In technical terms, Health is a State subject but in these extraordinary and unprecedented times when Corona is at a rampage without minding State borders, or for that matter, even national boundaries, leaving the pandemic exclusively to states is not a prudent strategy. Unfortunately, the politics in India lacks principles, morality and human values like western democracies that still have some semblances of these virtues.
Last year, when the Covid struck, our leaders were of their opinions that it was the first and the last pandemic. The Prime Minister declared a lockdown giving the people notice of just four hours. On such short notice, India obliged and shut life the next day and a nation got stranded, unlike other mature countries that gave some leeway for their citizens to prepare for very difficult days. The world witnessed a great spectacle when Indians including our First Citizen, come out and light candles to give a message to Corona to surrender …or else it would be erased with its RNA forever.
It is over a year now, but the scene is not candles but countless funeral pyres pitying India. Again we all were exhorted to beat and bang the utensils and plates for fearing out Covid, but today, kin of the thousand dead and sick are beating their breasts in grief and anger. This time around Modi’s staunch supporters has their backs to the wall. The common man on the street, the States, both Godi and Ghandy media, experts across the globe, all ailing, alive and dead have risen in to voice the stinging statement that the Central Government has completely goofed up.
All countries have risen as one and that is welcome. But, in India ruling party and opposition are seen pulling in opposite directions. Undoubtedly, the Government had downed the guards and laid down its shields, and the opposition spared no moment in pulling the rug from under the government’s feet when it initiated of-late whatever it could do. Attempts by Opposition in spreading the confusion among the people on the advent of vaccines were bad in taste. Some of the opposition ruled states stupidly refused to accept the inoculation drive with Vaccines of Scientists’ making terming these as Modi’s vaccine thus denying their subjects from timely jabs.
Given the average figure of over 3.5 lakh reported infected, huge shortages of vaccines with every State being unable to vaccinate and arrest the rising infected numbers. Originally, the vaccines were meant for 45-70 age group, but the opposition-led outcry to start from age 18 forced the Central Government to yield thus setting May 1 to start with. Within days, most States declared they cannot meet the deadline as the 45 plus themselves remain sans jabs.
And now the Centre has cleverly put the onus on the States, washing its own hands-off. It has asked them to float global tenders as per their requirements and pay for them. Clearly, the sinister suggestion is that Covid is not a national disaster, but a State subject. The Indian Medical Association’s prescription for the national lockdown was rejected and such decisions were left to the states. Let the leaders of the ruling party at the centre understand that not all wisdom lies with them. They can take at least the saner element in opposition in confidence and bring in their perception and experience in India’s united fight against Covid and its cousin Black Fungus.
To cut the long story short is that sheer political blame games between the opposition and the ruling party have caused irreparable loss to the nation. The Centre has scooted earlier and the subsequent activation, albeit little, has happened at the behest of the Courts. The States no longer approach the Centre for Oxygen. The SC has set up a task force to oversee the distribution of Oxygen. Indeed this is the perfect time for all saner men of consequences to come to the aid of this country.
