Corona virus lead disease (Covid -19) pandemic has not only made
us all face toughest time in the last 80 years but also to the Governments
affecting almost all other spheres of life. It has been our testing times in
last 21 days in India and will continue to do so for a few more month ahead
until the entire virus is eradicated or until we find a medicine for it. During
these difficult times, we have multiple challenges of life, liberty, business,
trade, commerce, food, education, and it is very natural to fall into mood
swings, depressions, anxiety, fear and in some cases even suicidal.
Education is the most hit sector because of the Covid-19 pandemic
that has seriously affected the life and the teaching, learning process of
several million students and faculty globally. Because on March 11, 2020, the
World Health Organization (WHO) Citing concerns with “the alarming levels
of spread of Covid-19 and its severity, asked the Governments to take urgent
and aggressive measures to stop the spread of the virus. Educational
institutions were first to shut down. Because, WHO declared that the outbreak
of the viral disease COVID-19 first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China
– had reached the level of a global pandemic.
The scale and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic
clearly grows to the level of a public health emergency that could justify
restrictions on certain rights, such as those that result from the imposition
of quarantine or isolation limiting freedom of movement. At the same time,
careful attention to human rights like non-discrimination and human rights
principles such as transparency and respect for human dignity can foster an
effective response amidst the un-stability and disruption that inevitably
results in times of crisis and limit the damage that can emerge from the
imposition of overly broad measures that do not meet the said criteria. Human
rights law recognizes that in the context of serious public health threats and
public emergencies threatening the life of the nation, curtailment on some
rights can be justified when they have a legal basis, are strictly needed,
based on scientific evidence and neither arbitrary nor discriminatory in
application, of limited duration, respectful of human dignity, subject to
review, and proportionate to achieve the objective. As the International human
rights law guarantees everyone the right to the highest attainable standard of
health and obligates governments to take steps to prevent threats to public
health and to provide medical care to those who need it.
The Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi keeping
in mind the expected threats of Covid-19 timely imposed 21 days lock- down in
the country from 26th March to 14th April, 2020. As the
lock-down is the most effective way to break chain of the Coronavirus spread.
But the lock-down period thrown serious challenges and affected multiple sectors
including education not only India but also in almost all the affected 200
countries in the world. As Many countries have closed schools since
the COVID-19 outbreak, disrupting the learning and education of hundreds of
millions of students. In times of crises, schools provide children with a sense of stability and normalcy and
ensure children have a routine and are emotionally supported to cope with a transforming
situation. Schools also provide important aspects for children and their
families to know about hygiene, proper handwashing techniques, and adjusting
with situations that will break routines. Without access to schools, this prime
responsibility falls on parents, guardians, and caregivers. When schools are
closed, government agencies should step in to provide clear and accurate public health information through
appropriate media.
To ensure education systems sustain properly, UNESCO has recommended that affected countries to “adopt a variety of hi-tech, low-tech and no-tech
solutions to assure the continuity of learning.” In many countries, teachers
already use online learning platforms to complement normal contact hours in
classrooms for homework, classroom exercises, and research, and many students
have access to technological equipment at home. However, not all countries, communities,
families, or social
groups have adequate internet access, and lot of children live in locations
with frequent government-led internet shutdowns and in rural areas where there
is either poor network or there no network at all.
Therefore, UNESCO has recommended that
the online learning should be used to mitigate the immediate impact of lost normal school time.
Schools deploying educational technology for online learning should ensure the
tools protect child rights and privacy. Governments should attempt to recover
missed in-person class time once schools reopen after the pandemic gets over.
Governments should adopt measures to mitigate the disproportionate
effects on children who already experience challenges to education, or who are
marginalized for various reasons – including girls, those with disabilities,
those affected by their location, their family situation, and other
inequalities. Governments should focus on adopting strategies that support all
students through closures – for example, monitoring students most at risk and
ensuring students receive printed or online materials on time, with particular
attention provided to students with disabilities who may require adapted,
accessible material.
