We find ourselves at a time when state governments across India are struggling to manage the coronavirus pandemic and minimise the spread of the infection. Amid these sustained efforts by the state governments in different parts of the country, the latest report from Assam is quite startling and surprising.
In Assam’s Kamrup district, around hundred Covid patients fled from the Covid Care Centre while alleging that they were not provided with proper food and water at the facility and were therefore forced to flee. The patients fled the centre together and then went on to block the National Highway 31 to mark their protest.
The police rushed to the site of protest and asked all the protesting patients to return back to the facility and give the government some time to resolve the matter and look into their demands. The angry patients were difficult to console and the protest site continued to experience tensions. The patients were complaining that they were not given food or water and over a dozen patients were kept in single rooms.
The deputy commissioner of Assam promised them that their allegations would be considered and efforts would be ensured to make sure that their needs are met.
The Minister of Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said that if patients aren’t happy with the facility, they could consider the option of home quarantining. The patients have been brought back to the facility.
