According to a report in the Lancet, more than 1.6 million deaths occurred in 2021 due to air pollution, with fossil fuels like coal and natural gas responsible for 38% of them.[1] While the exact figures may vary depending on which study one relies on, one undeniable fact remains—air pollution is a critical environmental crisis.

Despite its severity, air pollution and pollution in general have not been given the prominence they deserve in public discourse. The urgency of the issue is not adequately reflected in government messaging or public awareness campaigns.

Government initiatives and implementation challenges

In January 2019, the Central Government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to improve air quality across Indian cities. The initiative aims to engage all stakeholders and reduce particulate matter concentrations. However, the effectiveness of such programs depends not just on their design but also on their implementation.

The NCAP aims to reduce air pollution across Indian cities by targeting a 40% reduction in PM10 levels by 2025-26. While some cities have shown improvements, the effectiveness of NCAP varies significantly. In Uttar Pradesh, cities like Bareilly, Rae Bareli, and Ghaziabad are projected to meet their targets, with Bareilly expected to see a 70% reduction in PM10 levels.[2] However, Gorakhpur and Prayagraj may see PM10 levels rise by 50% and 32%, respectively. A national study found no significant reduction in PM2.5 levels due to NCAP, suggesting that whatever observed improvements were likely influenced by COVID-19 lockdowns rather than policy effectiveness.[3]

Several factors impact air quality, including meteorological conditions, industrial emissions, vehicle pollution, and open biomass burning. While city-specific action plans exist, challenges such as data limitations, inconsistent implementation, and environmental complexities hinder progress. Machine learning models predict continued variations in air quality, highlighting the need for stricter regulations, enhanced emission controls, increased public awareness, and improved monitoring systems. Additionally, research suggests air quality improvements have been greater in wealthier areas, underscoring the need for policies that ensure equitable environmental benefits for all communities.[4]

More recently, many news houses reported on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Report on pollution control measures in Delhi. The report highlighted several shortcomings revealing issues with air quality monitoring stations, including improper placement—many were located near trees on multiple sides, affecting data accuracy. Additionally, concerns were raised over flawed pollution control certificate issuance.

Why is there no political will?

The core issue regarding pollution is not merely the weak implementation of pollution control measures but the lack of political will to do anything tangible about pollution. However, deeper inquiry would lead to another problem — the electorate does not make pollution the central issue.

Air pollution remains absent from the list of priority concerns for many citizens, despite its devastating health impacts. If people do not perceive it as a pressing issue, they will not demand stronger policies or hold policymakers accountable.

Why does air pollution fail to gain the public’s attention despite its deadly consequences? The answer lies in inadequate communication. The seriousness of air pollution is not being effectively conveyed to the masses, preventing it from becoming a major electoral issue.

Why is communication important?

When breast cancer survivor Fanny Rosenow attempted to place an advertisement in The New York Times for a support group, she was informed that the newspaper could not publish the words “breast” or “cancer”. Instead, the editor suggested using the phrase “diseases of the chest wall” prompting Rosenow to drop the idea. This was the early 1950s. From this to the call for the War on Cancer in the 1970s by the Nixon Administration in the US, there was a radical change in how cancer was perceived and understood by both the political class and the masses. A significant amount of this change was driven by the messaging campaigns spearheaded by philanthropist-activist Mary Lasker.[5]

Pulitzer-winning author Siddhartha Mukherjee writes in his book
The Emperor of All Maladies:

“The empire of cancer was still indubitably vast—more than half a million American men and women died of cancer in 2005—but it was losing power, fraying at its borders. What precipitated this steady decline? There was no single answer but rather a multitude. For lung cancer, the driver of decline was primarily prevention—a slow attrition in smoking sparked off by the Doll-Hill and Wynder-Graham studies, fuelled by the surgeon general’s report, and brought to its full boil by a combination of political activism (the FTC action on warning labels), inventive litigation (the Banzhaf and Cipollone cases), medical advocacy, and counter marketing (the ant tobacco advertisements).”

The takeaway from this is that messaging and creating a narrative over a problem that needs to be solved is an important if not the most necessary element in fighting the problem. India’s fight against pollution lacks this very element thus making it a difficult fight.

What do Indians think of pollution?

The discourse surrounding pollution in India has long been dominated by macro-level concerns—climate change, biodiversity loss, and long-term ecological degradation. While these issues are undeniably critical, their abstract nature often fails to resonate with the average citizen, who perceives them as distant or intangible.

For example, a 2022 study found that Indian farmers, while being aware of meteorological changes, were not informed enough to tie those changes to climate change and thus take action accordingly. [6]

The immediate health impacts of pollution—such as acute respiratory distress, cardiovascular crises, and developmental delays in children—are far more proximate and personally relevant. Reframing pollution narratives to foreground these immediate health risks can bridge the gap between scientific urgency and public mobilisation, transforming passive awareness into actionable engagement.

Limitations of current narratives 

The prevailing discourse on pollution in India often employs broad, depersonalised terminology— “respiratory diseases,” “air quality indices,” or “greenhouse gas emissions”—that obscures the lived experiences of affected individuals. For instance, while the term “respiratory diseases” is technically accurate, it lacks the specificity needed to convey the urgency of conditions such as asthma exacerbations, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or paediatric pneumonia.

Similarly, discussions of climate change tend to focus on global temperature projections or sea-level rise, which appear remote to urban residents grappling with daily air quality advisories. This abstraction creates a psychological disconnect, as individuals prioritize immediate threats over distant risks—a phenomenon well-documented in behavioural psychology.[7]

Moreover, the current narrative often frames pollution as an intractable, systemic problem, fostering a sense of fatalism rather than agency. Terms like “air pollution crisis” or “environmental degradation” evoke collective responsibility—with actionable messaging neither for the individual nor for any organized group. This passivity is exacerbated by the lack of localized, granular data on health impacts, which prevents communities from understanding their specific risks. For example, while Delhi’s annual PM2.5 levels are widely reported, few citizens are aware that exposure to these particulates increases the risk of heart attacks or that children in polluted regions face a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delays.[8] [9]

Additionally, both the narrative and the solutions to air pollution are city-centric. This approach has relegated Delhi’s Air Pollution issue, for example, to be an issue of the people of Delhi, and its government whereas in reality, it is the issue of the whole of northern India. Experts have recommended mitigation of pollution at an air shed level instead of political boundaries, but that recommendation has not been paid attention to by the governments.[10]

The imperative of immediate health impact narratives 

To overcome these limitations, pollution narratives must pivot to emphasize immediate, localized health risks. Such a shift aligns with the principles of risk communication, which prioritizes clarity, specificity, and personal relevance. By highlighting the direct consequences of pollution—e.g., “exposure to PM2.5 increases your risk of a heart attack this month” or “children in this neighbourhood face a higher risk of asthma attacks”—communicators can evoke responses that will call for accountability from the administration.

