HYDERABAD: If the governments try to link the Covid vaccination status with ration cards and pensions, it will be against the Constitution of the country, according to people who strongly oppose making the vaccination mandatory.
They say it amounts to breach of Article 21 and 14 of Indian Constitution, which says nobody can be forced to give any medication against one’s consent.
While the Goa government made it mandatory for teachers to get vaccinated against Covid, the teachers approached the court, which directed the government to retract its decision. Even some medical practitioners do not agree if the government links up Covid vaccine status and other government benefits to its citizens.
Saraswati Kavula, coordinator of Awaken India Movement said, “Here are two issues. If they link up the vaccination and government welfare schemes, first of all it is illegal, violation of the right to life and also livelihood. Guwahati, Mizoram and Meghalaya high-courts recently gave orders that the government can’t discriminate on vaccination status.”
She added, “Making the vaccination or any medication without consent is pure human rights violation. Before going for a mass vaccination, large public advertisement on the ingredients and side effects of the vaccine should be made.”
Dr Praveen Saxena, practicing environmental medicine, said, “We are not against vaccination, but we are against mass vaccination. There are people who have some ailments and autoimmune diseases and they should be exempted from this. The vaccine has different reactions on each individual. We have also seen adverse impacts due to vaccinations. They should screen people before vaccination to safeguard human lives. These vaccines are not 100 per cent effective. I do not support if the government links up the status of vaccination with any public welfare schemes.”
