Vaccine Discrimination Strategy

Every Govt./ Every Kingdom is procuring vaccines for its citizens/population on its own to be administered at the Govt.’s cost as it is pandemic. Like our PM says, once in a century pandemic. Why is it that Govt. of India is dragging its feet on vaccination? Our Govt. always plays hockey with data is known to everybody. But this time, they are playing ping pong with States as if the citizens represented by Centre and State are two different set of individuals. Especially when India is amongst the top 5 worst handlers of the virus in the world. May be it is about Modiji being loyal to his friend, Mr Doland Trump (Not Donald, as that is how our PM likes to call him).

 

On April 18, 2021, when Corona cases had jumped 2.75 Lakh for the day with 1600+ deaths and our PM was lauding the efforts of the public to attend his rally in West Bengal and expressing his pleasure to see the huge turnout of crowds. The States were making clamour for more vaccines as they had to reach out to its respective citizens with answers to problems and not an explanation for failure to deal with the problem. Perhaps some CMs were just posturing to care which the case may not be.

Barely 50 days with the modified rules of the new Vaccination Program, the policy stands scrapped and new policy has replaced with the old one. Will we witness further changes into the Vaccination Policy, especially because Centre plays dumb down with MoHFW focused on Congress rather than vaccines or perhaps that’s the case with the every Minister of Govt.

 

The arbitrary and irrational vaccination guidelines were framed after receiving the letter from former PM, Dr. Mute Singh. Apparently he is not mute in Opposition and while as PM, his work did the talk rather than tongue. Lets look at what Dr. Singh said and what our Govt. did in response.

First, the government should publicize what are the firm orders for doses placed on different vaccine producers and accepted for delivery over the next six months. If we want to vaccinate a target number in this period, we should place enough orders in advance so that producers can adhere to an agreed schedule of supply.

 

To counter, Data is not the strong forte of our Govt. under Modi. Though their party is empowered with data at every booth level during elections. Govt. has given some numbers of orders placed and we know it will keep revising over the next few months to create total confusion to the already chaos created by our Govt. Guidelines and circulars for gag orders to States on Vaccine stocks have been issued in second week of June.

 

Second, the government should indicate how this expected supply will be distributed across states based on a transparent formula. The central government could retain 10 percent for distribution based on emergency needs, but other than that, states should have a clear signal of likely availability so that they can plan their roll out.

 

On empowerment of States for vaccination, Govt. of India has over extended itself. To bring transparency, Central Govt. developed a quota system and made an effort to wash their hands from vaccine procurement process. The Govt. said, “Manufacturers would transparently make an advance declaration of the price for 50 per cent supply that would be available to State Governments and in open market, before May 1”.

 

Dr Manmohan Singh is talking about distribution process and our Govt. understood it as procurement process. In addition, they have further allayed the process on private hospitals. The quota system of supplies between the Government of India and “other than Government of India” channels would be applicable “uniformly across for all vaccines manufactured in the country”.

 

Third, states should be given some flexibility to define categories of frontline workers who can be vaccinated even if they are below 45 years of age. For example, states may want to designate school teachers, bus, three-wheeler and taxi drivers, municipal and panchayat staff, and possibly lawyers who have to attend Courts as frontline workers. They can then be vaccinated even if they are below 45.

 

On this point, our Govt. agreed fully; so Govt. responded with the change. States have been given the authority to take a call to open vaccination to any category of people above the age of 18 — a shift from the current policy in which the central government decides on age-specific priority groups for vaccination.

 

Fourth, over the past few decades, India has emerged as the largest vaccine producer in the world, thanks to policies adopted by the government and robust intellectual property protection. The capacity is largely in the private sector. At this moment of a public health emergency, the Government of India must proactively support vaccine producers to expand their manufacturing facilities quickly by providing funds and other concessions. In addition, I believe this is the time to invoke the compulsory licensing provisions in the law, so that a number of companies are able to produce the vaccines under a licence. This, I recall, had happened earlier in the case of medicines to deal with the HIV/AIDS disease. As far as Covid-19 is concerned, I have read that Israel has already invoked the compulsory licensing provision and there is an overwhelming case for India to do so as well quickly.

 

On this point, Govt. has extended advance payments to vaccine manufacturers, which they had to pay in any case, but there is no support from Govt.’s end. On compulsory licensing issue, the Govt. does not want to wrong signal to the investing community and they would continue to put all their eggs in two baskets of two domestic manufacturers. Let’s see for how long they drag their feet. Govt. gave affidavit in SC that it is not tenable but the PM is asking for TRIPS waiver in G7 summit for all Covid related medicines/vaccines.

 

Fifth, since domestic supplies are limited, any vaccine that has been cleared for use by credible authorities such as the European Medical Agency or the USFDA, should be allowed to be imported without insisting on domestic bridging trials. We are facing an unprecedented emergency and, I understand, experts are of the view that this relaxation is justified in an emergency. The relaxation could be for a limited period during which the bridging trials could be completed in India. All consumers of such vaccines could be duly cautioned that these vaccines are being allowed for use based on the approval granted by the relevant authority abroad.

 

In response, the Centre has allowed imported, fully ready-to-use vaccines to be entirely utilised in the other-than-Government of India channel. This means that if and when pharma giants like Pfizer bring their vaccines to India, they can directly sell their entire supply in the open market at competitive prices.

To further complicate the India’s Vaccination Policy. Central Govt. is also working on a complex formula. We have 29 States with population size of 135 Crores of people. I really don’t understand who puts such out of the world ideas in our Govt.’s head. Or perhaps they are forced by politics.

 

In the next phase, the Centre will allocate its share of 50 per cent to states based on the extent of infection (number of active Covid cases) and vaccination performance (speed of administration). States are at present receiving vaccine doses based on demand (the number of registrations and walk-in vaccinations). “Wastage of vaccine will also be considered in this criteria and will affect the criteria negatively. Based on the above criteria, State-wise quota would be decided and communicated to the States adequately in advance,” the Centre said.

 

“India has been following a dynamic mapping model based on availability of vaccines & coverage of vulnerable priority groups to take decisions of when to open up vaccinations to other age-groups. A good amount of coverage of vulnerable groups is expected by April 30,” the Centre said.