For example, in a study that examined the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of the USA, it was found that people who believed that their chance of getting cancer is high due to pollution were more likely to worry about the harms of Indoor and Outdoor pollution.[11]

Cases in Delhi and Mumbai demonstrate that spikes in PM2.5 levels correlate with an increase in hospital admissions for respiratory distress.[12] Framing pollution as a trigger for acute health crises—rather than a chronic risk—can shift the perception of people.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to endothelial dysfunction and thrombosis, increasing the likelihood of myocardial infarction.[13] Communicating this risk in terms of “increased heart attack risk” can resonate with middle-aged populations, who may perceive cardiovascular health as a personal priority.

Prenatal exposure to PM2.5 is associated with low birth weight and cognitive delays, with affected children scoring lower on developmental milestones by age two and three.[14] Framing pollution as a threat to children’s futures can mobilize parental action.

Older adults with diabetes or hypertension face amplified risks from pollution, including accelerated cognitive decline and cardiovascular complications.[15] Targeted messaging to caregivers and healthcare providers can amplify awareness of these vulnerabilities.

Flip the narrative, draw in attention

Narrative and design, both are crucial to effectively reframe pollution narratives. Here’s how:

1. Localisation and personalisation: Make it about the person, local communities. Tailor messages to specific demographics and geographies. For example, in agricultural regions, emphasise the link between crop burning and paediatric asthma; in urban centres, highlight the cardiovascular risks of vehicular emissions. Use localised data—e.g., “In your district, pollution causes 500 hospitalisations annually”—to enhance relevance.

2. Behavioural Triggers: Pair health risks with actionable solutions.

For instance,

“Wearing an N95 mask reduces your PM2.5 exposure by 95%”

Or

“Switching to public transport can lower your heart attack risk by 10%.”

Such messages empower individuals with tangible steps, reducing perceived helplessness.  This would also enable the public to call for better transport systems.

3. Emotional Engagement: Leverage storytelling to humanize the issue. Profiles of affected families can evoke empathy and urgency. Media partnerships and social campaigns can amplify these narratives, fostering collective identity around pollution mitigation.

The challenge

India’s pollution crisis demands urgent public engagement, yet the entities best positioned to initiate messaging face significant barriers. The government, ostensibly responsible for leading communication, has failed to translate initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) into actionable, localized health advisories. NCAP’s focus on technical targets (e.g., PM10 reductions) lacks clarity on immediate health risks like heart attacks or asthma exacerbations, while political fragmentation and opaque data (e.g., poorly placed air quality monitors) erode public trust.

Organisations of citizens and civil society (CSOs), which could bridge this gap, are increasingly stifled. Government crackdowns—such as revoking Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licenses and labelling activists as “anti-national”—have crippled their ability to operate with better efficiency.

Mainstream media, another potential messenger, is compromised by ownership ties to polluting industries. Corporations that profit from fossil fuels, construction etc. often control news outlets, leading to biased or minimal coverage of pollution’s health impacts. Sensationalist reporting during Delhi’s smog crises, for instance, prioritizes political blame over data-driven narratives on cardiovascular risks.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, meanwhile, are undermined by conflicts of interest. The largest CSR spenders in environmental campaigns—such as energy conglomerates or construction firms—are often the biggest polluters. Their messaging, even when well-intentioned, risks green-washing, as seen in superficial “sustainability” ads that avoid addressing root causes like coal dependency or vehicular emissions.

In this landscape, very few credible, independent entities can consistently convey pollution’s health risks to the public. This usually leads to a communication void, leaving most citizens unaware of actionable steps to protect their health or demand policy accountability.

How do we overcome?

To address the lack of effective public messaging on pollution, it is crucial to empower grassroots leaders and enable community-driven initiatives that can advocate for change with political influence. Rather than relying solely on government agencies, civil society organizations, or corporate-backed campaigns—many of which face restrictions or conflicts of interest—mobilising of affected communities can create bottom-up pressure for policy action.

One approach is to engage farmers’ organisations by highlighting how climate change contributes to lower crop yields and how sustainable practices can help mitigate pollution. Similarly, student-led movements in schools and colleges can foster long-term engagement by equipping young citizens to push for policy reforms. Self-help groups led by women can serve as powerful advocacy networks, spreading awareness at the grassroots level. Auto-rickshaw drivers and urban workers, who are disproportionately exposed to poor air quality, can be mobilized to demand cleaner transportation policies. Low-income city dwellers, who lack access to air purifiers or private healthcare, can be organized to push for better pollution control measures. By harnessing these diverse networks, a broad and powerful coalition can be built to demand transparent air quality data, stricter enforcement of pollution controls, and citizen-focused policies that put public health first.

The driving force behind this movement should be community leaders, supported by civil society organisations and even political stakeholders. This is an opportunity for genuine grassroots leadership to emerge—one that rises to confront a pressing and tangible crisis.

What we need is an immediate coalition for change

To amplify grassroots efforts, technology and data must be democratised. Mobile apps and community-led air quality monitoring initiatives can provide hyper-localised data, enabling citizens to track pollution levels in real-time and understand immediate health risks. For instance, low-cost sensors deployed in schools and hospitals can generate actionable insights, such as linking spikes in PM2.5 to asthma exacerbations in children, empowering parents and educators to demand accountability.

Education is another critical lever. Integrating pollution’s health impacts into school curricula can cultivate a generation of informed advocates. Student-led projects, such as mapping pollution sources in their neighbourhoods or organizing drives to call for action, can foster agency and long-term engagement. Similarly, vocational training programs for urban workers—auto-rickshaw drivers, street vendors—can include modules on air quality awareness, equipping them to advocate for cleaner transportation policies.

Policy reforms must align with grassroots momentum. Governments could incentivize community-based initiatives through grants or tax breaks. Moreover, cross-sector collaboration is vital. Universities can partner with NGOs to conduct localized health studies.

Our narrative, the power of the narrative

Reframing India’s pollution crisis as a public health emergency, rather than an abstract environmental issue, is the linchpin to meaningful action. By prioritizing immediate, localized health risks—such as heart attacks, asthma attacks, and developmental delays—communicators can bridge the gap between scientific data and public mobilization. Grassroots movements, armed with technology, education, and policy support, can transform passive awareness into collective action, compelling policymakers to prioritize health over political or economic interests.

