After facing the shock of 5,33,666 deaths during the previous Covid-19, is India equipped with to face the new wave of the pandemic? The new dinosaur of the wave is knocking at the door and presently there are 1010 active cases as on 26th May at 8.00 AM, the surge is rising up rapidly as there were 257 active corona cases as on 19th May as per Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
New corona vibrant cases on 19th May were noticed in 11 states out of 28 states, now on 26th May it has spread its wings in 16 states and the states with top cases have seen an increase as – Kerla cases rose from 95 to 430, Maharashtra from 56 to 210, Gujrat from 7 to 83, and Delhi from 5 to 104.
India Today on 25th May reports that India records two new Covid variants, both under WHO monitoring. As of now, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies both LF.7 and NB.1.8 as Variants Under Monitoring, and not under Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest.
The Union Health Secretary, on Saturday, reviewed the national situation. It noticed that the cases have mainly been reported from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The ministry states that most of the cases are mild and under home care.
Seeing the new vibrant spread, some states have issued the guidelines to be ready to face the brunt. Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Kerla, Haryana and some others are the few to name included in the forerunners.
Punjab Health Minister in a message on 24th May stated, “No need to panic about COVID_19 in Punjab. The new variant is generally mild, and no new cases have been reported to date in Punjab. We are actively testing, and our healthcare system is fully prepared and equipped. Stay vigilant, stay safe.”
As a sample, we are here analysing the management of the Haryana government to face the new corona pandemic.
Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao on 22th May assured citizens that the state is fully prepared and there is no cause for worry.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, the Minister emphasized that only four mild cases are currently active in Haryana—two in Gurugram and two in Faridabad. None of the cases have international travel history, and all patients are under home quarantine with stable health conditions.
Arti Singh Rao said, “The number of cases is low and rare, and there is no need to panic. Oxygen supplies and hospital beds are available. The state is fully prepared to handle the situation. Just remember to follow basic precautions: wash your hands regularly and wear a mask when you’re outdoors.”
But on the contrary side, General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee, former Union minister and a Member of Parliament from Haryana, Kumari Selja displaying the other side of the coin which reflects an alarming situation.
If we analyse and take the statement of the Kumari Selja as true and based on facts, then a terrible situation seems to be inevitable in the coming time and may deteriorate the position, which may become uncontrollable, if timely steps are not taken and remain assured only on claims being made by the health ministers.
What Kumari Selja Alleges?
The former union minister, Kumari Selja in a statement issued to media on 25th May, disclosing the alarming situation of health services in Haryana, said that the Health System has deteriorated in the state due to the negligence of the BJP government. Corona will become incurable, If the government does not become alert. She advised that the Government should understand its responsibility towards health services and take immediate corrective steps.
Kumari Selja said that due to the negligence of the BJP government in the state, people’s lives are at risk. Corona has already reached several districts of the state, but preparations remain incomplete.
Hitting hard with giving facts about the shortage and technical problems of oxygen availability and production in the state, Selja alleged that Oxygen plants are damaged, and in most districts, even corona testing has not started. The health system of the state is itself unhealthy. Therefore, the government should take effective and immediate steps for improvement.
“Oxygen plants, built at the cost of crores of rupees, are now victims of mismanagement. The oxygen plant in Hisar hospital with a capacity of 1000 litres per minute has been non-functional for 15 months, while another plant did not work even for a single day after handover. Faridabad hospitals do not have separate generator arrangements during power outages. Technical defects were found in the testing of the oxygen plant in Panipat. In Rewari, one, out of two oxygen plants, is defective. An oxygen plant was installed in the district hospital in Bhiwani but is broken, and its repair will cost about 9 lakh rupees. The oxygen plant in Jind civil hospital is damaged, and a budget of 5 lakh rupees has been requested for repairs.”
Kumari Selja alleged that this is not just a simple technical problem but clear evidence of the failure of the BJP government’s policies, intentions, and oversight. On one hand, the government is issuing alerts about Corona, but on the other hand, there are neither isolation wards nor oxygen arrangements. The departments are blaming each other and shirking responsibility while the system remains a silent spectator.
The MP said that only those districts where cases have appeared are showing alertness. Other districts are waiting for corona cases and headquarters’ orders to start testing and open counters for suspected patients.
Asking If the government’s own system is unhealthy, how will it protect the health of the people? This is a gross injustice to public health. Warning the government, the Kumari Selja said that it should realize its responsibility towards health services and take immediate corrective steps.
In an appeal to the public, the former union minister, Kumari Selja urged everyone to be fully cautious, considering the increasing spread of corona, to make wearing masks a routine and to maintain strict hand hygiene.
The government of Haryana should look into the allegations levelled by Kumari Selja and rectify the lapses at the earliest to save and protect the precious lives of the public.
Also, for the public safety and barricading the corona spread, the union as well as the state governments should immediately ban mass gatherings and political rallies and impose other Standard Operating Procedure without any delay.
A song of an Indian Hindi film ‘Henna’ is striking in my mind which is reminding the consequences of delay.
“Kab aaoge, Kab aaoge; Jism Jaan Juda Hogi, Kya tab aaoge?
Der naa ho jaye Kahni -Der naa ho jaye.” (When will you come? When will you come? When the body and soul will be separated, Will you come then? Let it not be late! Let it not be late!)
Jag Mohan Thaken is a Senior Journalist, Columnist & Political Analyst, views are personal
