With the outbreak of Covid-19, one of the earliest claims for its treatment came from Baba Ramdev, a leading Baba who is also close to the ruling dispensation. He began becoming popular with his Yoga exercises and later took up the manufacture of medicines etc. including cow products. He has come to stand in the row of leading corporate houses of the country. He learned his craft of Yoga from his Guru. His colleague Acharya Balkishan is the one who is his partner in the Patanjali enterprise, which has become a leading drug manufacturer. Not much is known about the formal education of the duo.

Their launch of Coronil, as a cure for Corona, drew a lot of attention. There was the claim initially that it has got WHO approval, later the claim was diluted to say that it has been made as per WHO guidelines. A study was cited as the proof of efficacy of Coronil. The claim was made that within seven days the disease will be cured. Later the fallacy of the study which was presented as the basis of proving efficacy of Coronil was demonstrated. Interestingly two central ministers were present at the launch.

Last one year has seen so many claims coming up for treatment of the dreaded pandemic. The Ayush ministry advised the application of sesame oil/coconut oil/cow ghee on the nostrils. Some came up with the idea of steam inhalation. Malegaon blast accused, Bhopal BJP MP, Pragya Singh Thakur claimed that consumption of Cow urine is protecting her from Corona. BJP, Madhya Pradesh Culture Minister Usha Thakur claimed that performing the Fire ritual – Havan; will protect us from the disease.

Swami Chakrapani Maharaj organised a Gomutra party for popularising Cow-urine drinking and for applying cow dung on the body. Similar practice is being done by a group of Sadhus in Gujarat. The peak of this was the statement from the Chief Minister of Uttrakhand who invited people for taking bath in Mahakumbh with the plea that divine powers of the river will protect us from the calamity. The results were right there to see as a number of sadhus lost their lives right during the kumbh and later many sadhus carried the disease to their respective places.

The overarching ideology behind this of course filtered down from the Prime Minister himself, who first gave the call of banging pots and pans for five minutes at 5 PM and in April he asked for burning candles and flashing lights for 9 Minutes at 9 PM.

In a unique way, another BJP worthy, one Sankeshwar in a recent press meet stated that administration of lime juice through nostrils increases oxygen levels by 80%. This as per him was based on observation of nearly 200 friends and relatives.

The whole trend has been to make statements and adopt politics, which do not have any scientific base. What we saw all through this period were statements and actions which are based on faith or common sense. Cow which is a political symbol for the ruling dispensation has been employed extensively for treatment – use of its urine, its dung have been advised widely by the regie’s stooges. Veterinary science will tell us that Urine/dung is the waste products of the body and there is no evidence of any benefit of these to the human body.

The faith that 33 Crore Gods reside in her body is a matter of faith, which is being popularised and being forced on the policies of this ruling dispensation. The fire ritual of Yagna and ablation (Ahuti) is again being proffered out of the hat. The volunteers of the BJP’s parent organisation are doing extensive propagation of the methods of doing Havan at places.

Along with this Baba Ramdev, who is among the major Godmen of last two decades, went on to say that Allopathic system of medicine is stupid and bankrupt science. In response the Indian Medical Association lodged a protest. The Health Minister wrote to Ramdev who in turn has withdrawn his statement. This is the same Ramdev who was in ICU after his few days of fasting. This is the same Ramdev, whose partner Balkishan was recently admitted to some allopathic hospital.

The rise of such faith based irrational statements and policies during the last few decades are running parallel to the rise of sectarian politics, Hindutva. As such the religious nationalism wants to harp on the pre democratic values of caste and gender hierarchy. The major step in the dawn of democratic society was the struggle for reason to come up against the prevalent blind beliefs, blind faith. With democratisation of Western societies the faith/blind faith, such irrational, retrograde practices are seen less often there, if at all.

Here the rise of national movement, the rise of social reform among women and Dalits also saw the firming up of scientific thinking. While the freedom movement ran parallel to the introduction of rational thought in society, those believing in religious nationalism were not only opposed to social reforms, anti colonial struggle but also were against scientific thinking. They harped on faith as it gives legitimacy to inequality in society.

Our Constitution wants the state to promote scientific temper as a matter of policy. As we have seen with the rise of divisive nationalism we have seen an all-out attack on rational thinking. We saw the murders of Dr. Dabholkar, Com Pansare, M.M.Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh. The tragedy of pandemic has seen the revival of blind faith as the ruling dispensation’s whole ideology is founded on faith/blind faith. This is an obstacle to efficiently dealing with the pandemic. While the likes of Ramdev are on the top of the pyramid of faith based knowledge, there are hoards of others promoting these things all around. We do need to promote scientific temper and the spectacles of banging pans or lighting lamps are not going to solve the tragic situation in which we are writhing at present.  

* Views expressed are the author’s own. Dr. Puniyani is a human rights defender and a former professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay). 

Other pieces by Dr. Puniyani:

Bid Curb Inter-faith marriages: Ruse to Restrict Women’s Freedom

Charlie Hebdo Cartoons and Blasphemy Laws in Contemporary Times

Was Mughal Rule the period of India’s Slavery?

Kashi- Mathura: Will temple politics be revived?

The post Covid-19 management and scientific temper appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Just a few days ago, I saw an interesting news item on my mobile phone. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) top leader Mohan Bhagawat and his friends: Jaggi Vasudev, and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, will address the nation to create hope in times of Corona dance of death. One does not know what networks they will use to do that? According to the news item, they will create an opinion of ‘positivity’ in an atmosphere of ‘negativity’. Obviously, the negativity refers to opposition to the RSS/BJP central Government all over the world and India. 