The fight against pollution is not merely about cleaner air; it is about reclaiming agency. When citizens perceive pollution as a direct threat to their families and communities, they become powerful advocates for change. India’s battle against this silent killer will be won not through top-down mandates alone, but through a bottom-up revolution—one narrative, one neighbourhood, and one life at a time.

(The author is a legal researcher with the organisation)

[1] Team, E. (2024). Human-caused air pollution led to 1.6 million deaths in 2021 in India:  Lancet report. [online] Carbon Copy. Available at: https://carboncopy.info/human-caused-air-pollution-led-to-1-6-million-deaths-in-2021-in-india-lancet-report/#:~:text=Policy%20and%20Finance-,Human%2Dcaused%20air%20pollution%20led%20to%201.6%20million%20deaths,2021%20in%20India%3A%20Lancet%20report&text=According%20to%20the%202024%20Report,%E2%82%85)%20in%202021. [Accessed 27 Feb. 2025].‌

[2] Bera, O.P., Venkatesh, U., Pal, G.K., Shastri, S., Chakraborty, S., Grover, A. and Joshi, H.S. (2024). Assessing the impact of the National Clean Air Programme in Uttar Pradesh’s non-attainment cities: a prophet model time series analysis. The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, [online] 30, pp.100486–100486. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2024.100486.

[3] Kawano, A., Kelp, M., Qiu, M., Singh, K., Chaturvedi, E., Dahiya, S., Azevedo, I. and Burke, M. (2025). Improved daily PM _2.5 estimates in India reveal inequalities in recent enhancement of air quality. Science Advances, [online] 11(4). doi:https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq1071.

[4] Anjum Hajat, Hsia, C. and O’Neill, M.S. (2015). Socioeconomic Disparities and Air Pollution Exposure: a Global Review. Current Environmental Health Reports, [online] 2(4), pp.440–450. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-015-0069-5.

[5] Mukherjee, S., 2010. The emperor of all maladies: a biography of cancer. Simon and Schuster.

[6] Datta, P., Bhagirath Behera and Dil Bahadur Rahut (2022). Climate change and Indian agriculture: A systematic review of farmers’ perception, adaptation, and transformation. Environmental Challenges, [online] 8, pp.100543–100543. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100543.

[7] Mariconti, C. (2011). Understanding the Disconnect on Global Warming. APS Observer, [online] 22. Available at: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/understanding-the-disconnect-on-global-warming [Accessed 27 Feb. 2025].‌

[8] Krittanawong, C., Qadeer, Y.K., Hayes, R.B., Wang, Z., Thurston, G.D., Virani, S. and Lavie, C.J. (2023). PM2.5 and cardiovascular diseases: State-of-the-Art review. International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention, [online] 19, p.200217. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcrp.2023.200217.

[9] UNICEF(2017), Danger in the Air: How air pollution can affect brain development in young children, Division of Data, Research and Policy, Available at: https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/press-releases/glo-media-Danger_in_the_Air.pdf

[10] Sirur, S. (2023). Exploring airshed management as a solution to India’s pollution woes. [online] Mongabay-India. Available at: https://india.mongabay.com/2023/09/exploring-airshed-management-as-a-solution-to-indias-pollution-woes/ [Accessed 27 Feb. 2025].

[11] Ammons, S., Aja, H., Ghazarian, A.A., Lai, G.Y. and Ellison, G.L. (2022). Perception of worry of harm from air pollution: results from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). BMC Public Health, [online] 22(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13450-z.

[12] Chakraborty, R. (2024). Mumbai’s poor AQI and erratic temperatures fuel respiratory ailments. [online] The Indian Express. Available at: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/poor-aqi-temperatures-respiratory-ailments-9747736/ [Accessed 27 Feb. 2025].

[13] Basith, S., Manavalan, B., Shin, T.H., Park, C.B., Lee, W.-S., Kim, J. and Lee, G. (2022). The Impact of Fine Particulate Matter 2.5 on the Cardiovascular System: A Review of the Invisible Killer. Nanomaterials, [online] 12(15), p.2656. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12152656.‌

[14] Hurtado-Díaz, M., Riojas-Rodríguez, H., Rothenberg, S.J., Schnaas-Arrieta, L., Itai Kloog, Just, A., Hernández-Bonilla, D., Wright, R.O. and Téllez-Rojo, M.M. (2021). Prenatal PM2.5 exposure and neurodevelopment at 2 years of age in a birth cohort from Mexico city. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, [online] 233, pp.113695–113695. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113695.

[15] Li, N., Chen, G., Liu, F., Mao, S., Liu, Y., Liu, S., Mao, Z., Lu, Y., Wang, C., Guo, Y., Xiang, H. and Li, S. (2020). Associations between long-term exposure to air pollution and blood pressure and effect modifications by behavioral factors. Environmental Research, [online] 182, p.109109. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.109109.

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This worrying statistic highlights the region’s need for inclusive and accessible healthcare services. This alarming number also serves as a reminder for the pressing need for comprehensive, cost-effective healthcare services in the region.

Menstrual health problems and vaginal health problems are the two broad and basic categories into which the said issues faced by north eastern women can be divided into. According to the survey, 55% of respondents experience menstrual health problems, with Polycystic Ovarian Disorder (PCOD) being the most common amongst them, which affects 36% of women. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), which affects 12% of women, was another major issue faced by the women of north east when it came to menstrual health.

In terms of vaginal health, Pelvic Inflammatory Disorder (PID) affects 24% of women. Notably, PID is an infection of the reproductive system that can lead to infertility, pelvic discomfort, and other issues. The survey further provided that 18% of women in the area were affected by candidiasis, a fungus that is often known as a yeast infection.

Further dissecting the survey findings, 56% of women from North East suffer from or have suffered from menstrual health issues and 42% of the women suffer from or have suffered from vaginal health issues. The survey saw the participation of 85% of women above the age 35 years and 15% who are below the age 35 years.

Vishal Gupta, Founder Gynoveda, who co-developed the period test along with the doctors shared, “This is the largest menstrual and vaginal health survey conducted by any Indian brand. It has been thoughtfully designed to enable women to provide data about their intimate health in a private and confidential manner. This survey enables us to develop authentic and accessible Ayurvedic solutions to help women gain freedom from these problems.

