GOVT ORDERS FOR VACCINATION OF PAK MIGRANTS

The way for Covid vaccination of about 25,000 Pakistani minority migrants living in Rajasthan has been cleared. After the Rajasthan High Court recently pulled up the state government for not taking appropriate steps to vaccinate the Pakistani migrants, medical and health secretary Siddharth Mahajan has directed the district collectors in Rajasthan to vaccinate people or vulnerable groups, including the Pakistani minority migrants, not having any identity proof, as per the availability of vaccines through Cowin app.

The central government has issued the standard operating procedure (SOP) on May 6 for vaccination of persons or vulnerable groups not having any of the specified identity proofs. In compliance with the SOP, the state had issued directions to identify such groups/persons and secure their vaccination. Vaccination of Pakistani migrants has started in Jodhpur and Barmer districts. In Barmer district, migrants were vaccinated on the basis of Pakistani passports.

“All collectors have been asked to send regular reports ensuring compliance with the directions,” Mahajan said.

According to the home department, 22,819 Pakistani migrants in Rajasthan are on long-term visas (LTVS). Seemant Lok Sangathan, an organisation fighting for the rights of Pakistani migrants, estimates the number of Pakistani minority migrants in Rajasthan to be over 25,000. According to the medical department, about 17,180 Pakistani migrants reside in 24 slums in Jodhpur alone. “The protection of our health would not have been possible in time without the order of the high court. Now it will be possible to vaccinate our family members too,” said Devi Lal, a Pak migrant.