Editor,
Many weeks have gone first into a complete lockdown then to quasi lockdown in the State, as the domestic outbreak of coronavirus rages on. There is no definite end in sight, but at least the case numbers are showing the first signs of hope, with daily cases decreasing and the number of unknown sources down to a mere handful.
Our State can take pride in the way people have responded to the crisis, with the vast majority dutifully following central and local government recommendations and regulations regarding staying at home, wearing masks, and avoiding personal contact.
Our World in Data’s analysis shows we have settled into a new pattern of living in the past three weeks, spending 18% more time at home than before and largely avoiding public transport, as 25% fewer people go into work every day. However, there are rumblings that “work from home” (WFH) has not been as widely implemented as it should have been.
Early on, there was hope that the virus would be contained to the point where there would no longer be enough hosts for Covid to continue to spread easily – the so-called “herd immunity”. Now, the virus is spreading faster than ever, Worse still, experts say it is changing too quickly, with new, more contagious variants appearing. Covid is well on its way to becoming endemic, an ever-present threat.
Vaccines are also the subject of heated debates here. Over the last month, the relationship between the government and the public, previously harmonious and defined by transparency and trust, has become muddled with political bickering, mixed messaging, and vaccine disinformation, and there has been a torrent of criticism aimed at the government as it tries to find a way forward.
And there is one further question linked to all vaccines; what about children? Authorities around the world have been hesitant to inoculate anyone under the age of 18, but that seems to be changing, despite the fact that little testing has been done on the young. An open letter from a large number of eminent UK medical professionals to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency argued strongly against proceeding with a vaccination campaign for the young: The letter states that the signatories have grave concerns regarding all proposals to administer Covid-19 vaccines to children…with the product still at the research stage and about which no medium- or long-term effects are known, against a disease which presents no material risk to them.
The counter argument is that, though children are generally not affected by SARS-COV-2, they nevertheless can spread the disease, so they present a threat to global containment of the pandemic, but the lack of knowledge about the effects of any of the vaccines on children must be a cause of concern for any parent.
Last but not the least, the government lost an opportunity to dampen the second wave but it should at least protect us from the third wave by ensuring a smooth vaccination drive, and the government and the people need to reaffirm their faith in each other.
Yours etc.,
Dr Chanmiki Laloo
Via email
Of PM Kisan and Vaccination
Editor,
Last month there was much noise about the PM Kisan beneficiaries in Meghalaya as only 8967 farmers from this State benefited from the Scheme, the lowest among the North-Eastern States. I don’t exactly know the reason, but I can only guess. Last year, at the beginning of the lockdown when the government announced that it would credit Rs 700/week to eligible beneficiaries against wage loss, didn’t people rush and line up in some bank branches to open bank accounts? Is it not pathetic that they still don’t have bank accounts? With so many people lining up to open their accounts, it might have taken days and even weeks to get their account numbers.
Compare that to our neighbouring State, Assam where people don’t have to line up at bank branches to open bank accounts. People just walk in to the Customer Service Point (CSP) of the bank, provide their AADHAR card and finger print and voila, “Zero Balance Account” is opened in two minutes. And they have CSP in almost everywhere. Again, for depositing/withdrawing money, they just walk in to the CSP provide their biometrics and the job is done. That is the benefit of AADHAR.
Looking back at my own state, to open bank accounts or withdraw money, people travel 15-20 KMs; for some it may be more than that. In Meghalaya we have too few CSPs, but I am sure the more people are enrolled under AADHAR the more CSPs will come up and the more they can access banking services. To educated folks who use digital banking’s apps, ATMs, AADHAAR hold little use unless you do eKYC for accounts like DEMAT or Mutual Fund Investments, but for the illiterate, the uneducated and those who don’t use mobiles, AADHAR has made it easier for them to access banking services.
But its our own ignorance and arrogance that has deprived us of all the benefits. Many still believe in AADHAR is a symbol of the beast. We have the lowest AADHAAR saturation percentage. There is no denying that some NGO leaders and Church leaders themselves educated people (I would not blame everyone) mislead our people to reject the AADHAR in the past. I say we are denying ourselves the benefits. Nagaland, Mizoram both predominantly Christian states have adopted AADHAR much before us. Perhaps that is why they have reaped the benefits more than us. Do we have a choice?
You might say, AADHAR has privacy issues. I agree. AADHAR is not a perfect tool. I am not a fan of AADHAR, but it has become a necessary evil. And I do care about my privacy. I do use TOR, Protonmail and startpage.com to protect my online privacy. But it cannot be denied that most of those who are against AADHAR or who misled people against AADHAR are often by ignorant or they do it to suit their personal agenda. Well, a person has the right to refuse AADHAR but that person cannot deprive others of their benefits for which AADHAR is a compulsory document.
Previously the RBI had come up with a notification for compulsory AADHAR linking of bank accounts for availing KCC interest subvention. There are exemptions for a few states, but we will never know what the future holds. Who will lose the benefits? And Kisan Credit Card (KCC) interest subvention is not the only government scheme that needs linking of AADHAR with bank accounts.
Coming to the vaccination imbroglio, I appreciate church leaders and NGOs that have advocated for vaccination. But it also surprises me that on social media and WhatsApp groups often “devoted” and educated Christians share Bible verses and interpret it to suit their anti-vaccination agenda along with conspiracy theories that hold no truth. They do so using materials from western, right wing websites to advocate their anti-vaccination stance. I don’t know where this will lead us, but as for myself, I have an AADHAR card and am benefitted by it. I have also been vaccinated and yet I hold firm to my Christian faith.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request
Via email