Northeast women not alone, another survey highlighted the need for awareness of menstrual hygiene for women in Srinagar:

In June 2023, Dr. Auqfeen Nisar, a doctor at the Government Medical College in Srinagar, conducted a study that shed light on the alarming fact that more than 60% of women in Srinagar still used, and primarily relied on, cloth for their menstrual health care. While cost is frequently cited as a barrier, it was provided by the doctor that the most significant challenge that poses women in Srinagar was a lack of awareness and understanding regarding the need of utilising sanitary napkins.

Dr. Nisar’s hospital-based surveys revealed that only around half of the women surveyed were using sanitary napkins. Even among those who did use pads, there was a common ignorance of their importance. It was provided that without understanding the health advantages they provided, many women resorted to wearing pads merely because they were readily available.

 “Many women are using pads simply because they are available, but they do not understand the importance of using them,” Dr. Nisar explained to FeminismInIndia.

Dr. Nisar underlined the necessity of community awareness campaigns to educate women about menstrual hygiene in order to tackle this critical issue. She also exhorted the government to provide better quality pads at affordable prices. Although the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced a scheme promoting menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in rural areas, doctors argue that it has not reached enough women. They call for increased awareness of the scheme and enhanced accessibility to sanitary napkins as provided by the FII. 

“The government should provide good quality pads at affordable prices so that women can switch to using them. This will help to keep them away from infections and other health problems,” Dr. Nisar emphasised, as provided by FII.

Dr. Nisar also highlighted the potential health risks associated with cloth usage during menstruation. Cloth can harbour bacteria and harmful microorganisms, leading to infections. Sanitary napkins, on the other hand, provide a safer option for women. The government’s role is crucial in educating women about these risks and making sanitary napkins more affordable for all.

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New Delhi: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is a component under Ayushman Bharat launched by the government to support the economically weaker section (EWS) to avail of healthcare services. The PMJAY scheme was launched in September 2018 to provide health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh to about 50 crore beneficiaries.

However, a detailed analysis of the PMJAY has shown that those most vulnerable – whether in terms of state communities or gender – have not been able to use it as well as the relatively better off. The analysis was published in Lancet Regional Health —South East Asia and done by researchers from Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune and Duke University School of Medicine, in the US. The study looked at the 2018–2022 period.

The study cited a 2021 national household survey that showed that awareness and enrolment levels were the lowest among households in the poorest 40% of the population. “Thus, overall, the scheme is failing to target the most vulnerable population,” it stated.

The vulnerable population groups, e.g. Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the Islamic population, and families with children and elderly, have higher cases of Catastrophic Health Expenditure (CHE) a situation where health spending exceeds 10% of a household’s consumption expenditure. Also, the incidence of Impoverishing Health Expenditure (IHE) is higher in rural areas and poorer states compared to urban areas and wealthier states.

The inequities are reflected in the supply and utilisation of services under PMJAY. To assess equity in PMJAY’s supply-side components, the study measured the number and distribution of empanelled hospitals. Information about supply-side components like medical equipment, drugs, and health workforce was unavailable. To assess utilisation-side components of PMJAY, they measured claim volumes, claim values, and enrollment rates.

The report states that states with higher poverty headcounts and disease burdens have a higher need for PMJAY and vice versa. However, the utilisation of claim volume and value is higher in states with lesser needs, e.g. Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, and lesser in states with higher requirements, like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam. “This discrepancy in need vs utilisation is due to poor supply-side factors, including a low number of empanelled hospitals, an inefficient beneficiary identification system, and weak health governance in states with greater poverty and disease burdens. A similar pattern is seen at the district level, where socio-economically backward districts (also known as aspirational districts) have lower beneficiary identification rates, the total number of claims, and total claim amounts than non-aspirational districts. The majority of aspirational districts are located in Jharkhand, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh,” the report states.

The report further states that enrollment under the scheme is almost equal for males (50.8%) and females (49.2%) nationally. However, the total number (volume) and value of claims are higher for males than females (51.5% and 56.4% vs 48.5% and 43.6%, respectively). Out of the top 50 procedures in PMJAY, 60% of procedures are utilised more by males and 30% are utilised more by females.

SC and ST groups are considered the two most vulnerable in India and are, therefore, eligible for PMJAY. “Overall, these groups comprise approximately 28% of India’s population. However, there is little information to understand the utilisation. At the national level, SC and ST populations have contributed to only 5% and 2% of private hospital admissions, respectively, since the scheme’s inception,” the report states.

The report concludes that PMJAY has been updated in several aspects, including a larger population, services and cost coverages, awareness creation, and monitoring and evaluation. However, it still lags in binding domains like equity in supply and utilisation, targeting vulnerable populations, including outpatient coverage, and dynamic cost coverage. “The inequitable supply and utilisation affect the most vulnerable groups. It risks creating a spiral where the most deprived classes can fall into further deprivation. PMJAY should work on the above-discussed shortfalls, which will need an increase in supply-response regarding healthcare infrastructure and services and an overall increment in GHE,” it states.

Courtesy: Newsclick

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In a significant move batting for Right to Health of prisoners, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to establish Primary Health Centres (PHC) in prison premises to maintain the health of prisoners. 

The bench of Justices Sheel Nagu and Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava made this observation while dealing with the request of a convict to extend his suspension of sentence so that he can get good medical care for his ailments. The court found that many such application were being filed before it for want of good medical facilities in prisons and it has thus vouched for better health care facilities in prisons while upholding the human rights of prisoners.

This is the fourth application filed by the appellant under section 389(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for grant of suspension of his sentence. He was convicted for murder in 2017. His sentences was suspended in June for 90 days and that period effectively ending on September 11, he was seeking extension of the same. His counsel argued that he was 65 years old and suffering from heart ailment that required further treatment. He submitted that continuous treatment and monitoring for his heart ailment is necessary which is not available in prison. He also stated that effective transport system for seriously ill patients (prisoners) from jail to hospital is also not available.

The court thus granted him the extension of another 90 days. However, the court also observed that many such applications were being filed mentioning grounds for medical treatment for releasing prisoners. The court observed that the ratio of doctors in prisons is very low. It also observed that primary healthcare facilities are not available in jail dispensaries and also secured transportation to hospital outside jail premises is not available.

The court has thus advised the state government to provide primary health services to the prisoners by keeping their records up-to date and to ensure that at least one primary health center should be established in jail campus having facilities to treat the ailments relating to heart, kidney, liver etc. The court has also asked the state to ensure that Specialist/Experts relating to aforesaid various ailments be provided in such primary health center to the prisoners.

