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

Answer..................

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Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020? Why this ordinance was promulgated?