Think beyond elections and voters!

@RavikiranRKD

The second scary wave of Covid-19 now has gripped the entire nation throwing normal life upside down. Nobody is sure if the ongoing 15-day ‘Break-the-chain’- or the partial lock-down is going to end on May 1 as announced, or will it be extended further. The initial debate over the government’s preparedness to face the second wave and much-needed strengthening of our health system is now over.

Almost everyone is now praying for the well-being of near and dear ones and wanted to save himself from the frantic search for availability of hospital beds, injections, and medical oxygen if someone close is tested positive.

Most of us have lots of questions over the present state of affairs with the health system, a sufficient number of vaccine doses, required stock of oxygen, and beds in hospitals. But one question still haunts us and that is about how electioneering can go on unhindered.

When people in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra are worried over the fallout of lockdown and the losses, election rallies were in full swing for the assembly elections to the states of West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and

Even here in Maharashtra, a few prominent state leaders were addressing back-to-back rallies for the Pandharpur-Mangalvedha by-poll necessitated due to the death of NCP MLA Bharat Bhalake. 

Came in between the issue of availability of the required number of vaccine doses. The seriousness of the issue was lost when both- the ruling three-party government and the BJP appeared engaged in political blame games, instead of making collective efforts for the vaccine doses.

When the average person is frightened over the fallout of the restricted lockdown, panic rise in many cases, and an overwhelmed health system, our political system was seen taking glee at the blame-game.

Such political one-upmanship, in the longer run, will never solve the issue but only create a sense of aversion. Fed up with the politicking, people in distress are in dire need of medical help and some relief. 

The campaigning for the assembly polls, amid this crisis, has created a sense of disengagement among people. Moreover, the campaigning was more about religion, caste, and creed than most relevant issues of overall development, public health, and education.

Even the Pandharpur by-election campaign trail missed out on most relevant issues from the constituency, such as the long-pending solution on water supply scheme for a cluster of villages, payment of the fixed remunerative price (FRP) to sugarcane growers.

As such, it may not be wrong to say that the common man is needed just for the sake of elections. Or, more appropriately, can’t he be looked up beyond just a voter? Certainly, a time has come to say that there are much more than elections and forming governments or deposing the governments. 

The rising number of Covid 19 positive cases raises questions over our capacity-building efforts during the last year ever since the first positive case was detected. The only noticeable difference between the first wave and the second wave that can be ascertained is the state government’s package for the vulnerable sections of society. The decision to make available the state-sponsored Shiv Bhojan Thali for free can help a section of society. 

Considering the ground realities, we can comprehend the situation in mofussil areas but, the current state of affairs in Mumbai is far from terming as reassuring. Touted as the corporate hub of India, the megapolis still needs some efforts to tackle the crisis. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had to requisition some star category hotels to function as makeshift Covid care centres.

Much dilly-dallying happened over announcing Jaslok Hospital as the dedicated Covid care hospital. But, it’s intriguing as to why no word is coming in for taking over the railway coaches converted as makeshift wards. 

Coming back to the vaccine issue, at last, the union government gave its approval to the Haffkine Institute for the production of vaccine doses. Such a decision should have come last year when the first wave was at its peak.

The Haffkine has been the premier institute for vaccine production ever since it was founded in the last century. The institute has been supplying polio doses to countries across the globe and has earned a reputation due to its sheer devotion. But, the sheer apathy on the government side, such public enterprises are neglected, forced to tone down, or wind up their professional expertise.

Also Read: For the State, all is not well!

Such approvals are given when the private sector companies get precedence. But it’s noteworthy that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his team felt it necessary to offer a chance to Haffkine to prove their mettle. During the last decade, the same institution was looked up for its privatization.

A few corporate houses were eager to take over mainly with an eye on its huge land parcel in the Parel area. A proposal was pushed during the Congress-NCP rule in 2004 to divest of the government stakes even as the premier institute in vaccine production was needed to be strengthened. 

Now, after receiving the approval, it would be interesting to see how some basic issues are sorted out before commencing the vaccine production. The institute is plagued with 27 percent vacancies and 17 out of 28 positions of senior scientists are vacant from years together. 

A committee headed by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, with some of the renowned personalities from the field of medical research and science as its members, was asked to work on the problems faced by Haffkine. A report has been submitted in 2018 with recommendations for its revival.

Besides a one-time grant in aid of Rs 100 crore, the committee has asked for the capacity building, modernization of laboratories, and its repairs because these British-era buildings have outlived their life. Modernization of the laboratories is going to be the key issue before the production of the vaccine is started. 

Maharashtra is known for its resources and skilled manpower, but what is needed is the political will, across the spectrum. Our capabilities have been put to test by the dreadful coronavirus. What matters is how we are going to deal with it.