SHRC writes to Chief Secretary, suggests change in strategy

Chennai

Despite testing, putting up barricades in containment zones and booking cases where the guidelines have been flouted, the number of cases have been relentlessly going up, the Commission noted.

“Densely populated areas are more infected with the virus. The obvious solution would be to provide more space so that social distancing could be done meaningfully,” the commission said in the letter.

They recommended the government to move people from densely populated areas, where the virus was likely to spread, to schools or any other institution with basic amenities for two to three weeks on an experimental basis.

“The use of common toilets with five or more adults living in a single room is the reality in many areas. Schools and institutions that are available can be used as ideal quarantine centres, and food and water can be made available from Amma Canteens. This will make social distancing more meaningful. If it helps in keeping the numbers down, it can be followed in more areas,” they said in the letter.

Recommending the government to consider moving the people to such facilities, the Commission said: “Investing resources for feeding the vulnerable population will be worth if this will bring the numbers down. Right to life is a basic right and it is incumbent on the government to ensure that the conditions conducive to life are made available to its citizens, more so to the ones living on the edge.”

Appreciating the effort of government agencies, the Commission said it believed that a change in the strategy could give a breakthrough in the situation and the government was requested to act on the same.