The news of these three great saintly men creating hope is being propagated by the RSS cadres. I wish they would have included all the Shankaracharyas of different pittas in the country. Of course, another Yogi–Adithyanath, who also heads a pitta, apart from the Uttar Pradesh Government where mass cremations are happening like a Kumbh, should have been part of the team.

The Prime Minister himself, who now looks like a saint not a ruler, will anyway address the nation from time to time. 

However, the declared team consists of a Saraswat Brahmin from Maharashtra, a Tamil Brahmin who mostly lives abroad and educated in English medium at St. Joseph college of Bengaluru. The third is a Dwija educated at Mysore university-that too in English literature with a chequered life and final guruhood of international institutional base. The Indian diaspora and native upper middle-class swings and waves as they speak but the vast masses of food producers do not know what their guruship is. It is this productive nation that needs hope. For the whole nation should get hope from the central Government not from saints and sanyasis. 

The RSS wants to use Ravi Shankar and Vasudev to add Hindu international networking. But the question is why this team did not find a Hindu Guru born in Shudra farmer family and a Dalit family. Is it because they are less Hindu, as they belong to the fourth varna and also no varna (Dalits are known as avarnas)? In the teaching of these three socio-spiritual leaders is there a single sentence that: ‘All Hindus Are Created Equal by Hindu God’. Is there a caste-free God they visualised for protection of all Hindus, leave alone Muslims, Christians and Sikhs of India?

Even assuming that they do not want to save the atheists and seculars, worldwide who were said to have worked for the advanced medical science, how many rural hospitals these gurus established in our poverty-stricken rural India? Ravi Shankar has a network in Geneva where there is a lot of oxygen to breathe in open air as well as in hospitals. But none in the Dandakaranya tribal belt where malnutrition is making their breathing more difficult than in any other part of the world. Why not that be his international base?  

Jaggi Vasudev has networks across the United States including the wealthiest California state, but none in the Koraput tribal belt of Orissa. They learnt English in a manner that every English-speaking Asian, American, European, Australian would understand. But they never learnt a single tribal language of India. Their divinity flows in sweet English to promote ‘Hindu, Hindi, Hindustani’ and the RSS loves this nationalism.    

Whom are they teaching their methods of pranayama (Isha foundation specialization)? Ravi Shankar is supposed to be an expert on rhythmic breathing. India is now dying without pranavayu, and no breathing–leave alone rhythmic. What scientific advancement they achieved and handed over to the nation? How many good hospitals that RSS and these foundations established to save the poor from lack of pranavayu in the villages and tribal areas? 

Even before this deadly disease attacked Indian people in villages and urban slums were dying for want of enough oxygen in the atmosphere. What did they do? Why do they go to teach the Americans and Europeans who have everything–enough pranavayu, prana padarthas to eat along with plenty of cars and planes to travel? Why Hindu God is sending these gurus there not to tribal areas or even to African countries where there is nothing to eat and hardly any energy to breathe? They go to the US and Europe to acquire dollars, Euros and Pounds. How is that nationalism loved by the RSS?      

In 1900, Ida Scudder reached the Vellore region to give life to lifeless and started a medical centre, which later became a trend setting hospital. What kind of guruship she initiated and what kind of guruship these Indian Dwijas established? The RSS leaders attack the Christian missionaries on an everyday basis. Did they establish a single hospital in the country that could match the Christian Medical College Hospital in their long life of 95 years? Did they ever look at what that hospital has done to the nation in subsequent years? That was the first hospital that started open heart surgeries in the 1960s itself, when no other hospital in India knew that science. Did any Hindu Pitta, or Foundation or organisation including the RSS did such constructive humanitarian work? Why accuse such Christians as anti-national? 

The RSS and the gurus like Jaggi Vasudev, Ravi Shankar, who work around them as great Hindu nationalists must know the caste culture is causing more harm than corona to the spiritual will of the nation. Why are they so silent about it? In Uttar Pradesh where a Yogi rules, dead bodies are being discriminated against. Which culture is responsible for that? Where is a call from these gurus to not to do that?    

Most organised religions in the world with strong notion monolith of faith are Hinduism and Islam, though they differ in caste cultural practices. In Hinduism these saints are in control and in Islam the Mullahs are in control. Why could vaccine science not develop in countries of those nations where they play a dominant role? Why does the secular world produce more vaccines and life-saving drugs? Why India of these pranavayu giving gurus begging for oxygen from secular nations? Why did the ‘Art of Living Foundation’, which is said to be a great teacher of breathing exercise, establish a vaccine producing industry and also an oxygen production centre? Do these gugus want to tell us those who breathed according to their methods are not attacked by Corona? We assume that Mohan Bhagwat follows them with a discipline of RSS but was attacked by Corona and treated in a modern medical system developed in Europe and America, not in the Art of Living breathing.   

What kind of nationalism in Ravi Shankar and Vasudev the RSS found who established the Art of Living and art of pranayama in America and Europe but not in Indian Tribal Areas? Should Hindu nationalism be taught from California and Geneva to the farmers who are producing food for all Indian to survive and the safai sainiks who are cleaning the roads in the times of this deadly disease? 