 

Nobody knows if this policy was in discussion for a day or a week or a month. May be our Govt. was also thinking clearly on the lines of Dr. Manmohan Singh. In order to take credit, they jumbled up the whole issue, wherein our PM is yet to respond to his predecessor and MoHFW headed by Mr. Matru wrote about the politics naming the political parties in response. The reason he could not become part of the discussion process, while inventing the mumbo-jumbo, they are feeding the public amidst the pandemic, when people were dying due to lack of oxygen, hospital, medicines.

 

Central Govt. was heading for a shake down from Supreme Court and hence they changed the policy. Good sense prevailed in our Govt. to scrap the policy. Is it the impending elections in 5 States scheduled for early next year? Everybody knows, our PM’s and our Govt.’s heart and mind is always stuck in elections. They make decisions and formulate policies on how it would appear in elections.

 

Truth is stranger than fiction and an enemy of reality.

Maitri is Liability

 

 

On January 19, 2021, PM started #vaccinemaitri to start exporting vaccines to a number of countries across the globe. Our PM was preparing for this day since September, when India had just about reached the peak of first wave. Our PM at the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session said, “India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting the COVID crisis.”

 

In May, 3^rd week, Govt. of India arrests nine people for putting up posters, Modi Ji, “hamare bacho ko vaccine videsh kyun bheji” (Why did you send our children’s vaccine abroad). The fact remains, no country had started vaccinating children across the world. But the question was loud and clear for everybody to ask, Why did you send the vaccines abroad?

 

Our Govt. under Modi went into huddle and always take every question as the personal attack on 56 inches of our PM. What started as diplomacy stunt, actually backfired. As usual, Govt. got a nice Op-Ed by its party member in a leading newspaper. The person chosen to write is none other than gutter mouth, Sambit Patra, who is a qualified doctor. Though he is not practicing his profession, may be because of his irritating personality or his tone to speak.

 

The brief gist from his article is written here for quick reference. I will not post my comments on BJP Spokeperson’s and rather counter it with quotes from our Prachar Mantri (PM) and EAM (in Parliament).

 

Let us look at some facts. As on May 11, India exported 663.698 lakh vaccine doses to foreign countries. At the same time, about three times as many vaccine doses have been administered within India. Out of the exports, only 107.15 lakh vaccine doses have been sent as aid. That is, just about 16 per cent of the total exports. The remaining 84 per cent vaccine supplies fall in two categories.

 

About 54 per cent of the total exports — 357.92 lakh vaccine doses — have been sent as commercial supplies by two vaccine manufacturers (Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech). In addition, 198.628 lakh vaccine doses (30 per cent of the total supplies) have been sent for the WHO’s COVAX facility by Serum Institute of India. Both these categories fulfil the contractual obligations of vaccine manufacturers. While the government may have given the necessary permissions, it is erroneous to suggest that it could have completely stopped these supplies.

 

Out of the 107.15 lakh doses, 78.5 lakh doses (73.26 per cent) have been sent to just seven neighbouring countries. This is not just good diplomacy, but it is also good epidemiology. 

 

India is deeply honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community. Supplies of Covid vaccines to several countries will commence tomorrow, and more will follow in the days ahead. #VaccineMaitri. First tweet by our PM on vaccine exports, three days after launch of India’s Vaccination Program in January.

 

Towards the end of January 2021, our PM was again applauding himself at WEF, “India had not only defeated COVID-19 but it had also built adequate infrastructure to handle the crisis”. In March, India's UN Representative K Nagaraj Naidu told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that India has supplied more COVID-19 vaccines globally than vaccinated its own people.

 

In February, Mr S Jaishankar had suggested the need to stop ‘vaccine nationalism’, urged the need to promote internationalism, and had asked to ensure equitable distribution of the vaccine, While announcing the gift of 200,000 doses to UN Peacekeepers while speaking at the United Nations Security Council discussions on Covid vaccines.

 

Sambit Patra further adds:

About 14 per cent of the commercial supplies have gone to the UK, which is where the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield in India) licence is from. What would happen if the licence manufacturer refuses to supply the licensee?

 

“Our preparation has been such that vaccine is fast reaching every corner of the country,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on January 22. “On the world’s biggest need today, we are completely self-reliant. Not just that, India is also helping out many countries with vaccines.”

 

“Our reputation as the pharmacy of the world has been reinforced,” Jaishankar told the Parliament in March.

 

Patra tweeted the “bulk of the exports were because of contractual obligations rather than goodwill gestures”. Our very own Mr Matru (Dr. Harsh Vardhan), MoHFW, is saying, “Despite shortage of vaccine in India, our government had the magnanimity to export 66 million dosage abroad on humanitarian grounds.”

 

The only lateral hire with adequate experience in the Cabinet, Dr. S Jai Shankar, our head of MEA, said during his speech in Rajya Sabha on March 17, 2021, “the supply of vaccines abroad is based on the assessment of adequate availability at home” and that the process was “continuously monitored and takes into account the requirements of our domestic vaccination programme as it unfolds in different phases”.

 

Sambit Patra also states, Major commercial supplies (about 12.5 per cent) have also been sent to Saudi Arabia, which is home to a large diaspora of Indians which is being administered the vaccines free of cost by the Saudi authorities.

 

According to Jaishankar, the initiative was all about India’s generosity and internationalism that are “so characteristic of our culture”. In March, PM also reiterated, it is because of teachings of Bhagwad Gita that India is helping so many countries around the globe.

 

Sambit Patra explained, The end user simply sees a vaccine vial and assumes that it is completely made in India. But Indian vaccine manufacturers rely on dozens of countries to source various input materials. Those countries, in turn, rely on others to produce the input materials. A vast and complex supply chain spans the globe before a single dose of vaccine can be administered.

 

This explanation is factually wrong, India’s major raw material supplier is US. Even Adar Poonawalla in mid April had also appealed to US Prez to lift embargo on raw material. Unfortunately for India, USA name does not feature in the list of 94 countries.

 

India’s commitment to vaccine exports remained stuck on three points; SII commercial commitments to its license holder (Astra Zeneca), GAVI Alliance (UN) and Vaccine Maitri to our neighbours as explained by Sambit and also narrated by MEA.

 

Sambit Patra concluded, To simply look at the end product, and expect that India can put a sudden stop to exports is juvenile and dangerous.

