The clash of politicians and party workers at a meeting in Valpoi was an unnecessary nuisance., especially when there were more pressing matters at hand, in this case,Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or monkey fever, as it is popularly known. What is worse is that this happened in the presence of two ministers, Minister for Forests Rajendra Arlekar and Health Minister (and Deputy Chief Minister) Francis D’Souza.
The joint meeting, with the two ministers, health and veterinary officials, as well as other members of local administration and services, was to take stock of the KFD cases in the area and discuss measures. It was here at two Aam Aadmi Party leaders asked for explanations to the delay in procuring vaccinations. Local BJP party workers then clashed with the AAP leaders, and the topic turned to the 2017 elections.
The fact remains that there is a lull in the procuring of vaccinations and there may seem to be a lack of preparedness by the Goa government. According the D’Souza, the government had indeed ordered for 2000 vaccines last year. So far only 500
of those were used, the rest were wasted since the people were not responsive. The villagers of Pali had refused to get themselves vaccinated.
Four people lost their lives
last year; this year the number of
fatalities has been two. But there is
a danger of that number going up.
The government is so far doing all it can to prevent the spread
through awareness programmes. Vaccines are on the way.
However, there is very little information on this disease and
there is also only one company that manufactures vaccines,
based in Karnataka.
This is not to say that the government should be absolved
of any lack of preparedness this year, considering there were
deaths from KFD last year, or that the awareness programmes
conducted could have been more effective in encouraging villagers
to get vaccinated. But, to turn this into a political circus
was uncalled for. Here both the party members, from
AAP as well as the BJP, should be pulled up. The BJP party
workers countered allegations of lack of preparedness with
taunts about AAP councilors not getting elected and also started
discussing the 2017 elections, where they claims that the
BJP would win 26 seats. AAP members pointed to this being
the last year for the BJP, and that they have done nothing for
the past four. They then even called a press conference where
they claimed they will ask for the resignation of the Minister
for Health, due to the issues with the spread of KFD.
What does all this have to do with the fact that two people
have died this year from KFD and that many more could be affected.
At a time when parties need to come together and work
for the betterment of the state, there is polarisation on the basis
of politics. Any political party member, or even a layperson
has a right to question policies and methods employed by the
government, but there is a time and place for this. At a meeting
where measures to stop the spread of KFD wasn’t such a place.
Politics needs to take a backseat when the welfare of the people
is at stake.