The RSS leaders must know that the nation is watching them when they are in the driving seat of the national power. There is enough intellectual base among the productive masses that can see through these English-speaking gurus, what they speak and do in their typical saintly attire here, and what they speak and do in America and Europe? The farmers, workers, shepherds, artisans and so on are already on ‘hope production’ jobs. They do not have to listen to these gurus to protect themselves from Corona. They are on the job of killing coronavirus in the fields by producing protein and raw material for medicines.

*Views expressed are the author’s own.

(Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd is a political theorist and social activist. His latest book is The Shudras–Vision for a New Parth co-edited with Karthik Raja Karuppusamy)

Other articles by Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd:

Disease distancing, not social distancing during Covid-19

Babu and Bhasha: The Game may end with this

Remembering Usaa: The greatest revolutionary barber after Upali

The post A team that never was a hope provider for the poor appeared first on SabrangIndia.

That senior doctors have to talk to health workers telling them not to smear their bodies with cow dung and cow urine is more than a bizarre tale. This is the strange and dangerous reality currently being reported from cow shelters in Gujarat, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah hail. That cow dung and cow urine have some ‘curative’ or medicinal powers is a belief that still holds strong among many in India, and is often supported by the right-wing groups who see it as an important part of their agenda.

As the country continues to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic that has now reached cities and villages even as it continues to wreak havoc in big cities, some in Gujarat believe taking a bath in cow excreta will ‘protect’ them from Coronavirus. According to a report in Reuters, people have been going to cow shelters to smear themselves with ‘packs’ made of cow dung and cow urine because they believe this “will boost their immunity against, or help them recover from, the coronavirus.”

Doctors, however, have warned that this mixture will give “no protection from the coronavirus” and that it “may cause other infections including mucormycosis or black fungus.” The news report quoted Gautam Manilal Borisa, an associate manager at a pharmaceuticals company, who claimed “even doctors” undertake this cow dung therapy. He claimed that this “practice helped him recover from Covid-19 last year” and he continues to undergo it at the Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Pratishthanam. Reuters photos show how a group of men sit smeared with the dung and urine mixture and then wash it off with milk. 

Doctors in India are warning against covering one’s body in cow dung and urine in the belief it will ward off COVID-19, saying there is no scientific evidence for its effectiveness and that it risks spreading other diseases. More photos: https://t.co/g2rTla2PUx ? Amit Dave pic.twitter.com/3WpULYndxA

— Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) May 11, 2021

The report quotes Dr JA Jayalal, national president, Indian Medical Association, debunking this practice saying, “There is no concrete scientific evidence that cow dung or urine work to boost immunity against Covid-19, it is based entirely on belief,” adding “there are also health risks involved in smearing or consuming these products – other diseases can spread from the animal to humans.”

This comes close on the heels of a disturbing video of a man attempting to pour a yellow liquid, that was allegedly cow urine, or gau mutra, down the throat of a woman who is hooked to a ventilator. This incident came to light in the last week of April, and the questions were raised on how did the man even manage to get into a ward and administer the liquid to a seriously ill female patient.

According to another news report a Covid-19 isolation centre at Tetoda village in Deesa taluka of Banaskantha district, Gujarat is reportedly “treating” patients based on “ayurvedic medicines made of cow urine, dung, milk, ghee and curd” called “Panchagavya” or five elements/ essences from cows, along with allopathic medicines. It was reported by the Deccan Herald that this “centre is being run in a gaushala or cowshed that has over 5,000 cows managed by a trust ‘Rajaram Gaushala Ashram’ and is named “Vedalakshana Panchagavya Ayurvedic Covid Isolation Centre.” 

Related:

Take a swig of cow urine to finish Corona: Surendra Singh, BJP MLA
Did a BJP worker give ‘Gau Mutra’ to a Covid-19 patient on a ventilator?
Bad news for those still looking for gold in cow milk
Why does UGC want herds of students to take ‘cow science’ exams?
INVESTIGATION: The Missing Cows of Gujarat

The post Cow dung, urine don’t prevent Covid-19, can cause infections: Doctors appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Dozens of unidentified and some partially burnt bodies have been found to be floating in the Yamuna river in Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh, amid the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. According to an NDTV report, this form of disposal was probably adopted due to fear of spread of the virus during cremations.

Watch | Dozens of bodies were seen floating in the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur amid a surge in #COVID19 cases. pic.twitter.com/hBkVhZCDAa

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 9, 2021

Anoop Singh, the Additional Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur, told the HT that many families preferred to immerse them in the river as the last rites, instead of cremating them. He said, “Two of the bodies were partially burnt. We have informed the two districts and have also stepped-up vigil in our area.”

Dinesh Nigam, who is the councillor from Maudaha, Hamirpur Nagar Palika, told the HT that many people have succumbed to the virus in the second wave. He said, “In the second wave of the pandemic, people have died in large numbers in villages and people out of fear are not helping one another. In such a scenario, they are dumping their dead into the rivers.”

As per the government bulletin on Covid-19 deaths, Hamirpur has recorded one death on May 9, about 5 on May 8 and a total of 70 fatalities since the pandemic started.

An eyewitness and local, Siyaram, told IndiaToday, “People are cremating bodies on the fields. No government or local official has any record of how many people have been cremated or their bodies disposed of after dying due to Covid-19 in these areas.”

