Shillong, June 17: The order of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner for compulsory Covid vaccination of all shop keepers, hawkers and labourers, before the 24th of June has not gone down well with many.

Three pressure groups, namely, Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) and Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) on Wednesday jointly wrote a letter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma seeking his directive to withdraw the order.

“The government cannot trample on the people’s right of free choice. Hence we strongly condemn and demand that such totalitarian directive be withdrawn with immediate effect,” the NGOs said in the letter.

They added, “The Deputy Commissioner cannot force people for compulsory vaccination, as this invites the violation of fundamental rights, including the right to consent when it comes to any kind of medical treatment.”

The NGO said such directive in the first instance is an uphill task to be completed in a short span of time that is the 24th of this month.

It only implies the denial of the right to livelihood to the common citizens of the country who are already in crisis due to the extended lockdown.

The NGOs also stated there is a lacuna on the part of the government to create awareness about Covid vaccine coupled with the slackness on the part of government machinery to carry out vaccination.

According to them, the present situation demands that medical experts of the state must come forward to clarify to the general public about the pros and cons of Covid vaccination the doubtful public need specialist opinion not an opinion of generalist public servant.