We all know that ‘‘change is law of nature’’. On a completion of a day, night comes in and on the completion of night, a new day comes in. A change can be positive as well as negative. Hence, a change either in weather, season, politics, economics, health, education, make-up and fashions, technology and several other modes are always showing its face. It is a great competency, talent and capability given by God to every human-being that he/she always remains alert and fights with any sort of change.
It is very that a harsh negative change in our health field in the form of COVID-19 has wrapped whole world. A very small and invisible creation called CORONA VIRUS has created a severe atrocity to every individual surviving on this earth. Hence, ever knock and corner of world has come under threat of COVID-19 pandemic. Even the prosperous and developed countries of world like, china, England, America, Italy etc have came under the effect of COVID-19 pandemic. The density of human being to fight against any irrelevant change is called “STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE” under the ambit of biological science.
Now I want to divert the worthy attention of people of J&K towards the steps taken by the government & administration to tackle the problem of corona-virus pandemic within the UT. As we all know that “Charity begins from home” and a wise person always prefers to introspect his/her own collar first. So keeping this wise saying in view, I understood it as a best to take overview of J&K Administration to tackle the pandemic of corona-virus. Some basic issues which are circulating in my mind are following:-
(1) Are doctors properly equipped:- Health is the most expensive wealth of every person. A person can achieve anything when his/her health is good. Here we reached on this conclusion that in order to fight against corona-virus, the main player is our health department. The maximum burden lies on the shoulders of doctors, nurses and other technical and non-technical employees can only work sufficiently, efficiently and professionally when there is proper infrastructure available in hospital. If a doctor has sky-touching knowledge and experience but he/she will fail to diagnose and treat a patient properly when there is dearth of machinery, medicines, electricity, water supply and many more requirements within a hospitals. Nova days our medical staff is suffering due to lack of PPE Kits.
As long as the hospitals are concerned, there is always the dearth of medical infrastructure and patients always suffer. At this time due to corona-virus pandemic, the life of people lies on edge of sharp sword and it is the most important duty of government to make the hospitals and doctors fully equipped and protected.
(2) Is sanitation a show or a reality: – Due to corona-virus pandemic, the operation of road sanitation is taking place on so many places. In the operations of spraying disinfectants, the material is being pricked with the view of cleaning the air to make it free from bacteria or any other disease causing agent.
Here, an important question arises that the chemicals which have been given the name of disinfectant, are these chemicals really disinfectant or not? Even W.H.O. has mentioned many guidelines regarding these disinfectants. At the point of time, if administration will not remain cautious, then there are more chances that the general public will be victimized of the threat of corona-virus and he/she is ready to buy any medicine to get rid of this deadly virus.
Here I want to beat the drum loudly to public administration.
(3) Whether the funds of health department are used properly or not: – As the wind of corona-virus is blowing very quickly, so the state government as well as central government funds to defeat corona-virus. A lot of NGOs, charitable trusts, village & urban level committees and so many social clubs have planned to use their available funds to get freedom from corona-virus. Here I will not hesitate to pen down the thing that in J&K, any natural calamity or man-made disaster becomes good opportunity for government officials to make their pockets warm. They give huge slogans to all security to public. Sometimes our government officials say that they are ready to spend their own gain to avoid public pain. But in fact, it is all in vain. From practical point of view, they don’t take any heed of work for public benefit. Now the need of the hour is that government should invigilate into the matter so that public will be safe and away from the corona-virus pandemic. Funds and donations should remain transparent and public should know clear about all the transactions and expenditures.
(4) Need to create a separate website for the sake of accountability and transparency:- Since we have living in an extra modern world i.e, “World of Buttons”. The clouds of 4G technology are hovering on the head of every person. It is the era of internet, high computer technology, social networking and many more sophisticated information and communication technologies. In this era, a student is not supposed to bother for the non-availability of a book. If he/she has passion, he/she can read the same book via, internet on you-tube and many other platforms. Same in the case with regard to connectivity between government, government departments and general public. These days the government cannot keep anything behind the veil. Government can ensure the visibility of all its policies, schemes, procedures and programs meant for the benefit of common masses. We are having in the era of websites, you-tube, Google, twitter and many more facilities of communication
Here I want to stimulate the governor led government of J&K that take an immediate step and frame a separate website for corona virus pandemic. On the websites, even a lay man can know all day to day information about corona-virus. Any person even while sitting in his/her home can know all about the availability of funds, public contributions on the name of relief, national and international relief, up-to date. Corona-virus and census & most important the utilization of funds. If a COVID-19 website will be made functional, it will act an easiest weapon for anyone to trace the notice of actions and reactions of government officials especially the officials and bureaucrats of health sector. On this website the public can put forward their suggestions, complaints and claims before the government.
As long as my above mentioned views are concerned, do not think that I am criticizing the government, general administration or health department, you might have heard that “The knows where the shoe pinches”. I have minutely observed all the government sectors of J&K but I always felt dissatisfaction, corruption, favoritism and much more. My above mentioned is simply “AWARENESS CALL” from my side to government and public. These days J&K is not a state but under the direct supervision of central government. So keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to prove it that how much alert and active the central government and governor led administration will remain in J&K and what will be the margin of transparency and accountability on the UT of J&K.
The author is Social & RTI Activist & can be reached at Siraj.office@yahoo.in
Views expressed are author’s own