COVID-19 – DEMANDS BY BMMA
WITHDRAW NPR, NRC AND ABOLISH CAA
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a widespread demand to cancel the NPR and NRC process and also to take back CAA. In scenario, India will be reeling under the post COVID-19 impact for a long time. The efforts to get back to feet economically are going to be humungous. The daily wage earners, farm labourers, informal sector workers and migrant workers and others who form a large chunk of our population will need a big hand by the state to overcome the setback. There is no need for these draconian processes in times of social and economic emergency.
TO CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS
· Stop communalizing the pandemic, the deaths, the affected people and regions.
· Put reins and take strict action on those media houses who are spewing communal venom in such difficult times
· Allocate adequate budget to deal with the pandemic
· Any lockdown, curfew, emergency shutdowns must be announced atleast 5 days in advance and with clear guidelines keeping in mind the poor and the migrants.
· Timely relief package to all affected especially those residing in rural areas.
State responsibility towards migrants
· Immediately ensure the smooth movement of migrants to their villages and towns. Run special busses and trains for the same
· Convert schools, colleges, temples, vihars, churches, masjids and other community centres for housing those migrants who are stuck
· Provide food, water, masks, sanitizers, medicines to migrants in these makeshift shelters
State responsibility towards police
· Stop the police violence on migrants, vendors and others. They are not criminals. Suspend the concerned police officer immediately
· Ask the police to provide curfew pass to community volunteers for facilitating the valid needs like fetching gas cylinder, ration, burying/cremating their dead and not harass them unnecessarily asking for documents etc.
· Take care of the psychological needs of the police. If they are violent, it means they need healing and support
State responsibility towards doctors
· Ensure the safety of medical practitioners and all health care workers.
· Ensure the social security of NGO staff /service providers and treat them as unorganized worker.
· To give proper equipment for doctors to combat the corona and organize corona test kits
· In case of further deterioration ensure more beds, more ventilators, more medicines, masks, gowns, sanitizers and all other medical requirements
· Massive training of para medical workers who will be needed to assist the doctors and nurses
Post-Pandemic responsibility of the state
· Allocate 5% if not more, of the GDP on public health services.
· Halt the privatization of health care services and impose strict penalties for violation and a cap on fees charged by private players
· Rejuvenate public health care centers right down to each village
· Support to migrants, daily wage earners and all informal sector workers to restart their economic sustenance. Short and long term no-interest loans should be given immediately
