Editorial: Of COVID warriors and Covidiots

While Article 123 grants the President the power to promulgate ordinances when the two Houses are not in session, such a resort should be availed of only when there is a need for urgent or immediate action.

The Union Cabinet’s nod to an ordinance aimed at protecting frontline health workers from a slew of crimes ranging from harassment to violence is beyond reproach. Over the past few weeks, there have been reports of our COVID warriors being pelted with stones, being spat upon, subjected to verbal abuse, and denied entry to their residences. All because the work they do brings them into contact with those infected by the virus. In Chennai, the funeral of a doctor, who had passed away as a result of complications arising from the virus, was disrupted by violent Covidiots.

The Indian Medical Association was provoked into issuing a strong statement while declaring it would hold a “White Alert” followed by a “Black Day” protest and then proceed with further action if the Centre failed to act post-April 23. It is possible that the Centre was pressured into action, but the ordinance – a stringent law that metes out strict punishments to those who mistreat health workers – has persuaded the IMA to call off its protests. The law, in the form of an amendment to the Epidemic Diseases Act, has defined an “act of violence” against healthcare service personnel, broadly – the offences ranging from harm, injury, and hurt to actions such as obstruction and hindrance in the discharge of their duties. The maximum punishment under the law is a substantial seven years of imprisonment with a fine.

Although this is no excuse for the disgraceful behaviour towards our healthcare workers, the truth is that they have been exposed to similar dangers in other parts of the globe. In countries as far-flung as Mexico, Australia and Colombia, there have been reports of abuse and discrimination against health professionals. The irony here is that as we celebrate the work that they are doing in fighting the virus on the frontlines, there is a section of people who turn unreasonable and violent due to the fear that these professionals are exposing others to it.

The World Health Organization had recently called for measures to protect nurses and other health workers from becoming targets due to other people’s fear of contagion. It is important to remember that frontline health workers have paid with their lives in many parts of the world and in most countries, they are overstretched and going well beyond the call of duty. If this ordinance knocks a measure of good sense into violent and irrational Covidiots and lends a measure of protection to our health workers, it will be a step that has come not a moment too soon.