Related:

Unused ambulances found in Bihar: Pappu Yadav accuses BJP MP of foul play!
EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds die of Covid and data goes missing, UP gov’t remorseless
Will Union Minister Santosh Gangwar’s letter to UP Chief Minister exposing O2 shortage, make a difference?
Allahabad HC not satisfied with DM Meerut’s response over oxygen shortage

The post Bodies, believed to be of Covid patients, found floating in Yamuna appeared first on SabrangIndia.

As the week drew to a close, Covid-19 cases continued to rise across the country. On Saturday, over 1,45,384 new infections were reported in the last 24 hours. This is the fourth consecutive day that India has recorded more than 1 lakh cases in a 24 hour period. The number of active Covid-19 cases in the country have now crossed the 10 lakh-mark.

As states continued to alert the Centre of impending vaccine shortages, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said that the Narendra Modi government has mismanaged the situation in the country. Gandhi blamed the Centre of exporting the vaccines and thus allowing “a shortage to be created in India.” She held a video conference with chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and said the focus must be on India’s vaccination drive first and foremost, and only then should the government “export vaccines and gift them to other countries.”

Remarks of Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi at a meeting of Congress ruled States & Congress Ministers from our alliance States to review the efforts to fight COVID-19 including availability of vaccines, access to medicines & ventilators. pic.twitter.com/fvJWhzrNO9

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 10, 2021

She also called out “mass gatherings and religious events” saying that they added to the rise in coronavirus cases. She asked the Congress-ruled states to “make all efforts to support those who have faced the brunt of reduced economic activity as the restrictions become harder and more stringent.” 

Ironically, on the same day Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan who had earlier lashed out at the Government of Maharashtra, and blamed citizens for the rise in cases, was busy promoting visuals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally in West Bengal, where many unmasked supporters were seen crowding together. West Bengal has over 18,603 active Covid-19 cases at the moment.

Watch Now!

Hon’ble PM Sh @narendramodi Ji addresses #PublicMeeting at #Krishnanagar, #WestBengal#PMInWestBengal @PMOIndia
https://t.co/Ba1eiJsKZI

— DrHarshVardhanOffice (@DrHVoffice) April 10, 2021

Maharashtra, the state that has been asking for more vaccine doses, and instead has been attacked verbally by many senior ministers, has begun the weekend lockdown. According to a report in The Indian Express, private vaccination centers will remain closed in Mumbai till Monday, however, government vaccination centers will remain open in the city. Prithviraj Chavan, Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and former CM, has also alleged, “The central government has not only failed to provide vaccines to Maharashtra but also to provide important medical equipment during the Corona period. According to Lok Sabha data, N95 masks, PPE kits and ventilators have been provided by the central government in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh with a busy population.”

महाराष्ट्राला फक्त लसी देण्यातच नाही तर कोरोना काळात महत्वाची वैद्यकीय उपकरणे देण्यातसुद्धा केंद्र सरकारने दुजाभाव केला आहे. लोकसभेतील आकडेवारीनुसार गुजरात आणि उत्तर प्रदेश राज्यात रुग्णसंख्येच्या व्यस्त पटीने N95 मास्क, पीपीई किट्स आणि व्हेंटीलेटर्स केंद्र सरकारने दिले आहेत. pic.twitter.com/MdYDR4Ly3W

— Prithviraj Chavan (@prithvrj) April 10, 2021

Meanwhile in Delhi where rumours of an impending lockdown made migrant workers pack their bags and start heading home again, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ruled out the possibility of a lockdown. However he said that new restrictions will be implemented soon, and added that Delhi currently has seven to 10 ten days of Covid vaccine stock. Kejriwal told the media on Saturday, “If we are provided with enough vaccine doses, the age bar for vaccination is removed and we get approval to open more vaccination centers on a larger scale then we can vaccinate people within 2-3 months in Delhi. Currently, we have vaccines for 7-10 days. There will be no lockdown. New restrictions will be imposed soon.”  

Other places which have already implemented night curfews and partial lockdown include Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh Noida and Ghaziabad, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Odisha.

Related

Calling it “Corona curfew” instead of “lockdown” does little to allay fears
Uttar Pradesh government hospital give anti rabies shots to 3 who came for Covid-19 
Covid-19: 71 Vaccination centres shut in Mumbai, shortages reported elsewhere too
Political blame game continues as Covid-19 infections rise making India 3rd worst hit 

The post Covid-19: Over 1,45,384 new infections reported in India on Saturday appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Anil Vij who heads Haryana’s Home, Health, Urban Local Bodies, Technical Education, Science & Technology Ministries had announced he has tested Corona positive. It was only on November 20, that Vij had volunteered to be the first to get a shot Covaxin, when the third phase trial started in the state. He had taken the first shot in this final round of vaccine trail that he said will be tested on 25,800 people. The vaccination shot was given in the presence of scores of TV news cameras and had been covered widely.

#WATCH Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij being administered a trial dose of #Covaxin, at a hospital in Ambala.

He had offered to be the first volunteer for the third phase trial of Covaxin, which started in the state today. pic.twitter.com/xKuXWLeFAB

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2020

And now Anil Vij confirmed he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now admitted for treatment at the Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. He asked those who met him resented to get themselves tested as well.

I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me are advised to get themselves tested for corona.

— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) December 5, 2020

Trial for third phase of Covaxin a coronavirus vaccine product of Bhart Biotech to start in Haryana on 20th November. I have offered myself as first volunteer to get vaccinated .