 

India's last shipment was to Paraguay on April 22.

 

Mr S Jaishankar has said, over and over again, Under the Narendra Modi government’s ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative, “India has exported over 66 million (6.6 crore) Covid-19 vaccines to 94 countries as of date”.

 

Mr Sambit Patra wrote, “India itself is to be the recipient of nearly 97 million doses of Covishield through the COVAX facility”.

 

The order or the sequence of events are not mentioned in chronological order. But it is only to suggest, the game of musical chairs our Govt. is playing on vaccines, which could have potentially saved lives of so many Indians and still it continues to put them at risk.

 

At first, every dose was credited to our PM’s diplomacy skill with every box exported from India plastered with an Indian map and even PM’s photograph as well. MEA taking extra efforts to get its official photograph clicked either on loading of cargo or arrival of vaccine cargo.

 

When the temperature is raised on the query, BJP as the party would take support of lies, is something which is so obvious. But Govt. of India is trying to distance itself from the issue. First they gave the success of the company’s (Serum Institute of India) commercial contractual fulfilment to our PM and our Govt.’s credit, which SII had achieved on its own capability, strength and foresight of vision.

 

Now they are making an immense effort to spin the commercial commitments of a private company as an obligation of the Company with no role of the Govt. Especially when our Govt. is also benefitting from the Covax Alliance. Mr Modi, Mr Jaishankar, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, nobody has expressed its gratitude to Covax (GAVI Alliance) for giving India, 97 million doses. They have not left an opportunity to collect 66 million tweets (if not personal messages) of gratitude about their magnanimity.

 

All the service of friendship on the humanitarian ground termed as Vaccine Maitri by our marketing head, also known as PM is now framed as liability by his party members. Come elections, Vaccine Maitri will be marketed as major achievement of our PM in Corona Crisis.

 

Let’s hope, our PM spends some time to read Bhagwad Gita and tries to understand the meaning and essence of the Holy Book, which is said to be the best book on the relationship between human being, the world and the God.

 

And pray, those nine arrested have been released and not slapped with UAPA or sedition law.

 

CoWIN

 

India’s largest vaccination drive and World’s largest vaccination drive, to be achieved in the least amount of time or as quickly as possible has been named as CoWin by our hard working PM. The politician in our PM, Narendra Damodardas Modi is the best, much higher above the best. The man born with only the marketing (building narratives) bones in his body. Always thinking about marketing in elections, the name of his schemes are always catchy, short for people to remember with a solid punchline; to show he is working.

 

The world was gasping for breath to know when the vaccine will be launched, so that the world can heal and perhaps start getting back to normal life. India kickstarted its vaccination program on January 16, 2021. On April 18, 2021, PM was addressing the election rally with much thunder and boasting about the number of people who had come in attendance to hear their PM. On the same day, India recorded 2.75 lakh new cases with 1620 deaths. On April 19, 2021, our Govt. opened vaccine for all (eligible group), which means everybody who is eligible to vote is also eligible for vaccine and the mass vaccine drive would begin from May 1, 2021.

 

The speed for taking decisions from our Govt. is commendable. Modi is a man possessed to do so much in as little time as possible. He is always racing against time. They have not developed a think tank to make properly reformed, researched decisions but they just sense in which direction, the wind is blowing and the shoot their arrow in that direction, mostly with blind folded eyes.

On April 6, 2021, IMA (Indian Medical Association) had requested vaccine for all and as the virus spread was again going up and vaccination was the only way to save the citizens from the impending disaster, we are staring at. However, the Centre (on the same day) refused to open up coronavirus vaccinations for all age groups, saying the aim was to cover the people who are the most vulnerable at the earliest. “The approach is that those vulnerable to mortality need to be covered soonest,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a press conference. “The aim is to protect the most vulnerable. The aim is never to vaccinate whoever wants, but always on whoever needs.”

 

On April 7, 2021, Rahul Gandhi aka Pappu demanded vaccine to be opened for all age groups. “It’s ridiculous to debate needs and wants,” tweeted Gandhi. “Every Indian deserves the chance to a safe life.”

 

For the past two months, Rahul Gandhi tweets are actually dictating the decisions of the Govt. Whatever the Pappu says/tweets, the Govt. after refuting and mocking his tweets/words makes the exact decision. Decision taking is fast, but there is no planning or thinking whatsoever regarding the execution. I am totally confused, who is Pappu here, our Govt. or Rahul Gandhi or us, the citizens, who are left to die under the able guidance and leadership of Narendra Damodardas Modi. Nonetheless we have to applaud our Govt for making some efforts, even if it's too little too late. May be it is only a charade again to project, they are working and taking care the needs of the citizens for which they were elected with thumping majority.

 

There is vaccine hesitancy, the reason for vaccine wastage in India, wherein States and Centre are playing hockey on data. Distribution is purely and purely States responsibility, it is State Health Department’s responsibility to ensure minimal wastage. 25.35% of 136 Crores citizens were eligible in 45+ category and the number comes out to 34.5 Crs. Total of 12.39 Crs of vaccine doses were administered till April 19, 2021.

 

India remains at number 3 in terms of total doses administered. Well in any case, India cannot go beyond the 10^th place, even if Mexico had covered their entire population. On per capita basis, India is ranked somewhere at the bottom along with some third world country of Africa.

 

When we have barely covered one third in 45+ years category, what was the urgency to open 18 – 45 year age category for vaccination. Was it compulsion for optics or Govt. of India is taking instructions from Pappu? Less than two weeks in May and almost all the States have stated vaccination shortage and closed vaccination for 18 – 45 age until further notice.

 

The decision was fast but no working/study/analysis was undertaken regarding availability of vaccine or it was ensured after checking with States if they can speed up vaccination distribution strategy or not. 45% of citizens in 18 – 45 age group constitute 60 Crs on top of existing 25.35% of population and we have no vaccine. Right now, we are only looking at crashing of CoWIN App.

 

The digital push to Govt. work is another great vision of our PM. The way the Govt. has launched Apps for citizens to avail or take updates on different schemes, programs of the Govt. CoWIN is also part of the Digital India framework. Digital India has more or less failed, except for Jio’s success and the cheaper access of data, they have made for every Indian. But yes GoI has launched hundreds of apps for assistance of citizens.

