Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)
Bantwal, Apr 2: A health assistant and an Asha worker while visiting houses to create awareness on coronavirus and inspect home quarantine residents, had to face insults at Kariyangala village here on Thursday, April 2. The incident took place at the residence of Badakabail Abdul Latif, a resident of Kariyangala village. A complaint was lodged at the police station in this connection.
The government at the Centre and the state have provided strict guidelines to the district administration regarding coronavirus. Following the guidelines, respective health officials in the villages are cautiously enquiring the wellbeing of those who have travel history in the recent past and reports are submitted to the concerned officials. Mohammed Arif, son-in-law of Badakabail Abdul Latif, had been to Kochi on fishing business. He was in Kochi for four days before returning to his house in Deralakatte. He then returned to his father-in-law’s house from there. A health assistant and an Asha worker had been to their house to collect details of his movements. It is alleged that the residents of the house insulted them. The duo complained to the gram panchayat, PDO and Bantwal police station. Sources revealed that panchayat member Suresh Manikanta and Nawaz Basheer have held discussions with the house residents and have sorted out the matter.
In yet another incident, an Asha worker was threatened at Kalai, Amtadi village in the taluk. The Asha worker complained to the police that while on duty, Kalai resident Marappa Poojary and Umesh threatened her through a phone call on Wednesday, April 1. Nithesh, a relative of the accused had returned from abroad. The Asha worker was inquiring about it when this happened. A case is registered at Bantwal town police station.
Asha workers are entrusted with special responsibility concerning home quarantine of foreign-returnees.
MLA Rajesh Naik said that incidents of insulting health workers while on exercising their duty on coronavirus (Covid-19) related work has come to his notice. “I have directed the police department to take strict action against such people,” he said.
“It is not possible to tolerate hindrance to officials while creating awareness on coronavirus or during similar work. I have already directed the police department to take severe action against such people. Do not give room for such situations,” he added.