— ANIL VIJ MINISTER HARYANA (@anilvijminister) November 18, 2020

It may be recalled that last month, the family of a 40-year-old man who suffered a severely adverse reaction after participating in a clinical trial for another Covid-19 vaccine COVISHIELD, had sued the Serum Institute of India (SII) demanding Rs 5 crores as damages. The family served a legal notice to SII that is conducting the trial in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The notice was served to the CEO of SII and the Director General of ICMR, and also to the Drugs Controller General of India, CEO, Astra Zeneca UK as well as Professor Andrew Pollard Chief Investigator, Oxford Vaccine Trial (The Jenner Institute Laboratories University of Oxford) as well as Vice Chancellor Sri Ramachandra Higher Education and Research.

According to the legal notice, the participant is an independent business consultant and had signed up for the trial as he is “a public-spirited person and is concerned about the healthcare system in the society, particularly its impact on the poor and the disadvantaged.” It says, “The death of millions of people all over the world due to the attack of the Covid-19 virus has affected him emotionally” and that “when he came to know that there was a call for volunteers for the 3rd phase of the human trial in Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (formerly called Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute – SRMC) for testing the Covid-19 vaccine developed by the Oxford University, UK, the public spirit in him wanted to volunteer.”

The notice stated that it was frequent and repeated assertions that the vaccine was safe, that made the participant sign up for the trial and even sign a consent form on September 29, 2020. He was administered the vaccine on October 1, 2020. The participant started experiencing severe headaches and nausea, on October 11, 2020 following which there was also a change in his behaviour. It says that “he was not aware of his surroundings, he showed irritation towards light and sound, and was resisting any effort to make him get up from bed.”

Meanwhile, as scores of good wishes for Vij’s speedy recovery poured in from his followers, some have asked if Covaxin, being developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), had been proven ineffective. As reported widely, the vaccine manufacturer had said it had successfully completed interim analysis of Phase 1 and 2 trials before initiating Phase 3 trials. Vij had then announced that he would be administered a trial dose at the Civil hospital, Ambala Cantt under the supervision of doctors from PGI Rohtak and Health Department. “I have volunteered to take the trial dose,” he had said.

Sad you tested positive, get well soon!

Just asking, same trial which was to be generated to “Bihar free vaccine” during election JUMLA..
Modi vaccine? or Water vaccine?
Kismat par pad gayi Modi Jumla ki laathi? first volunteer in your state for the anti-Covid vaccine?

— sunitajadhav (@sunmor2901) December 5, 2020

सूचना तो चिंतित करने वाली है परन्तु आश्वस्त हूँ आप अपनी प्रचंड ऊर्जा से किसी भी रोग विकार को सफलतापूर्वक मात देंगे।
ईश्वर से आपके शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ की कामना करता हूँ।
अपने स्वास्थ्य का ध्यान रखिये व शीघ्र स्वास्थ्यलाभ प्राप्त कीजिये।@cmohry

— Sanjay Tandon ?? (@SanjayTandonBJP) December 5, 2020

This is 2nd time …in short span of 4 months?. Pl get your test repeated,as antibodies hv life of atleast 3-4 months.

— Dr KBMohan:UCC? (@bkukDr) December 5, 2020

This is the Haryana Health Dept’s Covid-19 tally:

This is the official overall tally in India 

Related:

COVISHIELD vaccine trial participant sues Serum Institute

Covid-19 vaccine hits road bump, as India speeds towards 100,000 daily cases

The post After trial Covaxin shot, Haryana health minister Anil Vij test Covid-19 positive appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a statutory body under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 that aims to protect and promote the cause of Human Rights in India. It looks into violations of human rights by any State actors, recommend measures for the effective implementation of Human rights, to encourage organisations within the infrastructure in furtherance of human rights agendas, etc. Criticised for not effective action on human rights abuses across the country, it has in the past six months, issued a string of advisories on issues related to food and nutrition, mental health, women and children, childcare workers (ASHA) workers in the unorganised sector etc. Most or all of these have been issued at the tail end of the Pandemic led lockdown (end September 2020 onwards)!

In these unexpected times, the NHRC has appreciated the significance of mental health, right to health, right to food, rights of women, children and informal sector workers, prison conditions and disabilities as important facets of basic human existence with dignity. It has issued advisories on the same themes to engage people in such discussions and promote awareness.

I. Human Rights advisory on Right to Mental Health in context of the Covid 19 pandemic

Latest data released by the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB) has revealed that more than 1.39 lakh Indians died by suicide in the year 2019, 67 per cent of which were young adults. The NCRB report titled ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2019’, released shows that of the total 1.39 lakh 2019 suicides, 93,061 were young adults. Compared to 2018 numbers (89,407), youth suicides in India have risen by 4 per cent. The overall suicide figures rose by 3.4 per cent in the same time.

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2019-report, India has the highest suicide rate in the South-East Asian region with one person still dying every 40 seconds from suicide with 16.5 suicides per 1,00,000 people, as reported by The Indian Express.

Taking into consideration, the detrimental impact of the lockdown on people’s mental health due to job losses, being trapped in abusive households, uncertainty in exam schedules, crashing job markets, financial crunch, the NHRC issued an advisory to the Ministry of Health and Family welfare on mental health by constituting a committee of experts, civil society organization representatives and elected representatives of relevant department s.