 

Zero strategy, zero planning, zero execution. When the Govt. knows, they are opening up registration for 18 – 45 age category, the category of people who are most user friendly with smartphone, the same set of people carry the maximum number of smartphones in India or for that matter anywhere in the world. The largest subset of population with 60 Crs (no other country has as much population) number and the Health Ministry didn’t even check with IT Ministry to give them 10x or may be 100x bandwidth for CoWIN App to keep working smoothly.

 

Consultation and planning amongst different departments of the Govt. is null and void, if there is any. This was one of the most brilliant aspect of Modi’s style of working (as CM of Gujarat), he made all Secretaries sit together to sort out the problem instead of files being pushed for consultation and objections from one department to another. Health Ministry cannot complain because they didn’t ask. There are citizens who had predicted the crashing of the App as soon as registration is opened for 18 – 45 age category. And our IT Ministry is busy in blocking tweets, which are critical of our Govt. IT Ministry has its hands full in censorship of information.

 

To get back to Mr Gupta’s tweet, App crashing is a good sign for vaccine hesitancy. But it also implied it was hurried decision from the Govt. without proper thought, knowledge and information or lack of all stated here.

 

The stories amongst the citizens remains the same. Majority of the population is under lockdown, not by Govt. of India; GoI is shit scared about the image of its bearded babaji. Almost all States have imposed lockdown and hence crores of citizens are spending morning to evening on App to get a slot booked.

 

Almost all 18 – 45 age category couldn’t land on the booking page. CoWIN was overwhelmed with issuing captcha(s) or sending OTP(s), which in some cases took a day or two. But as usual Govt claims victory before the race has started by throwing numbers, which possess zero significance to vaccination drive. 80 Lakh registrations in first three hours of opening the booking.

 

If the Govt. couldn’t plan, anticipate the App’s workload, I sincerely and earnestly doubt if the ground situation has any hope of improving. Citizens can look at the slot available and press their choice and App starts processing and all slots gets filled. It is the story across the India. Now Citizens are betting, 70 slots available, booked in a minute, another says 120, third 200.

 

A large subset of marginal population who cannot afford smartphone is left out by CoWIN considering only 55% of Indians possess a smartphone. Is it Govt.’s feeble attempt to generate employment that the computer centre/operators around the country, get the work for getting the poor citizens registered at nominal charge of Rs. 50 – 100.

 

It has always been the essence of Modi Govt. make decisions at lightning speed without any thought process or planning and make crores of crores of citizens of this great Nation suffer. It all started from Demonetisation. A humble reminder to citizens to not fall for fake platitudes of PM but make him accountable for his actions and his lop sided policies and not only the boldness or the intention of the scheme.

 

Right now only WIN remains secluded in the CoWIN. Citizens who have been lucky to get a slot can actually claim victory over the App if not the virus by posing for a selfie with a V sign. We shudder to think of what will happen to CoWIN, when Govt. aims to clock One Crore doses/day in July/August. Will CoWIN go the Aarogya Setu App way? Redundant when its needed the most.

 

 

 

Where are the Vaccines ??

 

In December 2020, my father was giving his remarks that why our PM is only talking about vaccines and not focusing on economy. I replied, vaccine is most important. He knows this is his chance to wipe the slate clean for all his previous blunders. All will be forgotten, the pain of lockdown, the farmers agitation, economy will perhaps also start healing.

 

The only area where PM Modi has shown remarkable performance is distribution services. No matter whatever anybody says, our Govt. has no clue how to develop policy, how to formulate plans/schemes to make it better for development of India. Be it demonetization, GST or the declining economy for last 20 quarters which in resultant has tanked, every policy, every plan is a dud from the word go.

 

By distribution, we mean DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer), Toilets, the speed and scale given the size of population of India. It is beyond phenomenal, Congress might have taken quarter a century to achieve the same. Now with the pandemic, there is a sense of urgency in the world to vaccinate as many people in the world as much is possible, that too quickly without wasting time, without lagging for a day.

 

On May 28 2021, RaGa is asking, What is India’s Vaccination Strategy? To answer, nobody has a clue, because we know our Govt. has socially distanced itself from all issues relating to virus to preserve the image of our Prachar Mantri (PM). But Pappu tweets/video clips have always had impact on the Govt. to make us wonder, who is the real Pappu here, RaGa, Govt. or the people? Every time he tweets, two or three Ministers from the Cabinet come with all guns blazing in a Press Conference (the only time it is important for our Govt to address the Press) to berate Pappu. Our Govt.is more conscious of Pappu than even Supreme Court.

 

Ideally it is one amongst the three, I & B Minister, Textiles Minister, IT & Telecom Minister. So this time, Prakash Javadekar did the honour of handing us over the deadline to complete Vaccination for ALL by December 2021 in India. When the Govt. of India had given an Affidavit in SC with a different number of population to be achieved by December 2021. We know, our Govt. is playing a game of musical chairs.

 

I fail to understand why our I & B (Information & Broadcasting) Minister is giving us target date for vaccination instead of MoHFW (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare), Dr Harsh Vardhan. May be he is busy eating dark chocolates due to Covid stress. MoHFW Minister had clearly stated in Parliament on the floor of the House, not all need to be vaccinated for Covid 19 on March 19, 2021. The same Minister who had stated, Corona is not a Health Emergency on March 13, 2020, and Prachar Mantri put India under complete strict lockdown on March 23, 2020.

 

Though Mr Minister’s Statements leaves more questions to be answered rather than giving solution to the problem. Vaccination for ALL includes two jabs or a single jab. Is Govt. considering vaccinating under 18 population? No developed country has given the target or deadline to populate the entire population. Majority are looking at 60%, 70%, 80% of the population by June, September or whichever month. No Govt. is taking the responsibility of inoculating 100% of the population as they realize, not all citizens are willing to be vaccinated. Hence they are targeting as much population as possible with the speed to be achieved as soon as possible.

 

PM Modi said that he is confident that India will realize its dream of becoming self-reliant (Atmanirbhar). “I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians,” the prime minister said. This was Prachar Mantri (PM) delivering his anecdotes on last Independence Day (August 15, 2020). Following points are excerpts from his anecdotes on Vaccination.

