Barely three days after the whole of India come out of their homes to clap and make noise in appreciation of the medical staff working at the hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, landlords in Rajasthan are asking the doctors and nurses to vacate their homes.
Reports coming from the health ministry in Rajasthan shows that landlords in Jaipur are asking the healthcare workers to vacate because of the fear of getting contracted with the virus. The health department further said that over the last few days, there have been heaps of complaints that have confirmed similar behavior across the state.
A nursing staff working at the SMS hospital said,
“I have been deployed for the treatment of suspected COVID-19 patients at SMS hospital. My landlord is aware of it. Since it is a highly contagious disease, my landlord is apprehensive that they might get infected with it because of me, which is not true at all. They have asked me to vacate the house.”
Similar cases are reported from the Bhilwara, Jhunjhunu where a large number of healthcare workers have been deployed to test the suspected people for the COVID-19 virus. The medical staff particularly here are working hard amidst the curfew and cluster infection.
Officials Take Action
Taking the matter into serious consideration, the health ministry has sent notices to the landlords involved in such activities. Rohit Kumar Singh, the additional chief secretary of the health department acknowledged the complaints and clarified that the state government is moving towards taking action against such behaviors.
The notice sent to the landlords says,
“Landlords and house owners are forcing them to vacate their rented residences. The behavior amounts to obstructing public servants in discharging their duties. The state government has issued Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 Regulations 202 under the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 and the Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases Act 1957 for prevention and containment of COVID-19.”
The state government has directed the district collectors, superintendent of police and other local authorities to take strict action against landlords disobeying the notifications under relevant provisions of law. The medical fraternity has already been putting their lives at risk in the country’s fight against the invisible enemy. The social isolation and discrimination against doctors would only harm the community at large.