It has highlighted the importance of:

1. Right to Information (24*7 helpline, information to mental illness patients, caregivers informing family of Covid admitted patients)

2. Right to access mental health care (enough community health centres, affordable, telephonic services, no discrimination on any grounds, etc)

3. Covid treatment facilities (proper advice on precautions, recreational activities for patients, proper standard of care prior to testing and hospital admission)

4. Right to protection from inhuman, cruel treatment (adequate sanitary living conditions)

5. Right to Confidentiality (respecting the dignity of every Covid patient, sharing the status and test results with family, protect patient from harm or violence)

6. Promotion of mental health and preventive programmes

7. Police personnel (training and sensitizing police officials towards mental illness patients with or without Covid)

8. Post Covid management (counselling with respect to anxiety, fear, apprehensions in precautions, follow up procedures, etc)

The entire advisory may be read here.

II. Human Rights Advisory on Rights to Women in the context of Covid 19.

The NHRC advisory on rights of women, in the context of Covid-19, was issued on October 7, 2020 to the Ministry of Women and Child development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, all States and Union Territories and was based on an impact assessment done by experts.

The NHRC advisory has suggested that sex workers should be recognised as informal workers and temporary documents should be issued to enable them to access welfare measures such as rations under the public distribution system. Ensuring access and maternal health facilities to women and girls from marginalised communities, migrants, nutritional support, continuous supply chain of medicines and equipment’s to manage safe delivery, free contraceptives has been emphasised on.

Steps to ensure access to healthcare facilities and sanitary living conditions, educating them about the pandemic, testing, concept of quarantining for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes, women in prison have been crafted by the NHRC. Other recommendations in the advisory include setting up a task force on gender-based violence to coordinate and monitor support and prevention services, providing free contraception and giving moratoriums for all loans taken by women workers.

On the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), anganwadi and sanitation workers, the advisory said the remuneration must comply with the minimum wage standards and overtime work should be compensated.

The entire advisory may be read here.

III. Human Rights Advisory on informal workers during Covid19.

On the rights of informal workers, the NHRC recommended the State Governments to set up Worker Facilitation centres at district and city level for registering all of them, providing information regarding all welfare schemes, job opportunities and skill mapping. It also said every migrant worker returning to their homes should be provided MGNREGA job cards. The Officer at the block level shall ensure safety at the worksite by providing face masks, hand gloves, sanitiser, hand wash facility, helmets (where needed) etc.

Domestic workers are required to be provided relief and be linked to Public Distribution System (PDS) and other schemes by registering them through police verification forms, Resident Welfare Association (RWA) records, and domestic workers’ collectives was also suggested by NHRC on their advisory issued on October 5, 2020 to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. A national database (portal) may be set up for all informal sector workers, including intra-state, inter-state and inter-country migrant workers to facilitate information for policy-making was also suggested.

NHRC also laid down that all complaints and cases which have been registered against migrant workers under the Disaster Management Act, for violating lockdown guidelines, may be dropped by the State Governments. In case of any arrests, the workers must be released immediately and in case of any fines, the Government may set up a helpline for restitution.

The entire advisory may be read here.

IV. Human Rights Advisory for Protection of rights of Children in the context of Covid 19.

Commission hereby issues an ‘Advisory on Protection of the Rights of Children in the context of Covid-19’ on September 29, 2020 to the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Labour and Employment.

NHRC has suggested to:

1. Explore safe and staggered re-opening of schools in view of the COVID-19 protocols. Till the schools are reopened, children may be taught in small groups; the use of various mass-media to teach children may be explored.

2. Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be followed when schools reopen including for schools used as quarantine facility.

3. Develop state guidelines and regulations that need to be followed by schools delivering online classes. Issue guidelines to regulate digital platforms including education-technology platforms offering online classes; make parents aware of available reporting/grievance redress mechanism to report instances of child abuse, bullying and issues of privacy.

4. Identify and reach the most marginalised and underprivileged and provide them access to education by employing a combination measures including exploring feasibility of daily distribution of printed material

5. Ensure health and nutrition requirements of adolescent girls through regular supply of iron supplements, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) services, menstrual hygiene products, and supplementary nutrition through Integrated Child Development Services.

6. Reports of sexual violence against children in the quarantine centres are a matter of concern. Necessary child protection protocols need to be put in place at the earliest and its compliant needs to be monitored.

7. Keeping in mind the vulnerability of and risk faced by street connected children, arrange protective gears and ensure access to health care facilities including testing and quarantine facilities as per the norms and protocols being prescribed.

The entire advisory may be read here.

V. Human Rights Advisory on Business and Human rights in the context of Covid 19.

The Commission issued this advisory on October 5, 2020 to the Ministry of Corporate affairs, MSMEs Ministry and Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises. The NHRC recommended that all companies that have been badly affected due to Covid should be allowed to adjust expenditure on salaries against their corporate social responsibility obligations for 2 years starting 2021-2022.

Businesses should also closely examine their supply chains to ensure labour trafficking is not occurring as part of the creation and distribution of products. Business continuity management as suggested that covers infrastructure, cyber, employee, business, operational and communication risks, with the aim of managing an organisation that has to face new challenges and risks and wants to ensure continuity of operations and production.

In addition to this, employers should ensure that all employees are provided with health insurance either directly or through Government, but companies should have record. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining should be respected, also as a basis for a joint employer – workers response to the crisis. It has also been advised that the employers do not terminate any employee on the ground of him/her being a COVID-19 patient or suspected patient and that the employer may, in principle, allow an employee to work from home.

The entire advisory may be read here.