The court also drew attention to the Supreme Court judgement in Parmanand Katara vs. Union of India & Ors.[AIR 1989 SC 2039] whereby, various directions have been given for the betterment of medical facilities in jail custody.

“Under the Constitution of India, role of judiciary in protecting the rights of the prisoners has been specified and judiciary has an obligation and a constitutional role to protect human rights of citizen as per the mandate of the Constitution. The prisoners are also human beings and their human rights are required to be safeguarded, as observed in the judgment passed by the Apex Court in the case of Hussainara Khatoon & Ors. vs. Home Secretary, State of Bihar:[AIR 1979 SC 1369],” the court observed.

The court has sought a detailed report from the state on these lines and the matter has been listed for first week of October.

The complete order may be read here:

Prisoners and right to health

The Model Prison manual, 2016 released by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) enumerates rights of prisoners which includes health under ‘right to basic minimum needs’ which states that prisoners have “Right to fulfillment of basic minimum needs such as adequate diet, health, medical care and treatment, access to clean and adequate drinking water, access to clean and hygienic conditions of living accommodation, sanitation and personal hygiene, adequate clothing, bedding and other equipment.” Under the heading of “housing”, the manual states that “All accommodation provided for use of prisoners, particularly for sleeping, will meet basic requirements of healthy living.”

Under section 4.07.4, it puts the onus of medical care and health of prisoners on the medical personnel within prisons. It states that the medical personnel must “ensure the maintenance of minimum standards of hygienic conditions in the prison premises”. Medical care includes preventive care, curative care as well as general care with respect to admission in prison hospital. In Chapter VII titled “Medical Care”, the manual gives detailed guidelines on management of prison hospitals and what speciality of doctors should be available in such hospitals.

Under various sub-headings, the manual deals with the duties of the Chief Medical Officer which includes daily visits to prisons, attending to special needs of aged prisoners, treatment of drug addicts, control of diets and so on.

The complete analysis on Prisoners’ right to health may be read here.

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Right to health: Obligations of the State

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Dr. Varavara Rao, the Telugu poet accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, has approached the Bombay High Court for extension of his medical bail and also seeking permissions to reside in his home in Telangana, on the grounds that he is still ailing and has not flouted any bail conditions.

While the court, when it granted bail of 6 months, had stated that he was free to be discharged from Nanavati Hospital, it directed that Rao cannot leave the jurisdiction of Mumbai. In his current plea he has mentioned that it is very difficult for him staying with his 72-year-old wife in Mumbai, away from his home, as the same is unaffordable in terms of living expenses and health services. The court is likely to hear the plea on September 6. 

It is pertinent to note that out of all the accused in Bhima Koregaon case, Rao is the only one who has been granted such temporary bail, while others continue to languish in prison. Fr. Stan Swamy who was 84 years of age, died on July 5 in his many attempts to seek freedom from jail. 

In February, the Bombay High Court had granted medical bail to Rao owing to his deteriorating health in the past one year and while also taking into consideration his advanced age.

He was admitted to the hospital multiple times over to various reasons including contracting Covid-19 and some infections, and he was finally granted bail after the court took a humanitarian view towards his condition.

Rao was arrested in August 2018 but was remanded to house arrest until November 2018, when he was taken to Pune. It was alleged that Rao was a member of banned organisation-Communist Party of India (Maoist) and was actively involved in arranging funding and providing arms and ammunition to the organisation to wage war against the established Government.

Health condition

While granting him bail for 6 months, the court had perused the many hospital admissions of Rao and the many ailments he suffered from while referring to his medical records from the hospitals. They considered that apart from other ailments, Rao suffered from cerebral atrophy which may be age induced, and that he has suffered from bouts of delirium induced by electrolyte imbalances. The court held that there can be no doubt that Rao would face acceleration and intensification of ailments if he continues to remain in custody.

Even though the Hospital where he was admitted deemed him fit for discharge, the court took the view that condition of old age, sickness, infirmity and multiple health ailments suffered by him indicate that his continued custody would be incompatible with his health conditions and that sending him back to Taloja Central Prison would amount to endangering his life, thereby violating his fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The court was inclined to grant bail to Rao while observing, “With all humility at our command, keeping in view human consideration, the well recognized fundamental rights of the undertrial to have quality medical aid for serious ailments suffered by him, advanced age, inadequate facilities in the hospital attached to the Taloja Central Prison, we are of the opinion that this is a genuine and fit case to grant relief; or else, we will be abdicating our constitutional duty and function as a protector of human rights and right to health covered under right to life guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India”.

Related:

Fr Stan Swamy’s death highlights the need to repeal UAPA
Bhima Koregaon case: 3 accused test Covid positive at Taloja jail
Have the courts not learnt anything about medical bail?

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Adivasi rights activist and Jesuit Priest Father Stan Swamy has finally been given the first dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 today. This despite the fact that the 84 year old who has multiple comorbidity issues has been eligible to take the vaccine since March 1, 2021. He was reportedly denied the vaccine earlier as he did not have his Aadhaar Card!

According to the legal team, academic Anand Teltumde, who is also a fellow accused in the Bhima Koregaon case was also administered the first dose of the Covid vaccine.

Meanwhile, Father Stan’s health has been constantly deteriorating in Taloja Jail and his friends say that he has not received adequate medical treatment. During a press conference on May 15, Father Xavier, Father Stan’s contact in jail, said that Father Stan has an enormous ability to bear pain and hardly complains, but of late he has been complaining of pain.

The 84-year-old priest’s bail was rejected in March on grounds that there was prima facie evidence against him and that the collective interest of the community outweighs his personal liberty and also the “alleged sickness” he suffers. 

As he has appealed against this decision in the Bombay High Court, his lawyer has also filed a note in the court about his deteriorating medical conditions and the inadequacy of medical facilities in Taloja. 

Fr Stan’s application for grant of medical bail comes up on Wednesday before the Bombay High Court.

Failing health of Father Stan

The note states how Father Stan has been unwell with a cough, fever, an upset stomach and a feeling of weakness. Afflicted with the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease and debilitating tremors in both arms almost impairs him from accomplishing basic and essential daily tasks such as eating food, drink water and putting on clothes and taking bath, without the assistance of fellow inmates.

Parkinson’s has also affected his ability to walk and he also took a fall in the bathroom. He has also been suffering from episodes of memory loss. He has difficulty remembering names and faces and is more often than not unable to recognise someone who he has met in the past and needs to be reminded of his earlier encounters with the said person.

He is also hard of hearing and despite using a hearing aid, he has been unable to follow conversations with multiple people as he can only comprehend conversations wherein the speaker talks slowly, distinctly and loudly and by recognising lip movements.