 

Þ   India will start mass production of vaccines once we get a green signal from scientists: PM Modi

Þ   The strategy to ensure that coronavirus vaccine reaches every Indian in the least possible time is ready

Þ   There are 3 vaccines under development in India: PM Modi

Þ   Every Indian will have health ID card: PM Modi

Þ   National Digital Health Mission will begin from today. This will bring in a new revolution

 

Post Independence speech, Prachar Mantri has spoken a lot number of times on vaccines from behind his teleprompter. On April 7, 2021, PM made the Statement while addressing the Chief Ministers of all States that India has defeated Corona virus without vaccines. I don’t know if this statement was made under Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission or some Jan Kalyan (plus some nice Hindi word) Mission. Yet the reality is stranger than the fiction story of our PM, because on next day (April 8), our PM announces Tika Utsav from April 11 – April 14.

 

In hindsight, I don’t know even know, the need to incorporate vaccines in the speech was the resultant of RaGa’s tweet on August 14, 2020. India will be one of the Covid – 19 vaccine producing nations. It needs a clearly defined, inclusive and equitable vaccine access strategy ensuring availability, affordability & fair distribution. GoI must do it now; said his tweet.

 

A large number of analysts or Op-Eds are crunching data on the number of Covid vaccines to understand the perspective. Almost every citizen of India is asking where are the vaccines? But the fact remains the Govt. of India never knew/saw/visualize the urgency to order vaccines.

 

Now when the question needs an answer, where are the vaccines? Our Prachar Mantri has been officially quarantined from vaccines issue. Because he knows, when you need a number (doses) and a date (comprising of numbers), the mere platitudes with a punchy tagline are not going to help.

 

Independence speech was home delivered by our PM after GoI had appointed a Vaccination Expert Committee a week before to work on the vaccine distribution and other aspects of the vaccine. The most this expert committee achieved in first 6 months is quarantined India from vaccines.

 

Until then wait for an update about vaccination from Information Technology Minister also known as Resignation Prasad. In the meantime, bask in the glory of Atmanirbhar Mission, because our Govt. has left citizens to fend for their own.

The Govt. had set a target of vaccinating 300 million healthcare and frontline workers, and those above the age of 45 till August on the launch of India’s Vaccination drive on January 16, 2021.

India stands for Propaganda

Hillary Clinton was visiting India in 2012 to persuade Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Govt. to stop buying oil from Iran as USA had imposed sanctions due to possibility of nuclear weapons in Iran; wherein she expressed her reasons and objections to our MEA of the time, Mr. S.M. Krishna. India was one nation, which was extremely defiant on accepting these sanctions especially for importing oil. Dr. Singh had devised an ingenious way of keeping USA, Iran happy to balance India’s crude oil requirement. Dr. Singh had opened Iran Govt.’s account in UCO Bank and the payment was made in rupees into that account. India had cut all import-export ties with Iran due to sanctions except India was importing crude oil from Iran.

 

Iran could convert Indian currency to Dollars for buying (imports) while making payments to other countries (whosoever wished to trade with them or was allowed with them) and could not repatriate money. Modiji also followed up on this idea. We are using this example to understand the role and responsibilities of External Affairs Ministry. MEA or the State Department primary responsibility remains to protect interests of the nation diplomatically and also maintain friendship with other countries and they have allocated huge number of resources to keep it working round the year, every year.

 

It was not the case, that Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State (MEA equivalent in USA) was also issuing directives to oil refiners in India to stop buying oil from Iran. MEA interacts with MEA or with permission of MEA if it reaches to business community, trade purposes like Modiji’s visits to Facebook HQ or Tesla’s factory.

 

Modi is a man with vision. No Prime Minister of India had ever interacted with citizens directly through social media. Modi is amongst the top followed global leaders on Twitter and in India as well, he ranks at the top even if compared to celebrities. Modi may be uneducated or a poser with fake degrees but he understands the power of social media. For record, Modiji has 65+ million followers on Twitter. 30% or 60% of the followers are fake, that’s not up for discussion at this point.

 

We know as a politician, he is scared to undertake a Press Conference but that remains his choice and as citizens, we cannot force our will on our Prime Minister. He is most regularly found behind a Teleprompter in his office twice or thrice a week and social media, which is open 24 x 7. There have been complaints from citizens, which have been addressed by PMO by directing the relevant department and officials to look into the matter at the speed, never thought possible to be done in India. Of course, as Prime Minister, he is carrying India’s image in the world, so we know his egregiousness for camera to be clicked or video graphed shoots the charts compared to any political leader in the world.

 

Our PM is known as the hugger in the international diplomacy or by international media. The way he piles on every State Head is little embarrassing for India as a nation but then his electorate seem to believe it as diplomatic victory, so he is carrying on with his disconcerting behavior. In Indian parlance, hugna refers to the biological function.

 

Evidently there has been massive surge in cases on Article 19 of Indian Constitution in Supreme Court post 2014. We wont even mention the gargantuan number of Internet shutdowns in India in last six years. In early 2020, Supreme Court had held Right to Internet is a Constitutional Right under Article 19 as Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression and the Govt. needs to adhere to the provisions of the Article 19 while implementing Internet shutdown. Such similar freedom in America is referred to as First Amendment Rights of every citizen, rather it is much broad than only Right to Speech and Freedom of Expression.

 

Rihanna tweeted, Why aren't we talking about this? #farmersprotests with a link to the Internet shutdown at protests. But the catch here, she has 100+ million followers on Twitter. Not to mention, the make shift activists and the porn stars also activated with this tweet.

  

A private citizen of Barbados residing in USA tweets with a question on protests in India and the MEA from GoI is activated to issue an official statement. Quoted here:

 

“The Parliament of India, after a full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector. These reforms give expanded market access and provided greater flexibility to farmers. They also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable farming. A very small section of farmers in parts of India have some reservations about these reforms. Respecting the sentiments of the protesters, the Government of India has initiated a series of talks with their representatives. Union Ministers have been part of the negotiations, and eleven rounds of talks have already been held. The Government has even offered to keep the laws on hold, an offer iterated by no less than the Prime Minister of India.