VI. Human Rights Advisory on the Rights of Prisoners and Police Personnel during Covid19.

This was issued on October 5, 2020 to the Ministry of Home Affairs. On NHRCs advise, the prisoners should be provided with food to increase immunity, healthcare and testing. With respect to the Police the suggestion provided statistics. Over 1.24 lakh police officials have contracted Covid as on September 28, 2020. So, masks, gloves should be provided and lengthy conversations with motorists should be avoided by the Police. It also included advice on mental health issues that could come up recommending a well-being programme with deep breathing, yoga and nutrition.

Ensuring the availability of thermal scanners and non-contact thermometers for prompt and early detection of the contagion, especially at entry and exit locations and times was suggested to curb the spread. In particular to periodically check the health of vulnerable inmates, who are old or suffering from co-morbidities from the general population. These inmates must be identified with their individual health histories recorded and assisted to be away from the general population as well as given assistance if found ill.

For Police officers, the sanitisation of police stations, adequate supply of hygiene and safety supplies at all levels, necessary safety equipment’s based on the nature and place of duty, communicating with police persons’ families was suggested.

The entire advisory may be read here.

VII. Human Rights Advisory on Right to Food security and Nutrition in context of Covid 19.

This NHRC advisory was issued to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Women & Child Development, Ministry of Education, all States and Union Territories on September 28, 2020. Recognising the shortage of food and basic amenities due to the Global Pandemic, the NHRC had a list of suggestions for child care like:

1. Expand Public distribution system to include nutritious food like pulses, edible oil, eggs, and sugar.

2. Timely distribution of food grains must be ensured.

3. Ensure that sufficient quantity of dry rations (food grains, eggs, milk powder and medicines, etc) and take-home rations are made available to children under three years, as well as pregnant and lactating women.

4. Wherever possible reopen creche and day care facilities under national creche scheme, with proper monitoring of safety guidelines as per Ministry of Women and Child Development, so that children are protected and cared for, as poor families re-join the workforce for their incomes and sustenance.

5. Urgently restart growth monitoring and immunisation services, tracking of malnourished and SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) children, provide additional nutrition and energy DENSE food for severely malnourished children, supplementary nutrition/mid-day meals for children, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls.

6. Ensure mid-day meals to children who usually reside in social welfare hostels, tribal welfare hostels etc. but are now at home due to closure.

The entire advisory may be read here.

VIII. Human Rights Advisory on Right Health in context of Covid 19.

This advisory issued on September 28, 2020 by the NHRC to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare suggests access to transport, cashless payments, testing for all Covid and non-Covid patients, treating dead patients with dignity and respect, maintain confidentiality of all patients, safety and support to old, minors and women, counselling to home isolating patients, a grievance redressal mechanism at all levels, blood transfusion services, defined and humane working hours for healthcare givers, protection of all doctors and nurses and timely payment of salary etc.

The entire advisory may be read here. 

IX. Human Rights Advisory on Rights of Persons with Disabilities in context of Covid19.

The Commissioned had issued an advisory for differently abled people on September 28, 2020 to the Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment, Heath and Family Welfare, Education and Consumer affairs, Public Distribution System.

The NHRC has suggested that National Crime Records Bureau must record the number of People with disabilities in all states and union territories, deaf and deafblind people should be communicated about covid guidelines, inter departmental taskforce should be set up to ensure proper coordination of all rehabilitation measures for PWDs, specific appointments to be fixed for people with autism and other learning disabilities, livelihood support for all PWDs who have lost their jobs due to the Pandemic and to ensure that District Disability Rehabilitation centres must be manned with professionals for better guidance in all States and Union Territories and proper supply of food and ration to each house with PWDs.

The entire advisory may be read here.

Related

NHRC issues advisories to assess Covid-19 pandemic impact

NHRC demands report on Varavara Rao’s health

Does India uphold prisoner’s right to health

The post Covid-19: NHRC issues advisories to states and UTs appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The National Human Rights Commission issued advisories to concerned ministries and States/UTs in context of the Covid-19 pandemic on October 6, 2020.

The Committee of Experts on Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Human Rights and Future Response recommended Human Rights Advisories for rights of prisoners, police, informal workers, businesses and future response teams.

Among the aforementioned, workers were the most talked-about topic during the lockdown as thousands of people from the informal sector migrated from urban areas to their villages – a phenomenon widely reported by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) in its Migrant Diaries series. After the lockdown, the Centre failed to present relevant data to assess the impact of the pandemic on the informal sector.

Similarly, police and medical workers laboured as the forefront warriors during the pandemic. However, the government said it did not record data on the death of medical workers or sanitation workers. There were also reports of political prisoners being denied bail despite the vulnerable situation in prisons.

The NHRC created the Committee to assess the impact of the pandemic on these people and other marginalised sections that were affected disproportionately. As public servants, it is the responsibility of the government to assess the effects of the pandemic on the country.

Accordingly, the Commission also requested concerned ministries to implement the advisories’ recommendations and send a report detailing so to the NHRC. The Commission recently expressed deep concern about the rights of the vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown.

Related:

MHA: Over 200 still detained under PSA in J&K

Now, Smriti Irani says no data on anganwadi workforce!

No data, so no compensation: Centre’s shocking revelation on migrant labourer deaths!