He also has debilitating arthritis, which makes it difficult for him to get up from the floor or sit cross legged. Though the cot and the western toilet provided by the jail staff has helped him, he still requires constant massages of his knee joints to ensure that the pain emanating from the said joints does not increase.

Father Stan, who was arrested in October last year, has been in the Hospital Ward of Taloja Central Prison owing to his advanced age and medical history. Professor Hany Babu, co accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, was also in the same ward and tested positive for Covid on May 13. There is a high chance that Father Stan would have contracted the infection.

By an order dated May 4, 2021, the Bombay High Court had directed the authorities to provide a medical update report of Stan Swamy by May 15 with an advance copy to Father Swamy’s lawyer. However, till date the same has not been supplied.

Present medical treatment

The priest has been prescribed Plempt-2/Pacitane, Ciplar-40, Mysoline 250 (which has been replaced by Gardenal 60) by his neurologist in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The note states that it appears that the medical staff at the prison have prescribed him Ole-5 and Es-Trim-10. It is pertinent to note that while Ole-5 is an antipsychotic drug used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and mania, he has never been diagnosed with these illnesses.

Unfortunately, muscle stiffness, tremors and uncontrolled muscle movements are common side effects of Ole-5 and thus, it is possible that the medication being administered to him may exacerbate his mobility-related symptoms arising out of the severe Parkinson’s.

As he developed a fever, severe headaches, cough and diarrhoea, he is being treated by one of the Ayurveda practitioners at Taloja Central Prison. Father Stan has been prescribed antibiotics by the said doctor, who is not even a practitioner of allopathic medicine.

Abysmal conditions in Taloja jail

The appeal filed by Father Stan states that his medical state should be seen in context of the abysmal conditions of the medical facilities and lack of adequate medical practitioners at Taloja Central Prison. According to the data maintained by the Maharashtra Prison Department, Taloja Prison can officially house only 2,124 inmates.

In an affidavit filed by the ADG of Prison before the Hon’ble High Court in PUCL versus State of Maharashtra, they should essentially house only two third of the official prison capacity which would be equivalent to 1,416 inmates. However, according to Maharashtra State Prison website on April 23, 2021, Taloja Prison houses 3,251 inmates.

Under the Maharashtra Prisons (Prison Hospital) Amendment Rules 2015, prisons should have a Chief Medical Officer (in the rank of Civil Surgeon with Post Graduate Qualification), Medical Officers (in the rank of Assistant Civil Surgeons), Staff Nurses (Male or Female), Pharmacists (Compounders), Male or female Nursing Assistants, Laboratory Technicians (to be trained in handling all equipment including ECG and X-ray machine and Psychiatric Counsellors. Instead, Taloja Hospital has a total of only 3 persons, all of whom are practitioners in Ayurveda.

There are no staff nurses, no pharmacists/compounder, no nursing assistants, no laboratory technicians and no medical specialist (general medicine, dentistry or gynaecologist. There are no psychiatrist counsellors employed. Thus, the plea states that practically none of the requirements for the hospital staff in jail as stipulated in the Maharashtra Prison Manual are complied with.

Necessity to release Father Stan on medical bail

His life is under imminent threat due to his pre-existing medical condition, advanced ages, lack of medical facilities at Taloja and a pandemic that has breached the prison walls and has already infected a fellow inmate who was sharing the same hospital ward where he was also being treated.

It is also amply clear that the trial in the Elgar Parishad- Bhima Koregaon case is going to take a long time, and the same has been acknowledged by the High Court while granting bail to Dr. Varvara Rao. The court had also noted that an undertrial cannot be incarcerated for such a long time when it is a known fact that 200 witnesses are yet to be examined.

Father Stan’s lawyer has also suggested his house arrest under section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The appeal refers to a latest Supreme Court order of May 12, 2021, where it has held that under section 167, the court may order house arrest in cases where the criteria like age, health condition and the antecedents of the accused, the nature of the crime, the need for other forms of custody and the ability to enforce the terms of the house arrest, may be taken into account.

Thus, given his medical history, age and the fact that the National Investigation Agency has never sought his custody, makes him uniquely positioned for house arrest. Father Stan’s bail plea is pending before the High Court and the next hearing is due on May 19.

The medical note may be read here: 

Related:

Indian courts and Medical Bail
Covid-19 a virtual death sentence, new persecution tool against Bhima-Koregaon accused
Father Stan Swamy moves Bombay HC for bail

The post Father Stan Swamy finally gets first Covid shot, health continues to deteriorate in jail appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Concerned over his sinking health, Telugu revolutionary poet Varavara Rao’s wife, Pendaya Hemlatha, has moved the Supreme Court seeking the release of her husband on medical grounds. The 81-year-old renowned literary critic was arrested in the Elgar Parishad case in 2018, and is still lodged at the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai. 

On Thursday, his wife in her writ petition seeking his release has stated that his continued custody amounts to cruel and inhuman treatment, violating Article 21 of the Constitution of India and is violative of his dignity in custody, reported the legal new portal LiveLaw. Filed on behalf of Senior Advocate Sunil Fernandes, the writ petition preferred under Article 32 of the Constitution states that “Rao’s immediate release is pertinent from Taloja Central Jail, Maharashtra as his health condition is very feeble and that he suffers from various comorbidities,” stated the news report.

SabrangIndia had reported in detail when his condition was critical and he had to be hospitalised in July this year. He had also tested positive for Covid-19, and the National Human Rights Commission had even issued notices to Maharashtra Chief Secretary and Director General (Prisons) seeking his health reports.

According to his wife he still may be suffering from the after effects of Covid-19, as he is of frail  health and has various comorbidities.  “….there is no positive treatment for Covid-19 and the infection continues to spread viciously and neither there is any vaccine nor is there any medicine to arrest the said disease,” stated the petition, as quoted by LiveLaw. According to the plea, a letter dated September 9 that the family received from co-accused Vernon Gonsalves also stated that Rao’s health was far from normal.

Gonsalves wrote that Rao now lacks bowel and urine control, and has a catheter urine bag attached, he also has to use diapers and is being given swab baths by the co-accused “as he is basically bed-ridden”. The said letter added that when Rao was sent to judicial custody in November 2018, he weighed around 68 kgs and now  weighs 50 kgs only. 

