of CFR management plan

By Dr. Manohar Chauhan* (Over the period, under 275(1), Ministry of Tribal Affairs has provided fund to the states for FRA implementation. Besides, some states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra allocated special fund for FRA implementation. Now PM-JUDA under “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan(DAJGUA) lunched by Prime Minister on 2nd October 2024 will not only be the major source of funding from MoTA to the States/UTs, but also will be the major support to the Gram sabha for the preparation and execution of CFR management Plan).

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

Operation Kagar represents Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism: Resistance continues

By Harsh Thakor Operation Kagar represents the Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism, which claims to embody the struggles and aspirations of Adivasis. Criminalized by the state, the Maoists have been portrayed as a threat, with Operation Kagar deploying strategies that jeopardize their activities. This operation weaves together economic, cultural, and political motives, allegedly with drone attacks on Adivasi homes.

How Amit Shah's statement on Ambedkar reflects frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion, empowerment

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Dr. B.R. Ambedkar remains the liberator and emancipator of India’s oppressed communities. However, attempts to box him between two Brahmanical political parties betray a superficial and self-serving understanding of his legacy. The statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha was highly objectionable, reflecting the frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion and empowerment.

Balod tech fest tests students’ interest in innovative ideas in the fields of science, engineering, start-ups

By Our Representative A techno fest scheduled on December 20 and 21 in Balod district of Chhattisgarh will test the innovative ideas of school students in the fields of science, engineering and start-ups. For this two-day fest organised at Maheswari Bhawan of the district, a total of 824 models made by students were initially registered. Out of those, a selection committee chose 200 models from several schools spread over five blocks of Balod. These will be on display on these two days from 10am to 4.30pm. Out of many ideas, one of the most interesting models is a smart glove which can be used by children with impairments and disabilities. For those who cannot speak at all or have speech difficulty, they can ask for help from caregivers by pressing their fingers on the glove after wearing it. This will attract attention.

Local businessman subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse: Demand for accountability, justice

By Kirity Roy* On October 9, 2024, a disturbing incident of harassment and abuse took place in the Swarupnagar Block of North 24 Parganas district, involving a local businessman, Hasanur Gazi, who was subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse, and religious discrimination by a Border Security Force (BSF) constable. The incident, which occurred at the Hakimpur Checkpost, has raised serious concerns about the safety and dignity of citizens living in border areas, especially those belonging to religious minorities.

Affable but arrogant, embodying contradictions, Raj Kapoor's legacy will endure as long as Bollywood exists

By Harsh Thakor* December 14 marks the birth centenary of Raj Kapoor, a filmmaker and visionary who revolutionized Bollywood, elevating it to new heights by exploring uncharted emotional and social territories. Kapoor wasn’t just a filmmaker; he was a storyteller who touched the souls of the masses and reflected the pulse of post-partition India with unparalleled depth. His films acted as a unifying force in a divided nation, transcending social and cultural boundaries.

Suspicious death of Dalit laborer in BSF custody: A call for justice

By Kirity Roy* The tragic and suspicious death of Mr. Babai Barui, a Dalit daily wage laborer from North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, has raised serious concerns regarding custodial violence and the violation of fundamental rights. Mr. Barui, son of Sukharanjan Barui, resided in Pallishree Sangsad, Bongaon, and was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) on November 9, 2024, near the Angrail border on allegations of smuggling. The very next day, he was found dead under mysterious circumstances, with visible injuries that point toward possible custodial violence.

Search This Blog