General Studies- II (Government policies and interventions)
Gist Of Editorials
07 May 2021
Recently, the Chhattisgarh High Court heard intervention applications filed by politicians and lawyers against the state government’s vaccination policy.
- The interventions was filed against the state’s decision to administer the vaccines based on the economic situation of the citizens.
- The bench of the High Court took objections to the state’s vaccination policy, raised some questions, and advised the state to make some changes before adjourning the matter to May 7.
What is Chhattisgarh’s vaccination policy?
The policy circular says, due to the limited number of vaccines available to the state, vaccination of people between 18-44 years of age would be held in three stages.
- Firstly, the Antyodaya Card holders are to be vaccinated,
- followed by the BPL card holders and
- Then the APL card holders.
Need for this sub-classification:
Since the Antyodaya Group, who are residing mostly in the remote areas and who are rather illiterate or not knowing anything much about the Covid-19 pandemic, symptoms, complications, necessity to register in the portal and as to the infrastructure, are moving around quite freely which spreads the disease much faster.
- The number of vaccines available to the state is also limited.
- Besides, lack of education, access to internet, smart phone make it harder for the poor to receive benefits.
Points raised against the state’s vaccination policy:
- The sub-classification is beyond the constitutional mandate and is patently in violation of the law of equality and the equal opportunity before law.
- Besides, it is discriminating citizens with reference to their right to life.
- The department has arbitrarily introduced class/income-based classification for administering the vaccine.
- The said classification has no nexus with the object sought to be achieved by implementing the same
High Court’ directions to the state:
- Fix a reasonable ratio of allotment of vaccines.
- A Scheme has to be formulated by the State by earmarking appropriate share of the vaccines to them as well.
- Set up ‘Help Desks’ providing spot registration and to administer vaccines to them.
Who is an Antyodaya card holder:
Antyodaya Anna Yojana was a Union government scheme in which “poorest of the poor” were identified and given a yellow ration card.
- The yellow ration card indicated that they were to be given rice, wheat and other ration items at heavily subsidised rates.
- Families with annual income less than Rs 15,000, senior citizens with no support, widows and unemployed persons also fall in this category.
Source: Indian express