“Thus, there is no purpose in detaining him in prison any further,” the plea states. According to LiveLaw, the petition added that Varavarao Rao is now 81 years old and the question that would arise is whether the jail would have necessary facilities to take care of him. “The treatment meted out to Dr. Varavara impairs the Right to Health recognized under Article 12 of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) which is read with Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The rights enshrined under ICCPR and ICESCR have to be read with Article 21 and other rights under Chapter III of the Constitution of India”, stated the plea.

LiveLaw reports that under the mandate prescribed under Section 21(2) of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, the appeal should be disposed of within three months from the date of its admission. The appeal added that since the “chance of commencement of trial in the immediate future is bleak and charges are yet to be framed and there is no bar to grant bail on health grounds under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act or the National Investigation Act, his release can basis temporary bail can be granted.”

“The Respondents are solely responsible for the deterioration of the Petitioner’s husband’s health by denying timely and proper medical treatment to ensure that there is no deterioration in his condition. The discharge of the Petitioner’s husband from J.J. Hospital on 01.06.2020  is itself was wrongful denying him rightful treatment which the Respondents are bound in law to provide,” the report quoted the petitioners. Rao’s wife has also sought that he be allowed to travel to Hyderabad to be with his family and loved ones.

Dr Rao, has been accused under Sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 18-B, 20, 38, 39, 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and sections: 121, 121-A, 124- A, 153-A, 505 (1) (b), 117, 120-B r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code. 

Related:

Sudha Bharadwaj’s heart condition result of incarceration, family & friends urge early 
NHRC demands report on Varavara Rao’s health, jail condition
Save his life: Poets and writers appeal to President of India to help Varavara Rao
Varavara Rao tests Covid-19 positive!
Varavara Rao is in hospital today, but the risk to his life is not over: Family
Don’t Kill Varavara Rao in Jail!

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Friends and family of trade unionist Sudha Bharadwaj allege jail authorities’ tampering of medical reports in an open letter, following Bombay High Court’s denial of Bharadwaj’s medical bail on Friday August 28.

Calling her latest medical report “misleading,” the letter said, “This dismissal of bail based on fallacious [sic] medical report is extremely disappointing to friends and family of Sudha Bharadwaj, who have been very concerned about her deteriorating health condition.”

In support of the dissidents presently in jail, over 70 organizations have issued a National Call for a week of protest from August 28, to demand the release of those arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case as well as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) protestors, journalists and to ask for the repeal of draconian acts like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA.)

On June 11, Sudha Bharadwaj moved the Bombay High Court for a medical bail. As per her application, the sexagenarian suffers from diabetes, hypertension, and has a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, making her vulnerable to a Covid-19 infection. The application also said she suffers from a variation of arthritis that makes movement difficult.

In response, the Byculla Women’s jail authorities submitted a medical report on July 21 that confirmed the same. The report also showed that her aggravated hypertension put her at risk of a heart attack.  This was reiterated in a second medical report submitted on August 3 which has caused great concern to her family and friends. However, the third medical report on August 21 did not take note either of her heart condition or of her arthritis which it dismissed as “body ache.”

Daughter Maaysha Bharadwaj said the decision of the Division Bench is a travesty of justice. She said it is ironic that her mother who spent her lifetime helping the marginalized communities and upholding Constitutional rights is denied the basic right to bail, while those convicted of murder enjoy relaxed parole rules.

Like Bharadwaj, there are 12 well-known intellectuals, professors, writers etc in jail in connection with this case. 

Related:

Sudha Bharadwaj’s heart condition result of incarecration
Civil Society members request Maha CM to shift Bhima Koregaon activists out of jail  

The post Denial of medical bail is gross injustice: Friends of Sudha Bharadwaj appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Still in the dark about the health status of jailed poet Varavara Rao, his wife P. Hemalatha and daughters P. Sahaja, P. Anala, P. Pavana have yet again used the one power they have… words. The four women have now written to Maharashtra Home Minister (with copy to Addl Director General of Prisons) seeking an update on Rao’s health. It has been 12 days and they are yet to hear anything from the authorities. All the information they have so far is what they have read or heard in the media.

Eighty-year-old Rao has been ailing from multiple illnesses for a while now. To add to all that, he is now suffering from Covid-19, which he may have contracted in Taloja jail, is in hospital and the family is in hyderabad with no updates on him.

On Monday evening his septuagenarian wife, stressed to the point of falling ill herself, wrote an emotional letter to Maharashtra Home MinisterAnil Deshmukh, requesting updates on the poet’s health. The family says they were compelled to write to the home minister because they have been denied any information about his health condition or the line of treatment being given to Rao, at Nanavati Hospital for the last 12 days. 

“We are extremely worried and anxious to know about his health. We are writing to you since he is lodged in a jail under your ministry as an under-trial prisoner and it is your bounden duty to look after his well-being,” they write. They reminded the minister that it was also his “duty to inform his family in case of any problem to his health, as per the Charter of Patient Rights prepared by Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.” The added, “You should appreciate that we as family of an ailing, 80-year old prisoner admitted in a hospital as a tested positive Covid patient, have every right to know about his status and line of treatment.”

Rao’s family asserts that this is not only their legal right, but also “a right based on principles of natural justice. We hope you will understand the anxiety of a family who is kept in dark for 12 days when a member is lodged in a hospital in a grave condition.” From the time he was shifted out of Taloja Jail to JJ Hospital, then to St George’s hospital and eventually to Nanavati hospital, the only official information provided to the family was that Rao had tested positive for Covid-19 on July 16. 

According to the family they have been calling Taloja jail ever since Rao was transferred to Nanavati Hospital. “On July 22, 2020, the jail personnel picked up our call and said that the jail hospital/ jail doctor might have information about Mr. Rao’s health. We tried to contact the jail hospital but there was no response. Our lawyer Ms. Padma called the Jail Superintendent on July 22, 2020 on his mobile number. Once she had introduced herself, the call was disconnected. She received no response to the text message that she had sent to the same mobile number,” they detailed the stonewalling.

The family called the Taloja jail again on July 24, but were told that the jail had no information about Rao’s health. “We have been calling Nanavati Hospital also every day since July 20, 2020 but received no response from them.” The family also contacted the PRO of Nanavati Hospital on July 21, five days later they were informed by the hospital authorities that the jail authorities were being updated regularly about Rao’s health. The family quoted the hospital PRO’s text in their letter to the minister: “Ms. Pavana, we are regularly giving updates to jail authorities, you can approach them for details …” 

Rao’s family is concerned and confused why the jail authorities are not telling them anything at all, “It is a mystery why this information is not passed on to the family by the jail authorities.”  Rao’s wife and daughters state, “It is inhuman and unethical to withhold the information about Mr Rao’s health to his anxious family. It is very clear that the Jail authorities have regular updates about Mr. Rao’s health. Mr. Rao is an under-trial prisoner in your custody and the jail authorities have the responsibility to give us regular updates or instruct the Nanavati hospital to release regular health bulletins.” 

