Kaniza Garari
IndiGlobal Media Bureau
It is those who have been denied their right in death that are haunting us now. Covid 19 deaths have not been counted in the right number across all States of India. Total deaths till February 7th, 2022 are 502874.
The reasons for not recording them simply comes across as State Government’s will to under-report and not portray the right numbers. Stigma of the disease is still not bringing many families to the fore for claiming compensation.
Non-Government Organisations working in the field of healthcare find that many people are unwilling as they are not wanting to reveal the real status of death. Others are not sure if they will get any compensation.
With Supreme Court of India now asking State Government’s to settle the Claims and provide Compensation there are two issues which come to the fore:
- If the right numbers were not recorded will they be revised NOW?
- What happens to those who died of the disease and their families have failed to file for compensation?
There are reports and incidences of families being wiped out but records are not available. What happens to them?
How are we to quantify and measure the numbers that are lost?
These are questions which will have to be answered in the course of time.
With Supreme Court directing State Government’s to settle claims it shows that there will also then arise a need to revise the numbers – officially. Will that be done?
Will those who died in the pandemic be given their due in death?
Governments have to move beyond the number game and look at the social and emotional quotient of the pandemic. They must recognize and provide the closure that the dead require.