 

Yet, it is unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to enforce their agenda on these protests, and derail them. This was egregiously witnessed on January 26, India’s Republic Day. A cherished national commemoration, the anniversary of the inauguration of the Constitution of India, was besmirched, and violence and vandalism took place in the Indian capital. Some of these vested interest groups have also tried to mobilise international support against India. Instigated by such fringe elements, Mahatma Gandhi statues have been desecrated in parts of the world. This is extremely disturbing for India and for civilised society everywhere.

 

Indian police forces have handled these protests with utmost restraint. It may be noted that hundreds of men and women serving in the police have been physically attacked, and in some cases stabbed and seriously wounded. We would like to emphasise that these protests must be seen in the context of India’s democratic ethos and polity, and the efforts of the Government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse. Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken. The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible.”

 

A massively popular black singer residing in America (though she is global star) has tweeted on an issue in India. Gone are the days, when our MEA was overwhelmed with letters to the sovereign India from across the globe for allowing such a massive protest against Govt. which is peaceful. Anna Hazare protest won accolades for the nation (the Govt. and the people) across the world. It was kind of record in the world for the sheer size of the peaceful protest. In a functional democracy, people are always protesting against Govt. Govt.'s actions are not always reachable to every citizen.

 

Rehana Begum as some or the other Godi (lapdog) media channel must have brought the Muslim angle to her name. Don’t doubt, she must have already been called Congress worker or paid by Congress, She has waged war against India or it is an attack on sovereignty of India. India as a nation, was not even as embarrassed after Chinese occupation in Galwan Valley or setting up of village by China on Indian side as compared to six words question with a hashtag.

 

Our Govt is so used to photo shoots and photoshop and staged video drama, they assumed #Rihanna - a pop star, to be a head of state and responded to her tweet with an official statement from MEA. MEA role and responsibility does not entail issuing official statements fulfilled with obduracy to private citizens of Barbados residing in USA with First Amendment Rights.

 

(If and only If but it is) The statement itself may not be so embarrassing for our nation but the contents humiliate the entire being of our country. What does MEA think that Supreme Court of USA will issue contempt notice? Will Rihanna be investigated by FBI, IRS or Homeland Security?

 

The former President of USA had arguments with reporters in live telecasts and with founder of Twitter on Twitter, where he never shied away from expressing his thoughts. Nor did he curb the rights of media or people to question him on anything and there were no Federal Govt. notices slapped on people for airing opposite/different view from the President.

 

MEA is lying about the fact that it was passed after full debate and discussion in Parliament as per the procedures, which procedure entails voice voting without hearing the concerns (let’s call them invalid, but they have right to raise and we may or may not hear) of all MPs, just because the presiding Chairman was getting late for lunch amidst the pandemic.

 

MEA is also lying about the fact, that it is small section of farmers, may be they did not take reference from Ministry of Agriculture, the protesting farmers grow the staple crops of India, wheat and rice, which this small section accounts for 80% and 40% in production, which amounts to 20% of the total agricultural (including horticulture) output in India. More than a million people sitting on roads in the harsh winters, the weather for which that farmer prays for over 2 months is a small section.

 

The most embarrassing part of the statement arrives in second paragraph wherein the MEA is entailing the details of violence on January 26^th, 2021. MEA is issuing the Statement as if it is representing India and the sinister inches of indulging arrogance measuring upto 56 separately. Ministers are elected by people to whom they are supposed to represent. The stubborn stiffness of the mention of the number of meetings only sheds light on how fragile the ego of PM is resurrected within the Govt. against the very own people for whom, he is Prime Minister.

 

MEA is bad mouthing its own people for giving mileage to the image of PM or what is the objective (I don’t know), certainly it shows our great nation in a very poor light. Whether the violence was insurrected by people, whether its intelligence failure of our Govt; whether it was good or bad by the people or the Police, even if people are wild/unruly, whatever may be the question, it ultimately boomerangs on the Govt. and the country. The fluidity of thoughts amongst the citizens cannot be chained in a box. In a democracy, Govt. is made by the people, for the people. Here the MEA statement has completely obliterated the citizens of India and the Govt. by treating them as two separate entities. MEAs job is to show/project the whole nation as one entity to the world, irrespective by default.

 

As a citizen, I would have understood had it been issued by any other Ministry but MEA under Mr. S. Jaishankar. Our Govt. under Modi has given us the worst Cabinet in India since independence except for MEA. We discuss Nehru like everybody knows him personally but look at his Cabinet, every member’s name is capable of building a stand alone political party on its own. The only Minister in the Cabinet who has some clue to the job, he has been given. Home Minister is also good to some extent but then he is seasoned criminal with charges of tadipaar.

 

MEA’s statement standalone is not only a testament of what we have become as a Nation. The tweets and comments on Rihanna’s tweet, which has shown at least 10 times more activity than a normal tweet of hers, is the real image of Indians represented by India. Rape and death threats by citizens of India and name calling our own citizens as Terrorists for which our Govt. is not taking any action.

 

MEA is only trying to quick fix the wounded incarcerated ego of our PM but in the process they have damaged the self respect of a nation. The Govt. of India followed it up with a Troll campaign. Everybody knows our Govt. is a massive PR agency with our PM as the social media evangelist. They are good at it courtesy of their legacy from their political party. We as citizens have done little to keep the fragile ego of our PM together.

 

The Govt. of India declared WAR on the popular singer with 100+ million followers. The troll campaign was organized by recruiting the influencers from Bollywood and Sports fraternity with #IndiaTogether; when MEA’s statement has already separated the people and the wounded ego of Govt. The Influencers troll regiment may have been assured of all immunity from CBI, NCB, ED and IT raids. Let’s hope Rhea Chakraborty tweeted 100 times on the topic. The sellebrity trollers did not attack but defend the sovereignty of our nation, which has been stabbed by MEA; who have already been defined by MEA in the last line of official statement; and Govt. separately following it up with #indiaagainstpropaganda.

 

None of the sellebrity trollers paid homage to 160 martyred farmers who are protesting on road. Its their choice whether they choose to or not. None of the sellebrity trollers brought the attention to Shaheed Sardar Gurtej Singh of 3^rd Punjab’s Ghatak Platoon got Vir Chakra on 26^th January 2021 for his heroics at Galwan Valley. His father Virsa Singh is a marginal farmer with 2 and a half acres in Mansa district participated in #farmersprotest at Singhu border.

