-SATISH HANDA

On the basis of a survey of nearly 50 persons including political leaders, senior bureaucrats, senior teaching staff and people from trade & industry more than 90% of them were of opinion that spread of epidemic outbreak claimed large number of lives would have been controlled if care has been taken and those blamed in this regard cannot deny allegations. The second variant  of COVID-19 at present has proved extremely harmful as compared to the first  variant in 2020 in the country not only causing heavy financial loss to the people as well as government but also large number of people died due to virus which was an biggest loss to their families. However, the number of Corona positive cases in Haryana state has witnessed drop in rural areas but the number of deaths due to disease as well as Corona positive patients has witnessed much increase due to lacking safety measures. According to experts, there is immediate need to get rid of fast spreading second variant of COVID-19 which requires a powerful management to include lock down till situation improves and people to follow medical directions wearing face mask, observe distance and remain away from crowd places. Information reveals, developing containment zones in affected areas bringing good results.

According t Deepak Sood General Secretary ASOCHAM , Industry playing important role to stop consumption of oxygen for industrial use and diverting all supplies to hospitals to save human lives. Haryana state government has started preparations to install oxygen generation plants in every hospital in the state. Sood said, IT and Telecom sectors in the country has not been affected in the country during present epidemic outbreak, whereas industry especially small scale manufacturing units have been worst affected due to shortage of raw material and economic crisis including non availability  and high prices of iron & steel, metals and chemicals. Tourism sector in the country has also been worst affected due to COVID-19 since past over a year. He said, banks as well as other financial institutions, too, are facing burden at this stage. Sood said, vaccination is the only ray of hope to save people in the country from COVID-19.

Recently, Madras High Court made comments over Election Commission announced Vidhan Sabha polls in few sates at the times when entire country  facing epidemic outbreak. Double Bench of Justice D.Y. Chanderchud and Justice M.R. Shah in Supreme Court of India condemned over Election Commission demanding ban over media reporting in this regard. High Court had raised a question how Election Commission permitted recent Vidhan Sabha polls in few states in the country facing highly infectious epidemic outbreak all over in the country saying it was an irresponsible decision and action should be taken against concerned officers responsible for the death of large number of people suffering from disease since condition has become bad to worst after these polls when disease also spread from urban to rural areas.

According to Election Commission, they only issue guidelines, which are implemented by the state administration as such Election Commission cannot be accused for this.. However, Supreme Count of India was not satisfied saying that when transfer of an officer of DGP rank in th state is possible on the directions by Election Commission how it can be denied that Election Commission has no powers to interfere working of the state during Vidhan Sabha polls, whereas according to Section 324 Election Commission possesses powers to take all important decisions related to elections independently without any political pressure in a democratic country as seen in past years when Chief Election Commissioners S.L. Shakdhar and T.N. Sesan were holding the charge of Chief Election Commissioner.

Controversy was seen during the survey to have opinion of nearly 50 political leaders, bureaucrats, educationists and people from trade & industry when more than 90% of them were of opinion what was the necessity for holding Vidhan Sabha polls followed by Panchayat polls at few places at the time when country was facing severe epidemic outbreak raising a question why Vidhan Sabha polls for hardly 294 Vidhan Sabha seats were conducted in eight terms in Bengal only as compared to Vidhan Sabha polls in other states Tamilnadu contested 234 seats, Kerala state contested polls on 140 Vidhan Sabha seats, in Assam state having polls on 40 seats and Panducherri where polls held on 30 seats all in a day.

Most of the people when asked said why government took no strict action against farmers protesting at all borders as a result not only industry as well as people residing in the area suffered too much, which is the major reason for COVID-19 spread from urban  areas to rural areas. The agitators were not even prepared even to get themselves vaccinated as such large number of families  residing in rural areas now losing their nears and dears. While addressing a press conference,  Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter admitted that farmers gathering at the place of protests since past several months are root cause for COVID -19 spread in rural areas at present and he had made repeated requests to finish their present agitation and may re-start their protest against when situation improves but protestors were not prepared to listen and continued agitation under the influence of political leaders in opposition as a result Corona virus further spread in rural areas. Khatter disclosed that there are nearly a thousand Hot Spots identified in Haryana state and most of these are situated near the places where protests going on and residents of villages in the areas are suffering from COVID-19.

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij expressed deep concern over Black Fungus  seen in large number of persons among those already recovered from Corona disease. Information reveals, as many as 30 persons suffering from Black Fungus were treated at PGIMS Rohtak till May 30 this year. Prof. Dr Raman Kumar told that most of the patients admitted in the hospital were found suffering from sugar and dead tissues were removed with the help of Endoscopic Surgery. He told that 21 patients suffering from Black Fungus were admitted at PGIMS Rohtak with effect from September2020 till April 2021  According to Haryana health department information, another eight cases of Black Fungus has been reported  at Agroha Medical College this week, which include six patients from Hisar, Sirsa and Dabwali. According to DrRaman Kumar, among prominent symptoms of Black Fungus include nose blockage, pain in cheeks, eye balls coming out of eyes and loss of eye sight all of sudden. He said, fungus in eyes and brain are very harmful and treated immediately.