THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 24 April 2020 (Protecting the healers (The Hindu))

Protecting the healers (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Polity
Prelims level: Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020
Mains level: Details about the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020

Context:

The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 is ensure to promulgated the healthcare workers.

About the ordinance:

This 2020 ordinance will amend the Epidemic Act, 1867.
It will criminalise attacks on healthcare personnel, including doctors, nurses, paramedics and ASHA workers.
It will make them a non-bailable offence.
Ordinarily, the guilty can be sent to jail for 3 months to 5 years, with a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh.

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Reasons behind the promulgation:

There are several incidences of frontline workers being attacked or facing harassment across the country.
Frontline workers, be it healthcare workers, civic workers, emergency responders, or even police personnel, are working under great duress at the moment.
India’s shortage in healthcare manpower already places a heavy burden on the existing workforce.
The pandemic has compounded this burden many times over.
If India ends up seeing the infection spread and hospitalisation numbers projected for it, it will need every healthcare hand available.
So, protecting these healthcare workers is a need of the time.

Is this Ordinance enough?

The ordinance’s provision for harsher punishment and its strict enforcement should serve as a deterrent.
However, the government must look at a more permanent way to protect healthcare workers.
It framed the Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments Bill 2019 to deter attacks on, and harassment of hospital staff.
However, this is yet to be enacted.

Way forward:

Sensitizing the masses to support frontline workers is needed.
If not, India’s battle against the disease will truly be lost.
The government must run awareness campaigns to address citizens’ fears about exposure to the pathogen via healthcare workers.
It must pass the 2019 Bill to protect healthcare workers in a more permanent way.

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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Pattachitra paintings, consider the following statements:
1. It is based in the states of West Bengal and Odisha.
2. In Bengal tradition paintings are solely based on Hindu mythology.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2