 

How the PM humiliated India in international diplomacy with his slogan at Howdy Modi is an understatement with the MEA’s statement and the troll campaign from sellebrities organized by our Govt., who practically behave like a digital marketing agency, wherein influencer outreach is more important than citizen outreach.

 

Vir Das tweeted, As a nation....We are literally becoming that uncle who beats his wife, is cruel to his kids, never stops yelling at his family, and then has his pride hurt when people from other houses hear the commotion.

But to complete its analogy; MEA under this situation is the wife.

The wife here is that Govt. machinery, who also protects her husband if he is questioned. Kids are the Bhakts, who praise their father if somebody asks father.

 

The tweet which asked, Why aren't we talking about this? 6 words from a private citizen of Barbados has rattled the foundations of the Govt. of India to ensure everybody is talking about this. Whether India stands for truth or #Indiaagainstpropaganda is the question, which can be found in Umbrella;. P.S. Umbrella does not mean the one Kangana Ranaut carries when she meets our PM.

When the sun shines, we'll shine together

Told you I'll be here forever

Said I'll always be your friend

Took an oath, I'ma stick it out 'til the end

Now that it's raining more than ever

Know that we'll still have each other

You can stand under my umbrella

Perhaps our Govt. under Modi along with his Troll Influencers are forever saying:

I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed

Get along with the voices inside of my head

You're tryin' to save me, stop holdin' your breath

And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy

FARM BILLS – for citizens as consumers

We know what the law says, we know what the PM says and yet we are witnessing the farmers on the roads. Bhakts are calling it freedom for farmers. Farmers are saying we don’t want freedom. Please keep us under the safety of APMC. A lot of other people, don’t have an opinion on it. Freedom to farmer was always available. A farmer was not forced to sell to Govt. He had a choice, he exercised it happily. Whosoever says it’s the freedom of farmers, I would say Farm Bills are actually taking away the options available to farmers. A lot of people living in small towns or cities procure their own wheat from the farmer directly. There was no law, which aided or barred the farmer from selling their produce to consumers.

Every Indian needs to have an opinion on the Farm Bills, because everybody does eat, irrespective of the fact if they are rich or poor. Every human being born has to eat. Particularly for Indians, who eat and subsist on wheat, rice, onion, potato and pulses. Vegetables are also beyond the reach of a lot of poor. The reason nobody shouts or makes noise, if cauliflower is Rs. 80/Kg but all hell breaks loose if onion crosses Rs. 60/Kg.

The most important aspect is, how can every Indian have an opinion on it. To understand the Farm Bills as a consumer or as a human being, who eats food every day, we need to understand the grocery bag of our household. We are getting to the basics, not for farmers but for every Indian, who eats. I am sure our PM has skipped the basics, like always, because he never had to buy grocery for a family.

What does the grocery bag entail? For millennials or people living in big cities, they can easily look at the items to order on www.bigbasket.com.

What does a lower middle class family of 4 to 6 members order every month from their grocery merchant.

10 Kgs Atta (Wheat)

2 Kgs Rice

2 Kgs Pulses (Beans)

2 L Oil

½ Kg Besan

200 gms of Condiments (Spices)

1 Kg Salt

1 Kg Sugar

½ Kg Tea or 100 gms Coffee (Both)

Vegetables as per requirement, easily like half a kg for every day. 

You can keep adding the discretionary items to your list which are readily available in our kitchen for pasta, pizza, baking, cross cultural cuisines. But this remains the basic of the largest number of households in India. For the people, who can read or understand, this is what your house help needs in a month at his/her home or perhaps they may replace few kgs of wheat with rice as rice (not basmati) is cheaper than wheat on pocket. The basic essentials don’t add up more than Rs. 1000 bucks. Along with vegetables of season, basic easily reaches Rs. 2000.

Wheat is the only essential commodity, which is bought in bulk and also the most expensive on the item (in whole terms). In coastal India or for poor Indians, rice is bought like wheat, wheat like rice.

Ask any daily migrant labourer, what he cooks for food at night for dinner and next day for which he buys daily from his daily needs merchant after hard day’s work.

Rs. 10 on oil

Rs. 10 on pulses/vegetables (ideally potatoes)

Rs. 10 on onion

Rs. 10 on Atta/Rice

Rs. 10 on Condiments (Spices) or may be not

Salt is always available with them. Ideally the budget is Rs. 30 for every day.

Here on the labourer’s shopping list, we need to consider the quantity of every item purchased in every ten bucks. 

We all know the brouhaha on onions whenever the price escalates and the Govt. pitches in to control prices or imports onions to ensure the prices do not escalate beyond the reach of common Indian (poor). Cold storage warehouses are largely engaged in storage of potatoes to ensure round the year availability.

Imagine the price of wheat (rice) rises by 50%, what would be the impact on the budget of grocery basket. What if there is shortage of wheat in the market? India has always been surplus on wheat and rice ever since Green Revolution. Except for one time, when the Govt. of India experimented with free market economies for wheat and rice in 2004 after amending the laws in 2003, the resultant of which, there was wheat shortage in India, Govt. of India had to import 80 Lakh Tonnes of wheat at twice the price.

Currently we have flourishing Atta Chakkis in every neighbourhood, who ground the wheat for us, which is 30% plus the MSP. They are able to sell at 30% because the warehouse and bulk of packaging and logistics cost is borne by the Govt. of India (read FCI). Branded wheat price goes up by 60% for better packaging, logistics and concentrated procurement and storage to some extent. Here the Company is taking all the costs on their heads, except for bulk packing to some extent. Govt. of India should be looking at gradually passing on the costs of packaging and logistics on to the consumers instead of loading it onto tax paying citizens.

Take the case of pulses, the prices of which fluctuates due to its trading on Commodities Exchange but largely it remains range bound. Right now before the harvest, there is slight uncertainty of crop output plus replenishment of stored crops, hence prices become jittery during that phase. Although, when there is shortage sensed, the prices go up and the Govt. is pressured to control the prices of one or two types of dal, so the essential remains affordable for the poor.

The quantity or the budget, which goes into wheat/rice is substantial for every household in India. Freedom of wheat and rice is not only detrimental to farmers but also the consumers, which unfortunately in our case, the number is 135+ Crores. I am sure, our PM like always would not have thought how the new Farm Bill impact the poor people who eat. Just in case, PM does not know or remember the number of poor in the country, I hope he saw the images of poor walking back to their villages due to lockdown, which was announced with 4 hours notice.

