HC asks govt to ensure availability of proper PPE to healthcare workers
Puts admin on notice over ‘lack of basic amenities’ in far-flung areas
Srinagar : Apart from directing to ensure availability of protection gear to healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 in J&K, the High Court today put the civil administration to notice ‘for lack of basic amentias to residents of the far-flung areas of Kashmir amid the ongoing pandemic’.
The Department of Health and Medical Education shall ensure availability of the kits to all healthcare personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, directed the court while disposing off a complaint on non-availability of personnel protection kits to frontline workers in the government hospitals.
Earlier a status report was filed by Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, placing before court the steps being taken for ensuring supply of sufficient quantities of personal protective equipments to the healthcare workers.
On a complaint by advocate Naveed Bukhtiyar that people living in the areas near Line of Control were living without the basic amenities, the court put the concerned authorities to notice for compliance.
“We have doubts as to whether the directions which have been sought in this application can be given by us. However, the prayer though couched differently is really in the nature of cry for help for basic necessities from far-flung areas of Kashmir,” observed the court.
The applicant lawyer complained that basic needs of people living in far-flung areas as Gurez, Tangdhar, Machail, Uri remained unattended by the government.
He said these people were not only economically weak but also going through miserable time amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He stated “these people are in desperate need of basic requirements of survival. This is very critical issue and the official respondents are bound to ensure that the essentials are made available to every person living in the Union Territory.”
The court directed the Member Secretary JKSLSA for necessary intervention and assistance to the needy.
It also directed that the matters be examined by the Department of Social Welfare and appropriate action taken to assist the residents of the Union Territory in Kashmir — those living in far flung areas.
The court called for an action taken report before the next date of hearing.
Meanwhile, a report presented by the Social Welfare Department before the court claimed that 5773 numbers of dependents/family members of COVID-19 warriors were contacted by it during the pandemic.
It also claimed that 127 reported grievances were addressed at the district level.
“Subsequently additional 8217 calls were made in different districts to dependents/family members, out of which 204 reported grievances of various categories like requirement of medicines, rations, movement passes, personal protection kits (PPK), and transportation were addressed,” it said.
Rashid Paul is Associate Editor at Kashmir Images.
He can be reached at [email protected]
