As India faces a national disaster with the second wave of Covid 19, Dr. Krishnasamy, the leader of the Puthiya Tamizhagam party, has written a letter to the President of India, the Vice President of India, the Prime Minister of India, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Health, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Senior Leader of the Congress party, and Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha MP, urging them to take immediate action and declare a national medical emergency.
In his letter he credited the central government for successfully controlling deaths during the first phase of the corona in India when people were dying in large numbers in developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
However, he also criticized the Election Commission for holding elections in Bihar and five other states when the pandemic was in its declining phase. He cited political parties bringing thousands of voters from their homes to the streets for campaign rallies as one of the reasons for the increase in corona cases in India.
He emphasized the importance of vaccinating citizens at war footing. He further added, “There is no adequate ambulance facility to take the corona victims to the hospitals and the hospitals do not have adequate bed facilities. Due to the lack of oxygen and shortage of medicine and pills, people are suffering from untold misery in many ways. The dumping of bodies in rivers without even being able to burn the bodies of the dead has caused unprecedented resentment among the Indian people.”
He urged the central government to declare a “National Medical Emergency” to address the above concerns, claiming that the crisis is worse than last year. Finally, he made 12 recommendations to the government on behalf of Tamil Nadu and Indian people in order to make India free of Corona.
Here is the full text of his letter:
I am Dr. K. Krishnasamy, a post graduate Medical Doctor and the leader of the Puthiya Tamizhagam political party in TamilNadu and fighting for equality and equity of poor and marginalized people. I am the first politicians in TamilNadu other than BJP to openly appreciate the various good deeds of your government. Even when there was fierce opposition in TamilNadu for the Citizenship Amendment Act, repeal of Article 370 and the introduction of NEET, I stood firm and supported strongly. From March 2020 when the Central Government announced the full lockdown, I created awareness among the people of TamilNadu about the importance of the government actions.
When millions of people died en masse in developed countries such as the United States, Britain and Italy, your government in India controlled the corona and drastically reduced the death toll during last year. Millions of people were expecting the corona to be completely wiped out by March and April 2021. But the corona which has been steadily rising since February is now reaching the peak all over India. There is a wide spread apprehension that the second wave of Covid may be turned as Third or Fourth wave.
Everyone, including business and industry across India, fully co-operated with the full lockdown restrictions announced in March 2020. But at a time when the pandemic was in declining face, the Election Commission of India conducted the Bihar elections without caring about it at all. It also announced the date for the five state elections on February 26, 2021. As a result, political parties brought thousands of people from home to the streets for their campaign rallies. No one who attended the meeting wore a facemask; does not adhere to social gaps; No disinfectants were used. As a result, nearly 4 lakh people all over India and about 40000 people in TamiNadu daily getting infected. Beds in government and private hospitals are over flooded. Oxygen deficiency exists in most hospitals; Lack of proper medicine and pills and it made impossible to properly bury or cremate the bodies of the dead. It is a matter of great concern that such tragedies have befallen not only in TamilNadu and also the whole of India.
In the National Capital Delhi because of Oxygen shortage, puts 20 people at risk of death in a single day. The same scenario occurred in many state capitals like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar and TamilNadu etc… Vaccination programmes were launched on January 18 last year for front field staff, followed by those over 60 and over 18 years of age. Initial vaccination hesitancy prevailed among the people is now gradually diminishing and now the people are ready to get vaccinated. But the vaccines are not available in any hospitals when people seek to get vaccinated. Death cries, fear and panic prevails everywhere. All state governments are struggling to cope with the situation.
Last year, our Country stood tall, extending a helping hand to all countries. Today we have to bow our heads in the International arena in anticipation of others for oxygen, ventilators, vaccines and for all other medical appliances. The developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy and other western countries uses the vaccines only for their own citizens and do not export it to any other country. With a population of 140 crore, India is struggling to meet even the first dose of vaccine. It is pathetic that even half of the people are not vaccinated. The corona spreads to everyone from cities to villages without any distinction and manifest without earlier symptoms such as fever, headache, or cough. At present, more than 50 percent of people get hospitalized with very few symptoms like fatigue and 50% of lung damage which reflects early situation prevailed in Wuhan, China.