The larger the quantity required, the cheaper it should be, for Govt. to look at inflation and more money is available for people to spend on discretionary (tax paying) items, the farmers, they are only looking for MSP not MRP of their produce; and for consumers, given the population size of India and record number of poor population in India.

Our PM is a man possessed, who is obsessed to make a better India for every Indian. PM has always reiterated to doubling the income of the farmer. His wild conjecture remains, the bills aim to double the income of farmer. Free market economies for farmers. Though free market economics is a paradox in the new India, which is still under construction by our PM. We need to look at the policies of the Govt. for industry for different sectors. Industry is burdened with plethora of laws, with notifications which change every week. 

Govt. of India has banned so many products, the musical chair of ban/not ban is a continuous process throughout the year. For agricultural purposes, take the case of onions, how many Govt. lifted the ban to export and how many times it was imposed every year, couple it with import ban and open imports. The duty structure of every commodity changes with every season (especially for export purposes). The capping of prices of commodities and products is again a drum beat for PM to play, whenever he is bored with politics in India. Industry is also asking, not too loudly, give us a sense, of what you wish to achieve. Industry lobby does not mind the over arching laws, but now they are requesting to Govt., at least stick to it, don’t change it, let me adapt to this vileness, you are so bent on imposing on me.

Govt. is aiming to bring the farmers (especially the poor and the uneducated) to be part of this musical chairs competition or drum beats system. Farmers are requesting, implement Swaminathan commission, which says, Cost of Production plus 50% should be payable to farmer. Cost of Production moves with the trend of inflation. Here, if the Govt. is determined to double the farmers income, it means the price of human consumption will go up. Or otherwise, Govt. is asking farmers to move away from two cropping pattern, grow something else in the intermediate period of 2 months or perhaps move at least one crop away from wheat or paddy, which again can put supply pressures for food security, to jack up the price of human consumption. Majority of farmers are not depending on wheat – rice cropping pattern. 90% of the wheat production comes from 6 States – UP, MP, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Bihar (in that order). Late Mr. Jaitley had announced in 2016 Budget that the Govt. has complied with the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission Report; by tinkering with the formula of Cost of Production. 

Doubling of farmers with a law is a myth, innovated by the PM behind his teleprompter. Doubling of farmers income cannot be achieved by corporatization of farms. It is a collective effort of various Govt. agencies by working hand to hand with a number of farmer associations and organizations and large corporates. Like ITC is working with a lot of farmers under its e-chaupal initiative but only for their sustenance and not for prosperity of the farmer. ITC efforts are definitely laudable.

Now, we only have to look at the manner in which Farm Bills were passed in the Parliament. I don’t doubt the intent of the Modi Govt. The Govt. is always doing for the best of the people. But unfortunately the results of our Govt. prove that only good intentions are not sufficient to make it success.

I am again saying, it is not about the farmers. It is about the consumers (not citizens). Consumers indicate fair price, no loss to any concerned party. Citizen can mean, it’s a welfare scheme from the Govt. (where Govt. certainly is losing money like PDS). It is only about the consumers. Our Govt’s approach is a joke, the bill (law) which touches the food bill of every person was justified by less than 280 characters tweets of our Modi, he delivered total of 5 tweets.

The Constitution of India, has laid the procedure for electing MPs, wherein they are to voice concerns of their Constituents in the Parliament. Good or bad, right or wrong, logical or illogical, all are welcome and the Govt. (irrespective of party) tries and makes an effort to explain and justify. Needless to say, every Opposition is always unsatisfied but the discussion allows the Govt. to make it better. 

Our Govt. knows they will remain unchallenged in Lok Sabha due to majority of their party but Rajya Sabha is always a battle, which seems like war to Modi Govt. after Lok Sabha. Farm Bills protesting and passage will remain biggest blot on Indian Parliament’s history. Opposition members protesting in the well of the House and the tearing up the Rule book of Rajya Sabha in front of the Chair. Doesn’t matter, who is sitting, which party he belongs to, which post he holds, the Chair is the Chair, it has to be respected irrespective. 

Needless to say, we need to stand with the Chair in suspension of 8 Opposition members, who were literally on the verge of violence while protesting in Parliament. Yet the Chair for its designation, should have allowed voting after suspension of 8 MPs. But the Chair in tearing hurry passed the Bills by voice vote without listening or looking at the voices or the show of hands. The seconds he took before announcing the Bills as passed to vote. As if the Chair is SBI’s officer, who is getting late for lunch. 

Farm Bills which affects every citizen of India. Farm Bills which affect the livelihoods of half the population of India, more than 70 Crs people (farmers and their families) did not warrant a separate Parliament session to show and explain the vision of our PM and great future of the farmers. Modi Govt. is working on reforms for farmers since 2014. Every scheme, even if flawed has targeted at improvement of farming and farmers in India. Be it Digital India.  

It’s just that the Govt. of India could have taken time to explain and although Opposition would have taken a hell lot time to understand. We can agree, pandemic does not warrant such lengthy discussion. But pandemic should not be an excuse which can hurt food consumption of every Indian. Engaging in dialogue with farmer unions/societies was the most important part of the legislation but we didn’t know if that is even so. 

The hurry with which PM wishes to implement vision is always the reason, why we have doomed policies in India. Will Indians be paying more for wheat and rice in future? If there is no shortage, our food bill, the heaviest items will also be the most costliest (not because of weight) and RBI would definitely be mentioning the Inflation targeting due to wheat and rice in FY 23 if not in FY22. If there is food shortage in India like 2004, the Govt. of India will end up spending a lot more.

The Govt. should be generous in spending on health, education and defence. Our Govt. has no toehold on the most important segments. Rather, clean air, clean water and food are the most important essentials for an average Indian, for which every Indian will be deprived with the Farm Bills. Naysayers may not agree but air and water issue can be sorted with Turbine Theory of our PM.

It is high time, every Indian should have an opinion on Farm Bill rather than repeating the PMs tweets, which are absent from truth (which are even further away from reality). The food is necessity of every human being, irrespective of class, religion or political affinity.