SubscriberWrites: Covid deaths in 2020 not a wake-up call for India. 2021 elections prove that
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SubscriberWrites: Covid deaths in 2020 not a wake-up call for India. 2021 elections prove that

The death count during the second wave of Covid in May last year surpassed even the first wave of 2020, writes Diksha Bharti.

   
Voters wait in queues to cast votes at a polling station during the 7th phase of West Bengal Assembly elections at a village near Balurghat in South Dinajpur district on Monday, April 26, 2021. | PTI

Voters wait in queues to cast votes at a polling station during the 7th phase of West Bengal Assembly elections at a village near Balurghat in South Dinajpur district on 26 April 2021. | PTI Photo

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On December 29 th while I was heading home to my hometown Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh for the yearly new year get-together, I was greeted with an unusual hustle-bustle in the district. Upon inquiring the reason for the commotion, I was made aware that the next day i.e., on the 30 th a rally was scheduled for Home Minister of India, Mr. Amit Shah amidst the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and in a blink of an eye, I was reminded of the havoc which

COVID-19 has created in May last year where the death count surpassed even the first wave of 2020. As India’s Covid numbers began to decline after the mid-September peak while many other countries, including the US, UK, Brazil and Russia, were battling crippling second waves, we declared victory. Who’s ‘we’, is a good question. Today, any questioning of the government runs into the “blame the people” firestorm. It hasn’t been a year yet when COVID-19, this time with changed hue and colour is back to cast its spell upon us. Where major states and union territories have already headed towards lockdowns, I wonder what good would these elections serve to our plate. Ironically, when schools, offices, the arts and the entertainment sectors are shut, there on the other hand, the elections have literally become inevitable.

With the Election Commission announcing the dates from February 10 th to March 7th, makes my blood run cold reminiscing the last year horrific days and terrified nights. The dreadful scenes of queues lengthening from hospitals to pharmacies to crematoria, unavailability of oxygen cylinders, hospital beds and ambulances and without forgetting, digging of the mass graves. A major add-on to the death toll in Uttar Pradesh were the panchayat polls in which 1,621 staff lost their lives. Claiming that 1621 government school staff succumbed to Covid-19 contracted while on duty during the Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections and the subsequent counting of votes, the Uttar Pradeshiya Prathamik Shikshak Sangh (a teachers’ association) has demanded compensation of ₹1 crore for the next of kin of the deceased. The elections were held on April 15, 19, 26 and 29. The counting of votes was taken up on May 2.

Out of these 1621 govt school staff, 1332 were teachers, 209, shiksha mitras (assistant teachers), 25, anudeshaks (instructors), five, block education officers, 15, clerks and 35, other employees. Dinesh Chandra Sharma, president of the teachers’ association had explicitly claimed that Covid-19 protocols were overlooked both during polling and at the time of counting of ballots. Heart-wrenching stories came from the suburb. Kalyani Agrahari who was 27 and a teacher of Composite Vidyalaya, Oina in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh was eight months’ pregnant. She had earlier submitted an application to the state election commission to relieve her from poll duty due to “critical pregnancy” but was denied. Likewise, Sangeeta Singh who was 33 and an assistant teacher in a composite school in Dikra village at Shravasti district, was four months’ pregnant. She was carrying twins. Yet she was not exempted from election duty, alleged her husband, Shashank Singh. He said he lost his wife before their first wedding anniversary on June 14, 2020.

This year, the Election Commission has restricted the rallies and the roadshow but only up to January 15 th . What after it? A host of protocols and promises have been unfurled same like the last year but in the words of Sushil Chandra, Chief Election Commissioner “Ultimately, it is the voter that has to be safe.” Last year as well, the commission courted controversy throughout the eight-phase West Bengal election, beginning with the prolonged duration of polls to not conceding to the Opposition’s demands to club the last three phases in view of the alarming rise in Covid-19 cases.

Later, a police complaint was filed against the watchdog for culpable homicide by the wife of a Trinamool Congress candidate, who died of Covid-19. Interestingly, this year two senior officials who are members of the team attached to India’s election commissioners, which visits poll-bound states for ground review, have tested positive for Covid-19 on January 3rd. The questions still remain too many with no substantial answer at all. Who will be finally held responsible for the deaths of the common citizens be it the voters or those at the election duty? Does any given amount of compensation equivalent to a human life?

Why do we still stand in the same situation for the consecutive third year with respect to COVID-19 and impending lockdowns? Haven’t West Bengal elections and Kumb Mela taught us enough lessons to mend our ways? Thus, there must be someone to hold up a mirror to the serving government.


Also read: SubscriberWrites: India’s ‘system’ has failed but illusion of leadership lingers


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