By Toki Blah
The other day a batch-mate from Delhi called. His first question to me was, “How are things in Meghalaya and Shillong?” which probably meant the Covid situation in our state. I replied that it was the same as in the rest of India but with a slightly cock-eyed perception on how some people view the pandemic, its implications and how to deal with it. He was intrigued so I hastily sought to enlighten him on the issue. The fact is, there is total confusion, chaos, fear and panic here as in other parts of the country. People are clueless; the best one can try is by trial and error. Everyone, irrespective of which faith they believe in are praying for a cure and an end to the dreaded disease. Funnily, in Meghalaya, when God actually answers our prayers and vaccines are available and offered for free, many do a sudden about-turn and flee from the needle! The initial cry of, “Dear God, save us from Covid”, rapidly changes to, “Please deliver us from the jab”! A new word was coined– The anti-vaxxers.
Having tried banging pots and pans, lightning diyas, drinking cow urine et al, science has universally arrived at the conclusion that the only way to deal with the virus and to curb its spread is by achieving herd immunity through vaccination. Lockdowns are a temporary method of containment; the surest method known so far is through mass vaccination. That there are not enough vaccines to go by is a different story, but mass vaccination of everyone is the only known cure. In enlightened societies people queue up to be vaccinated and the educated and conscious 18 to 45 age group of our state have done us proud. Thanks to them and their scientific temperament Meghalaya has been spared the ridicule of being a No 1 vaccine hesitant state. May their tribe increase and so too the demand for inoculation. However, hesitancy persists among those with questionable degrees from Whatsapp University. Conspiracy theories of Covid promotion by Government and its agencies abound. It reminds one of the Taliban response to polio immunization in Afghanistan. There are those who feel it is against their faith to get immunised. Perhaps God didn’t respond as per their demands and expectations. Others feel invincible; still others object simply for objections sake. Unfortunately this conflict of perception in Meghalaya makes it that much harder to manage the pandemic. Clearly something has to be done about it.
The second wave that hit Meghalaya with such unexpected devastation is now seemingly on the wane. Daily death tolls have waned though the infection rate is still alarming. It needs to reduce. Now if health experts are to be believed, and there is no reason not to, a third wave is inevitable and is likely to hit us sooner than later. Perhaps, if we are not careful a 4th wave will also follow with unforeseen consequences. As on June 20, 2021, Meghalaya had over 45,000 confirmed Covid cases and over 300 fresh cases each day. The death toll has crossed 780 while those still under treatment number 4500. These are human losses that a small, underdeveloped state like Meghalaya can ill afford. The impact of the pandemic on our fragile economy is yet unknown but a rough guess is that the economy is in tatters. The assessment is that thousands of jobs have been lost; thousands have slipped further into poverty; thousands of students will end up as drop-outs and we can foresee only more hardships. Unfortunately, our people are not prepared to accept these inescapable projections. Instead of converging on an action plan to save ourselves from future mishaps we indulge in petty, political squabbles; on insignificant trivialities and displays of personal egos and sense of self-importance. Allow me to illustrate.
In an attempt to boost the percentage of vaccinations so as to reach the a critical mass effect, to bend the Covid curve, the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District made it mandatory for those who are most likely to interact with others, such as shopkeepers, their staff and drivers of commercial vehicles should get themselves vaccinated before permission is granted them to carry on with their trade. In a pandemic it is the job of the administrator to ensure that public health is secured. It is her job to protect and save lives and if vaccination is the answer to maintain public health and prevent further spread of the disease; if that is the answer to lockdowns that have so devastated the economy, then so be it. Any DC worth her salt is expected to enforce it! The step should have been publicly applauded. One is therefore aghast at the howls of protest from some quarters. The allegation is that administrative force and coercion is being used to stifle the freedom of choice of the anti-vaxxers and is therefore ultra-vires to the Constitution. How accurate is this charge? It needs to be examined.
The allegation is that Art 19 (1.g) of the Constitution provides liberty to citizens to practice any profession, or carry on any occupation, trade or business within the territory of India. As such the DC’s order has violated this fundamental right of the citizen. Meanwhile the Government of India too has left it to the will of individual citizens whether or not to get vaccinated. Force and coercion cannot be used. But the stark reality is that people are dying and EKH for its size has one of the highest deaths and Covid infection rates in the country. There is urgent need to arrest this; it cannot simply be wished away. Interestingly clause (6) of the same Art 19 of the Constitution provides that, “Nothing in sub clause (g) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law insofar as it imposes or prevents the state from making any law imposing, in the interest of the general public, reasonable restrictions of the exercise of the rights conferred by the said sub-clause..” The interest of the general public, in this instance is reliable protection against Covid 19. Vaccination is the only weapon of choice we have. So why oppose?
Some claim that the DC’s order impinges on their Fundamental Right to Freedom of Religion, as they do not believe in vaccination as a cure for ailments. Art 25 of the Constitution grants them such freedom but, subject to public order, morality and health. Covid-19 is a threat to public health and as such, restrictions to a certain degree, on individual liberties is in order; in fact, sorely needed! A closer scrutiny of the DC’s order also shows that the aggrieved parties have a choice whether or not to get vaccinated. Those who are vaccinated can get on with their businesses. Those who don’t, in the interest of the general public, should stay at home. I see no restrictions on personal liberty in such a case. People are given a choice. Where’s the coercion? Where’s the force being used?
In conclusion, our choices must be unequivocal – freedom from the plague or freedom to do what we want irrespective of the harm it can inflict on others. Freedom from the pandemic enjoins that we act unitedly to eliminate Covid-19 from our society. Freedom to act as we please, and assert our rights without social responsibility, is what the virus wants. The choice is entirely ours.