This pandemic Covid-19 has brought myriad issues of Odisha before us and helped us go for self-reflection about our own position in the world. There are issues like mindset of the bureaucracy, police, hospitals and house owners. There have been reports of police brutality against common man on street in many places, harassing common public with two wheeler in markets, attacks on Dalit hamlets in Nayagarh, Forest department evicting homeless ST families in Kalahandi and similar eviction from so- called forest land and arrest of two innocent tribals in Gondia of Dhenkanal during lockdown, private hospitals denying Muslims and other patients emergency treatment in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
But above all, the plight of migrant workers goes unabated as no one knows about the correct estimation of Odisha migrant workers outside the State in the absence of data with the Labour Department and trade unions from where mostly it is expected. Though Inter-State Migrant Workmen (regulation of employment and service condition) Act 1979 is available but there has been no registration of workers at Panchayat level where the supply can be tracked. Privately it is estimated that their number is around 25 lakh.
The Census 2011 revealed that total 12, 71,221 persons enumerated outside the State are from Odisha and top three districts having maximum out of State population are Sundergada, Khorda and Ganjam.
The Covid-19 has given an opportunity to ponder over these issues. 78 per cent of the population has been covered under NFSA-2013 with 83 per cent of population living in rural areas. But still there are lakhs of families who are wrongly out of list and not able to get the ration though State Government has made additional provision but at ground level many of the inherent mistakes have affected the poor and vulnerable the most.
Along with migrant workers, the other marginalized poor, the forest dwellers, lost their income due to problem in non timber forest produce (NTFP) collection and sale. The fisher folk is also equally in a deplorable state. Besides, small producers, artisans, farmers vegetable growers, milk farmers have suffered a lot . But in the context of Covid-19, the measures declared by Government have been more favorable to privileged class, salaried groups with assured social security and nothing for daily wage earners ,rural poor ,small producers, self-employed entrepreneurs and migrants.
The protective measures such as face-mask, physical distancing, hand wash and lockdown at home are not nearly possible for the poor in rural hamlets and urban slums those who struggle for minimum basic amenities due to negligence of Government. They have no homestead land, house, safe drinking water, toilet, electricity and many other facilities to live a life. They usually spend most of their time outside the house because of lack of adequate physical space. It is almost impossible for a poor daily wage earner to continue in lockdown for more than a month and it has many socio-economic ramifications on daily life.
Lakhs of migrant workers from Odisha have been stranded in different parts of the country and eagerly want to return back home. A few of them have undertaken adventurous journey by foot, cycle and boat to cover thousands of km to reach home. However, very lately, the home coming arrangement by the State Government to repatriate these workers by special bus and train and collection of hefty fees from the for the purpose has stoked a controversy.
It is unfortunate that even there were reports of death during travel by bus. Recently it is being reported from many places that the quality of food and logistics provided to migrant workers in quarantine centres in their native places is a matter of concern. It is being observed that the State supported facilities are disproportionately available to the migrant workers and the State authorities and their local service providers show a discriminatory attitude towards its fellow citizens and taxpayers. It seems equal right is a far cry for these hapless poor.
This pandemic Covid-19 also very well exposed the poor state of health sector and its move towards more privatisation.
Globally, the message is privatization of healthcare has proved undesirable and the public sector has emerged as most dedicated and reliable for all. The need for free universal healthcare by the Government has been very well realized as the service providers in Government hospitals are more accountable to Government and public. The fear and apprehensions are more because Odisha has not developed a robust heath sector to meet the emergencies. We have not developed required infrastructure, adequate manpower and medicinal products. Not many people are much aware about basic heath and hygienic issues. Illiteracy and lack of basic amenities and inherent poverty from generation together continue to pose a grave threat.
(manasbbsr15@mail.com)