Shillong, Aug 9: Observing the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples under the theme “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract”, Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council (MPHRC) on Monday said the brunt of the current Lockdown/Containment measures in the state, especially in Shillong city has affected the common people and those living on the margins.

In a statement, MPHRC Chairman, Dino D.G Dympep said the state administration should emphasize healthcare, small farmers and cultivators, and those people who are vulnerable especially widow, physically challenged, pregnant women, children and old aged people.

He also pointed out that the government should give equal emphasis to non-COVID patients as well and their right to access the healthcare services should not be curtailed or limited by the imposition of Lockdown/Containment rules.

“We are today faced with many encounters which are trying times for our people and the prevalent situation of health crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in Meghalaya has disproportionately been affecting the indigenous/tribal people and the poor, exacerbating underlying structural inequalities combined with pervasive discrimination in access to health care and communications” he said.

He added that there are many cases of alleged criminal negligence and apathy by the different hospitals that went unreported which is a clear outright atrocity and injustice against the most vulnerable and marginalized section of people in the society. “While we appreciate the immediate response of the Government of Meghalaya, however we state that this is a symptom of decades of institutional apathy,” he said.

Indigenous people more vulnerable to effects of Covid-19

A recent Global report by the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and a report by Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples suggest that, ‘Indigenous Peoples are more vulnerable to the direct (health) and indirect (economic, food security) effects of COVID-19, with generally higher infection and death rates than the overall non-Indigenous populations. The impact on Indigenous women and girls, and Indigenous Peoples with Disabilities is even more severe.

Dympep said the denial of basic human rights is severely limiting common people to respond to the global health crisis and has also led to increased fatality among rural women and non-COVID patients.

According to the recent report of the Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills District it stated that the COVID-19 fatality rate among pregnant women in the second wave is much higher compared to that of the first wave in East Khasi Hills district and for which 11 pregnant women died in the second wave and the fatality rate is 5.7%.

“The fragility of our world and the risks we have ignored for decades have been laid bare and it is for us to realize the urgent need to address the pre-existing inequalities, gaps in social protection, the climate crisis and the meaning crisis that has resulted from democratic deficit,” stressed Dympep.

Call for corrective measures

MPHRC has called upon the government to take urgent corrective measures to address the systematic inequalities and discrimination experienced by the indigenous tribal peoples especially in the public services. It also urged the government to look into the crumbling healthcare and communication infrastructures in remote and rural areas of the state.

MPHRC urges the following with utmost uprightness

1. Government of Meghalaya (GoM) must revive all non-functional health centres including dispensaries, primary health centres and sub-centres located in far flung areas

2. The government should give emphasis on maternity health. There should be ambulances made available for any emergency cases. All District Hospitals and Primary Health Centres should have an obstetrician/gynaecologist. All health benefits should be given to pregnant women and lactating mothers.

3. The government should identify all those women who died due to maternal complication during this Lockdown/Containment period and the Enquiry Committee constituted by the Health Department (GoM) should look into all these cases and not just one particular case. The Enquiry Committee should expand to include a retired judge, police inspector and a member of a reputed CSO.

4. People of the state particularly those residing in the rural areas are facing numerous difficulties due to bad road conditions and lack of internet connectivity. The government should not lose its sight on such basic infrastructure during this pandemic.