After repeated violence against the doctors and other healthcare qorkers, the Union Cabinet finally approved the enforcement of an Ordinance to revise the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and make these misbehaviours towards them a “cognizable and a non- bailable offence” which can lead upto seven years of imprisonment along with a lumpsome amount of fine.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar declared that under the newly amended provision, Govt. will accept “zero tolerance” for any kind of physical attacks on the medical fraternity. Violators will have to face punishment from three months to five years and will have to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000- Rs. 2 lakhs. In more critical cases with fatal injuries, the imprisonment may extend for six months to seven years with hefty fines of Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakhs.
Further he added that the investigation of the matter will be completed within 30 days and decision will be taken within a month’s duration against the perpetrators.
On Monday, Indian Medical Association (IMA) had resolved to follow “Black Day” on April 23 if the Central Government does not take adequate measures to stop these shameful acts of violence on the medical personnels. The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah conducted a meeting with them today where they have been given the assurance of safety for doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers who are working day in and day out to combat the battle against COVID-19.
Many medical staffs, especially those deployed on duty for the coronavirus wards, have faced harassments at various places, particularly when they went to “quarantine’ people who have been in contact with an already traced coronavirus patient within last 10 days.
Some of them have also been thrown out of their accomodations by their landlords in fear of them being the carriers of coronavirus.
