- One of the most common aspects of effective governance is to function transparently. The administration machinery in any democratic setup is meant to serve the people since the socio-welfare measures take precedence over everything else. Especially in a country like India which is huge, spread over a large swathe of landscape, diversified, and differing from region to region vis-à-vis caste, class, creed, language, ethnicity, culture, tradition, and heritage. Here, the government authorities should be making earnest efforts to disseminate information that would serve the large population without taking recourse to opaqueness. The more information is attempted at curtailing, the more resentment the people will feel towards the administration.
PC:Hindustan Times
- The country experienced how keeping the general public in the loop during the pandemic helped immensely to not only thwart the spread of false information but also allowed the government authorities to properly disseminate information and act effectively to tackle the virulent virus. Talking of viruses reminds us of how mysterious deaths have plagued J & K villages in the last couple of months. The country is watching how the issue is unfolding. Needless to mention, authorities need to pinpoint the cause of deaths in the Rajouri village since the fear grows in the absence of facts. For the uninitiated, it’s close to two months since the first deaths in village Badhal in J&K were reported. The village is now a containment zone.
PC:National Herald
- As reported, between Dec 7 and Jan 20, 17 people including 12 children aged between 7 and 15 have died. Little wonder, panic set in among the villagers as well as authorities grappling with the emerging situation. While fears of both infectious disease and mysterious illness were disproved, the exact cause of death is yet to be established. The relief is those who fell sick in a later wave received immediate medical attention and are in recovery. Experts have shared that indicators point to toxins – pesticide residue was found in the well from where victim families sourced water. But labs are still to get to the root of the toxic reactions that killed so many. The case needs to be wrapped up as soon as possible. There are plenty of reasons why.
PC:Himalaya Shelter
- First and foremost, to secure the health and safety of the remaining inhabitants of Badhal and especially secure water sources and the safety/quality of their commons. Two, to tackle the runaway disinformation that travels like wildfire, such as a terror attack or targeted kills. Third, it is essential to identify the source of the toxins and disseminate all relevant information publicly and widely. If needed pesticides are identified as the cause, the question is how did such toxin reach Pir Panjal Valley? Yes, toxic reactions from exposure to pesticide residue are a pan-India problem. The local govt must fix the freshwater source in the pristine Rajouri hamlet to make it safe again. No need to hide anything but keep the people posted. Simple.