They have now asked the Minister to intervene and direct the Taloja jail authorities or Nanavati Hospital to provide them with regular updates on Rao’s health status, including the diagnosis, and line of treatment. They asked, “Is Mr. Rao doing well? Given his age and ailments, what is the impact of Covid-19 on his health? We have many questions and doubts lingering in our minds. We believe as Mr. Rao’s family we should have access to information about his health, according to the law of the land and medical ethics.”

Meanwhile, rights activists, intellectuals, poets and authors from across the globe have also been asking key questions such as: “Where is Vara Vara Rao? What is his health condition? What is the state hiding?”

#varavararao

Where is Vara Vara Rao?
What is his health condition?
What is the state hiding?

Is it vendetta or is it secrecy?

Release the ailing old man, now! pic.twitter.com/wteKys4r3C

— Sujatha Gidla (@gidla_sujatha) July 27, 2020

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Does India uphold Prisoners’ Right to Health?
What lies behind the high walls of Indian prisons?
No updates from hospital, prison: Varavara Rao’s family appeals to NHRC again 
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Varavara Rao’ family demands official, and regular health updates

The post How is Varavara Rao’s health? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Journalist and poet N Venugopal is in the middle of multiple phone calls all day now. Coordinating information about his uncle the noted poet Varavara Rao, he has not had a moment of rest since he got back to Hyderabad with the family after meeting the ailing Rao briefly on July 15. “We have not met him since then. Not even his wife has met him, and now the High Court has postponed the bail matter to July 23! They have asked the NIA to let them know if the family can meet him. This after taking note of the grave health status!!!! What a great democracy! What a perfect rule of law! What a noble sense of humanity!!,” he told SabrangIndia in a brief phone call, and also posted this statement on his social media wall.

N Venugopal has been articulating, and sharing with the media, that Varavara Rao’s family has asked for “transparent, official, and regular health updates,” about the 79 year old poet who now suffers from  Covid-19. All the information they have had so far is from the media. On Monday they came to know that Varavara Rao had also “suffered a head injury“, by the time he was brought to Nanavati Hospital, his family was not informed at all about any update officially.”  Rao’s family has  stated that: “Not sharing health updates of a person in judicial custody with his family is illegal, unconstitutional and inhuman.”

When Rao was shifted from Taloja Jail to JJ Hospital, then to St George Hospital and eventually to Nanavati Hospital the course of the past one week, his family got official information only when he tested Covid positive. All the other information is known to the family through secondary sources. “When he was moved to St George and family came to know about it and tried to get confirmation, jail authorities gave confirmation only. The information of shifting him to Nanavati Hospital and worrying news of health status and deterioration for the last two days, including Nanavati finding a head injury, was known to family through friends in media and civil society only,” stated the family who now has the additional burden of sifting out rumours and half truths that are also being scirculating in . In the absence of official information.

“Today’s news that he suffered a head injury whether in JJ Hospital or St George, but discovered on arrival at Nanavati, made us highly perturbed and worried about his safety and well-being. It is the family’s right to get official transparent updates on his health status, line of treatment and probable risks, but the concerned prison, police and health administrations in a gross dereliction of their duties have not come out to family with the much needed information. This is not only a gross violation of the family’s right to information, but also a grave misconduct on the part of the state government institutions,” stated Rao’s wife and daughters in their message, posted on social media by Venugopal. 

Varavara Rao’s wife P Hemalatha and daughters P Sahaja, P Anala, P Pavana have  made the following demands: 

1. To allow a family member to assist/attend since he is reportedly not in a position to do anything on his own. 

2. To immediately direct the hospital administration or prison administration to provide transparent, official updates on Varavara Rao’s health status and line of treatment on a regular basis once or twice in a day as long as he is in hospital. 

3. To provide the family a contact in the hospital to seek and get the information. 

4. To make all his medical records accessible to the family. 

5. To remove hurdles and enable the judicial process to grant regular bail or interim bail on health, age and Covid grounds so that his family will take care of his health in a hospital of their choice.

Meanwhile, many more voices have been rising to demand the immediate release of Prof. Varavara Rao and other rights activists currently in jain, even as Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread.

The most recent was a mass protest in Punjab called for by the  Association For Democratic Rights on Sunday. Protests were held across the state including,Nawan-Shehr, Sangrur, Moga, Barnala, Patiala, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Mansa, Muktsar, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana, and even Sirsa (Haryana). The activists protested against “the conspiracy of RSS-BJP Govt to cause a slow and latently creeping death of the eminent pro-people intellectuals by incarcerating them in jails.” The  AFDR activists were joined by representatives  of other organizations such as, Rationalist Society Punjab, Pargatisheel Lekhak Manch (Haryana), Punjab Students Union, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Inqlabi Kender Punjab, Lok Sangram Morcha, PLS Manch,Bhartiya Kisan Union (Dakaunda), Varg Chetna, Pendu Mazdoor Union (Mashal), Punjab Radical Students Union,Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union, BKU (Krantikari), Democratic Teachers Front, DMF (Democratic Employees Federation), Technical and Mechanical Union, Inqlabi Mazdoor Kendar, Punjabi Sahitya Sabha, and others.

They that Rao’s bail has been rejected five times already and “Refusing the bail to Professor Anand Teltumbde, Guatam Navlakha, Advocate Surender Gadling, Advocate Sudha Bhardwaj,Professor Vernon Gonsalves, Advocate Arun Fareira and Professor G.N Saibaba, who is 90 % handicapped, and Anti-CAA women protestors and many other activists shows that the Government wants to physically eliminate such people who question its policies by keeping them in Corona infected jails.”

They added that: “If any physical harm happens to Professor Varvara Rao or any other Intellectual or political activists the central BJP government, National Investigation Agency and Judges, who time and again are declining them bails, would be solely responsible for such loss,” and  demanded that all intellectuals and activists must be released immediately, false cases dropped and draconian laws such as UAPA be repealed. 

Related: 

Only political vendetta can explain Varavara Rao’s incarceration
NHRC demands report on Varavara Rao’s health, jail condition
Vernon Gonsalves, Anand Teltumbde ask to be tested for Covid-19
Covid-19 a death sentence for Prof. Saibaba: Wife demands release
Does India uphold Prisoners’ Right to Health?

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