There is no adequate ambulance facility to take the corona victims to the hospitals and the hospitals do not have adequate bed facilities. Hence, they are waiting more hours in the ambulance; the risk of people lying under trees and on hospital porches is increasing. Due to Lack of oxygen and shortage of medicine and pills, people are suffering from untold misery in many ways. More casualties due to oxygen shortages and the dumping of bodies in rivers without even being able to burn the bodies of the dead have caused unprecedented resentment among the Indian people and great dissatisfaction with the government. It is very painful to note that long global goodwill towards India is declining.
Any number of states can be created based on the devolution of power. But government means, it is the central government. At the state level, the state may be ruled by different political parties. But this is not the time to act politically; it is time to act beyond politics. Mere slogans alone cannot unite India It does not mean that they should gather unitedly just because war with other countries. The situation in India now is similar to that of war aggression. This is more than a bio war. Corona alone cannot be conquered by panchayats, municipalities, corporations or any other state government. The Government of India, which encompasses all powers, can only use its full power to protect the people from today’s abnormal situation and to eradicate the corona completely. I know there are various practical challenges to accomplishing that. Many states are ruled by different political parties with different ideologies. Irrespective of political differences, all the states cooperated when there was such a situation during 2020. I urge the Indian government should take a serious view as the situation is worse than last year. Now the Central government should consider the corona the second wave of Covid 19 as a National disaster and to contain the Covid, declare a “National Medical Emergency”.
Only by timely “National Medical Emergency“ declaration, the activities of the Central and State Governments can be brought at one point. Instead of treating the states as a unit (UNIT), consider the districts across India as a unit, which is easily possible to coordinate and know its needs and send medical appliances quickly.
If our neighboring country China could control the pandemic, why can’t we control it? Serious steps should be taken to provide oxygen supply to all hospitals and free vaccinations to all Indian citizens.
I put forth some suggestions for the consideration of our government on behalf of TamilNadu and Indian citizens. At present the calamity due to corona is worst than any external aggression or any internal disturbances.
I hope that your government so far puts the welfare of the people in first. Now will Do and Act with the same motivation and enthusiasm to eradicate Corona from our soil.
1. Considering the corona as a national disaster, the whole of India should be declared a “National Medical Emergency” i.e. a National Medical Emergency Declaration.
2. Medical needs such as ambulances, bed facilities, oxygen, medicines and other appliances should be made available without shortage across the country.
3. Vaccine production should be increased through central and state government agencies and allowing other interested private companies must be encouraged. If necessary, it should be imported also.
4. Universal Vaccination to all Indian citizens should be at free of cost.
5. National, State and District Coordinated Monitoring Committees (WAR ROOMS) should be in place 24*7 hours.
6. Corona prevention treatment should be taken by considering the districts as a unit and not the states as a whole (UNIT) for the whole of India.
7. To ensure the wearing of face shields and the National Vaccination programme to be successful, there must be stringent laws like cancellation of ration cards and the revocation of driver’s License etc…
8. As many states declared lockdown the livelihood of the people got affected hence the families should be supported with Ten Thousand rupees per month. Since many industries and companies were closed, the interest should be waived and EMI payments should not be collected by both the government and private institutions for the next six months from now.
9. As India’s overall economy is in turmoil, curfew should not be the only solution and required restrictions should be imposed in hotspots.
10. Since the nation as a whole facing an extra ordinary situation, the Central government and the State government should conserve their financial resources to look after the immediate requirement of the people and sufferers of Corona to provide food, medicine and other supporting measures. Hence, at least for the time being all the freebies announced by the government s can be stopped and also cosmetics programmes can be postponed for few years.
11. Any nation cannot afford to go without any time limits to deal any matters. We have to put full stop to Corona in a time bound manner. So entire Central government employees, State government employees and the employees of corporate sectors, teachers and students of all Government and private Universities and all colleges must be engaged to visit door to door to create corona awareness mass movement to educate the people about the importance of Wearing of mask, Personal hygiene, Keeping social distance and most importantly vaccination.
12. The National Medical Emergency Declaration should remain in force until, we achieve Corona Free India (CORONA FREE).
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