{ HEMANT SOREN } J’KHAND CM
The role of public health care has come to the fore like never before.
While Covid-19 cases in Jharkhand have shown a declining trend in the last few days, chief minister Hemant Soren says the state can’t let the guard down, as uncertainty about the nature of the pandemic persists. In a telephonic interview with Vishal Kant, the chief minister spoke over a host of issues, including spread of the pandemic in rural areas, hiccups in the mass vaccination drive and Centre-state relations. Excerpts.
We are in the middle of the second wave of the pandemic. The number of positive Covid-19 cases in Jharkhand have started falling. What is the government’s assessment? Have we crossed the peak?
Our experience shows a lot of uncertainty related to this disease. It (numbers) keeps going up and down. Now, there are more associated issues coming up like black fungus. I think the numbers going down could also be a result of the restrictions we have put in place. Therefore, we cannot lower our guard. Overall social distancing and use of masks is the best practice to save oneself from the disease, besides vaccination.
Besides the high positivity rate, the second wave is more worrying due to its spread in rural areas, which have very poor health infrastructure?
Yes, our challenge has increased. In the first wave, the spread was largely concentrated in densely populated urban areas. But this time, it has penetrated rural areas. Initially, the situation was getting chaotic. However, things are under control now. We have also started a special door-to-door drive in rural areas to scan people, be it those who are unwell or even those who have died. We don’t
want to hide data, even death numbers. In fact, having the exact data related to deaths also gives us an idea of the direction in which the spread might be going.
This pandemic has also brought back the focus to an inadequate public health care system. Jharkhand traditionally has had very poor public health care with shortage of doctors, paramedics and technicians. Has this pandemic forced policy makers and your government to change the approach towards public health and make improvements accordingly?
I totally agree with it. The role of public health care has come to the fore like never before. In fact, despite all the limitations, it is the public health care infrastructure that has led the fight against the crisis. The private sector’s role has been exposed; ultimately they are business entities. However, there is no denying the fact that lots need to be done. Traditionally, we have been a poor and anaemic state, be it on economic, social or educational parameters. We are conducting an assessment and working on plans to improve the health care system in the state. However, I will also underline that we handled the pandemic in a much better way despite the limitations than some of our neighbouring states.
Vaccination is the key to fight this disease. But it’s very slow in the state, especially with regard to 18-44 age group. What’s the plan ahead?
There is no denying the fact that there is shortage of vaccines due to supply constraints. Initially, the Centre was handling procurement and distribution. Then, they suddenly left it to the states to procure vaccines for the 18-44 age group. That has led to a chaotic situation. States are now going for global tenders. Besides, there is no parity in pricing [of vaccines] for the states and the Centre. But, we are still making our best efforts, because the same people will turn around and blame the states if there is a delay in vaccination.
Will Jharkhand also go for a global tender?
Yes, it’s in process. We will issue it within the next few days.
Do you think that will help?
I am not very hopeful...it is going to be a huge burden on the states, especially poor states like us. There is no price parity. Spending hundreds of crores will be a huge burden. But, we have no choice.
Some other states have said the Centre should be taking over the entire vaccination programme. What’s your stance on it?
Absolutely. I made a similar demand from the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) platform. And, I still think so. It’s not too late. They made a budget of ₹35,000 crore for vaccination. The Centre should be handling all procurement and distribution. They are allocating oxygen, medicines and equipment. Similarly, vaccination needs to be done at the national level in a transparent manner.
In Jharkhand, there is another challenge in the vaccination programme--hesitancy, largely due to rumours surrounding the after-effects of vaccines, especially in rural areas.
Yes, we have also got feedback about this problem in rural areas. This is mostly related to lack of awareness. Moreover, confusion and certain events related to vaccines and other drugs being used in Covid-19 treatment have also contributed to it. People hear about some side effects of the vaccine and duplicate drugs being administered. These things add to the rumours, making it a bigger challenge in a state like ours due to the level of illiteracy. However, we have chalked out a detailed awareness programme with the help of all elected representatives across the political spectrum. The campaign will run up to the level of gram panchayats in order to dispel rumours and encourage people to get vaccinated.
Centre-state relations often become a talking point. We have seen conflict situations even during the pandemic. Your tweet about the Prime Minister (PM) went viral, with the BJP hitting back. What did you really mean by that tweet? Was it to say that such meetings/discussions are not fruitful?
The basic thing is that there needs to be transparency. I tweeted about the phone call only after news started flashing on TV that he spoke to chief ministers (CM). We saw the incident of Delhi CM Kejriwal when he was reminded about meeting protocols. But, how come what the PM speaks comes in the media? So, how do we (the states) share our concerns and demands? My view was that the state governments need to be taken into confidence before taking any decision. Or else, there will be problems in implementation. We have an example of what’s happening with ventilators supplied to states.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee raised the issue of PM-DM (district magistrate) conference? You were part of it. Do you share similar views?
I want to clarify that I have no ego hassles to sit there (in meetings) with DMs. However, such meetings are against the principles of federalism. Have we ever seen any other PM in the past hold a review meeting directly with the DMs. I totally agree that such meetings are done to humiliate us, where we have nothing to speak or contribute. Will the Centre be comfortable if I start doing review meetings with the Union health secretary? He (PM) also needs to think that he is sitting at a very high-level.
In the first wave, it was the Centre that imposed the lockdown. This time, it has left the decision on states. Do such restrictions have huge economic fallout? How will the state fight that? There are already reports of economic stress. Two days back, a driver sought food in Ranchi for his starving family?
In that specific case, as soon as we got to know, we extended help to the family in the middle of the night. As far as imposing a lockdown is concerned, there are double standards there as well. In the first wave, for the Centre, lockdown was the first option, but the states have been advised that it should be the last option. As far as economic stress is concerned, we have an eye on it. We didn’t let anyone starve in the first wave, it won’t happen this time as well.
Will the lockdown be extended?
The restrictions have clearly helped in containing the spread. We still have 2-3 days left (ongoing lockdown ends on May 27 morning). We are assessing the situation. The survey we are carrying out will give us more clarity about spread in rural areas by around May 25. We will take a decision as per situation.
My view was that the state governments need to be taken into confidence before taking any decision. Or else, there will be problems in implementation...
CM HEMANT SOREN, on decisions taken by the Centre