MGNREGS under microscope: Members of Parliament ask for detailed performance report of scheme

The post NHRC issues advisories to assess Covid-19 pandemic impact appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Sherry Duggal, a naturopath and a teacher has recently produced Pandemic Dance, which is now posted on youtube. The video has generated a lot of curiosity and interest among people grappling with anxiety caused by social distancing and isolation in the time of Covid- 19.   

Through her performance punctuated with expressions of sadness and fear, Sherry makes us travel through what the real world is facing. The video ends with her hugging a tree with a sense of relaxation all over her face. That’s the key message she tries to convey. 

“That tree I actually hugged will always have a special place in my heart because it shared a moment with me. Nature speaks to you. Go out to nature”, she said during a live interview with Spice Radio. She added that Coronavirus is teaching us a lot of lessons, including why it is important to be grounded and connect with nature. 

“No matter how you are feeling. Put your foot on bare grass and bare soil and see what happens,” she said.  

According to her, nature teaches humanity about abundance and giving without asking.  She also cautioned people to be aware of their prejudices in the light of growing hate because of Covid-19. She believes that if nature does not discriminate and all races are equally affected by the pandemic then why humans should be discriminating against each other.  

Ever since Covid-19 broke out in China, there has been a spike in hate crimes against people of Asian heritage even in Vancouver. Notably, Sherry has previously made a video of her poem on racism. Titled as Between the Pages, it is also available on youtube.  

Related:

Canadian legislator honoured for standing up for Kashmir and minorities in India

The post Pandemic dance video teaches how to engage with Covid-19  appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare does not maintain data on Covid-19 deaths of medical personnel, said Minister of State Ashwini Kumar Choubey a mere day after the Centre’s declaration that it does not have a record of migrant labourer deaths.

On September 16, Rajya Sabha Members of Parliament (MP) Ravi Prakash Verma and Binoy Viswam asked Choubey for the number of doctors, nurses, ASHA workers and other health care staff who had either been affected by or died due to coronavirus.

To this the Minister of State had given the disconcerting reply of, “Health is a State subject. Such data is not maintained at Central level by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. However, database of those seeking relief under the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Insurance Package” is maintained at national level.”

This is the second time that the Centre failed to account for Covid-19-caused deaths in India.

Meanwhile, the insurance scheme only recorded 155 deaths of medical personnel from all over India. Thus, it recognises deaths of only those people whose families sought relief under the government insurance scheme. Accordingly, the data showed that as many as 21 medical personnel had died in Maharashtra with a majority of 12 deaths classified in “Others” category. Maharashtra’s official death count was closely followed by West Bengal and Gujarat with 14 deaths each. Uttar Pradesh recorded eight doctor deaths – highest number in the given data – while Telangana recorded as many as three ASHA worker deaths. Gujarat had the highest nurse, midwife, and health worker deaths at six persons.

When asked to explain why the Centre had failed to contain the spread of the disease despite early inputs from WHO and other countries, The Minister of State said that India had successfully “blunted” the spread of Covid-19 by imposing country-wide lockdown in the early stages of the pandemic. He said that the decision of lockdown had prevented roughly 14–29 lakh cases and 37–78 thousand deaths.

“India has been able to limit its cases and deaths per million to 3,328 cases per million and 55 deaths per million population respectively, which is one of the lowest in the world as compared to similarly affected countries,” said Choubey.

Regarding the Government mechanism to check concealing/ under reporting of Covid-19 deaths, he said that the Centre has advised states as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) circulated guidelines for appropriate recording of Covid-19 deaths in India.

Furthermore, he said that the Centre did not allocate funds to states for testing and treatment.

“Initially the testing equipment and kits were procured by ICMR and provided to the states. Now that the diagnostic kits and equipment are available states have been advised to procure the same,” he said.

MP Viswam also enquired about complaints from Covid-19 designated hospitals regarding protecting gear for medical staff. He also asked about government measures to protect frontline healthcare workers from the disease.

While Choubey did not talk about complaints, he said that the Centre gave the states 3.05 crore N-95 masks and 1.2 Crore PPE kits. He said hospitals and frontline workers were given guidelines on March 24 for rational use of PPEs that followed a risk-based approach and recommended  what kind of PPE should be used in high and low risk areas. Moreover, states were supported with 9.81 crore tablets of Hydroxychloroquine and 28,476 ventilators.

“The healthcare workers were provided with hydroxychloroquine for prophylaxis and prevention of infection. N-95 masks and triple / double ply masks were brought under price control. Export of PPEs, N 95 masks, triple/ double ply medical masks, goggles and visors were banned till such time we were self-reliant,” he said.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provided guidelines on Infection Prevention and Control practices as well as training programmes to states.

“States were asked to constitute Infection Prevention and Control committees. Hospitals were also to identify a nodal officer who will monitor the healthcare workers and review their exposure status. High risk exposures are placed under quarantine for 7 days. Based on their exposure/clinical profile such doctors, nursing officers and other health workers, a decision shall be taken by the Nodal Officer/Head of the Department (or his appointed Sub-committee) for further period of one week,” he said.

Lastly, he said a package of Rs 15000 crores (USD 2 Billion) under ‘India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package’ was approved by the Cabinet April 22.

Related:

No data, so no compensation: Centre’s shocking revelation on migrant labourer deaths!
SC dismisses plea seeking uniform compensation for kin of Covid victims
Shortages of doctors, blood as healthcare crisis grows in Gujarat

The post Strike 2: Centre now says no data on Covid-19 deaths of medical staff! appeared first on SabrangIndia.