MARGAO
Who are they? Where do they come from? Have they all taken the Covid jab? And, whether the government and the health authorities have any plan to inoculate this marginalized section of the population, having no shelter or roof over their head, with the city’s footpaths, pavements and garden benches becoming their second home?
As the government launched the Tika Utsav vaccination programme with much fanfare across the state, the question that has come to the fore is simple “ is there any plan in place to get the beggars, rag pickers and others who have no shelter or home inoculated during the ongoing vaccination programme.
Mostly migrants, hailing from other states, including Bihar and Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and even Nepal, they are dependent on good samaritans for their survival, especially in times of Covid. These people have no fixed place of stay. Many of them came to the state years ago to work as loaders in the markets, but are now doing odd jobs, including rag picking to make both ends meet. And, there are others, who have no means of livelihood and are dependent on support from socially-conscious citizens.
That inoculation of this marginalized section of society is important is evident from the fact that beggars brought dead at the government hospitals had tested positive for Coronavirus during the pandemic.
When ‘The Goan’ tried to find out from these people whether they have received the jab or not, almost all of them replied in the negative. And, barring an odd man out, neither do they possess Aadhaar cards, cell phones nor any ID document to register for the Covid vaccination.
When a rag picker moving around the Pajifond area was asked whether he has taken the Covid, he replied in the positive, saying he has taken the vaccine at the TB hospital. Upon further questioning, it became evident the rag picker with his colleague had been at the TB hospital to take treatment for tuberculosis.
Agni, a native of Bihar, informed that he has nothing with him, neither Aadhaar nor ration card and has not taken the vaccine.
Many a migrant labourers found loitering around the Margao Municipal garden or along the station road echoed similar sentiments. A native of Nepal, informed he has Aadhaar card with him, but wondered whether poor and homeless people like them will get the opportunity to take the jab.
Another migrant, Anand, a native of Karnataka, pointed out that though he has Aadhaar card with him, he has not received the vaccine till date.
There’s no concrete data available as to the number of such persons and has made the city their second home, even rough estimates may put the figure in hundreds. And, neither do the authorities, including the health authorities, have any to get this section of the society inoculated for Covid.
Margao Urban Health Officer Dr Anju Kharangate admitted the health centre has not come across anyone from this marginalized section of the society turning up for vaccination. “I have no idea how to get these people to the Centre to take the jab. May be the district authorities or NGOs will have to step in to inoculate this section of the society”, Dr Kharangate added.
TB hospital vaccination nodal officer and member of the Task Force, Dr Ira Almeida said there’s no plan in the offing to inoculate this section of marginalized people for the moment. “During universal vaccination, health care workers reach out to the marginalized sections spread at the railway stations and other public place for vaccination. May be, when Covid vaccination becomes universal, the health care workers will have to go out to inoculate these people”, she said, while conceding there’s no special plan in place at the moment to vaccinate these people.
