- Soon after the pandemic was declared, the government swung into action imposing successive lockdowns with the express intention of sprucing up the stuttering healthcare infrastructure and battle-readying the crucial medical fraternity to fight the inevitable destruction forecast. All frontline healthcare workers including doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff were hailed as health warriors and in honor of their selfless contributions, no less than the Prime Minister led the nation by clapping, sounding, and lighting candles.
PC: the independentbd
- Every state government’s too followed suit in designating the health workers as warriors who were in the forefront combating the virulent virus by sacrificing their comforts. Despite hearing frequent complaints about the inferior quality personal protective equipment and kits supplied to these frontline staff placing their own lives at peril, extremely determined and motivated workforce chugged along while fulfilling entrusted responsibilities without much ado. Of course, few states did witness tools down from these warriors for various reasons.
- Right from requesting enhancement in salaries to seeking incentives to provisioning better quarantine facilities to basic work-related amenities for ensuring personal hygiene and safety standards were some of the demands put forth for due consideration of the authorities concerned. Some of these demands were fulfilled and few deferred for later deliberation to facilitating a satisfactory working environment subsequently. Albeit all these happenings, the health warriors went about tasks with diligence and noticeable commitment.
PC: hrkatha
- As the indebted nation continued to shower glowing tributes and appreciation for relentlessly serving the cause comes the disturbing news that many of these health warriors have not been disbursed salaries on time unduly burdening not only the already stressed-out workers but also dependant families too. This bit of information came to light when the honorable Supreme Court directed the Central Government to come out with detailed reports as to why state governments are not following the earlier directives of disbursing salaries to workers on time.
- In reply, the Central Government informed the Apex Court all other State Governments have complied with the directives except Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, and Tripura, respectively. Upon pursuing the reply submitted, the Court directed the Centre to ensure its earlier directives and orders are followed/complied with urging it to ensure implementation as enunciated in the Disaster Management Act. The Court also asked the Centre not to display helplessness in ensuring strict execution by the State Governments.
PC: dnaindia
- Hopefully, the authorities concerned realizes the importance of keeping up the morale of health warriors to the optimum levels as the pandemic is still far away from even reaching its projected peak across the country. A demotivated and demoralized frontline workers are the last thing the battered country would wish to confront. As such, timely disbursal of salaries should be ensured forthwith.