Governments should adopt mitigation strategies, for example by
working with teachers, school officials, and teachers’ unions and associations
to factor in plans to recover teaching or contact hours lost, adjusting school
calendars and exam schedules, and ensuring fair compensation for teachers and
school personnel who are working additional hours.
In countries with high numbers of out-of-school children, school closures may hampered efforts to increase school enrolments
and retention, particularly at the secondary level. Governments should place
additional measures to review compliance with mandatory education – and ensure
government education officials monitor school returns once schools re-starts.
Education officials should focus attention on areas with high incidence of
child labor or child marriage and ensure all children return to school.
Officials should also ensure that schools with refugee students adopt outreach
measures to ensure refugee children return to school, including by working with
refugee parent groups and community leaders[1].
Sudden school shutting down may also leave low-income families fighting to make
ends meet and provide necessities. Governments should ensure continued meal provision during school closures for
children in low-income families who will miss subsidized meals.
As the outbreak of Covid-19 still growing fast in the different
parts of the world with around 121,000 deaths globally, USA is the most
affected country with 23644 and Spain 18056, Italy 20465, France 14964, UK
11329, Iran 4683, Belgium 4157 and China 3341 deaths the country where the
initial outbreak occurred. The United States has also seen the highest number
of infections crossing 6 Lakhs which has a serious pressure on the health care
system.
However, India has less number of cases comparing to other foreign
countries (10564 infections and 358 deaths) but leaning from the nature of the
pandemic from the other countries our Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi today
announced the extension of the lock-down up to 3rd May, 2020 for the
next 19 more days. This is a welcome step and well thought decision of Mr.
Narendra Modi but will further challenge the protection of Human Rights and put
extra pressure on the individuals and society. Our Prime Minister rightly
suggested the 7 points as follows to be taken care by us in line with our individual,
social and moral responsibility and ensuring the protection of Human Rights of
the suffering people as an urgent need of the hour[2].
1. Take care
of the elderly- The Prime Minister advised to take special care of the elderly
especially those with pre-existing illnesses.
2. Follow
Social distancing- He also said to strictly adhere to social distancing norms
that have been so far effective in combating coronavirus. He also advised using
face masks and covers. Home-made face masks can also be used.
3. Follow
AYUSH Ministry guidelines on improving immunity- It is important to build our
immunity to fight the coronavirus and the Prime Minister has asked to follow
the guidelines given by the Ayush Department. The department has suggested
ayurvedic remedies to increase immunity.
4. Download
Aarogya Setu app- To help with the combat of the virus, the prime minister has
asked for every citizen to download and use the Arogya Setu App. This app has
been developed especially to track coronavirus cases.
5. Help the
poor- He has also appealed to people to help the poor and needy especially by
providing food and protective gear such as face masks.
6. Compassion
for employees- The prime Minister asked employers to have compassion at such a
challenging time and to not fire anyone.
7. Respect
Frontline workers- The true warriors of the pandemic are the health care and
sanitary workers and the police who are risking their lives to protect
everyone. It is important to show respect to them.
There are people who are lucky to have work and working from home by
utilising the digital technology and positively contributing towards professional
and academic activities and getting self-satisfaction but there may be people
around you who may not have such an opportunity. There may be people in your own families and
society who may be having fear, mood swings, non- participation, Insomnia, loss
of appetite, loss of interest and ultimately affecting their mental
health. Therefore, please do not ignore
any symptoms like this if you see any of this in any member of your family and
society, please come forward and show, courage, care, compassion and most
importantly precautions. Only you can get your family out of fear by ensuring
good health for self and loved ones as your top priority. It is important to
save yourself from virus but it is even more important to save everyone from
mental ill health and support in the protection of basic human rights.
Therefore, you should always take care of yourself and be available to your
family and the society.
This is not only the responsibility of the Govt. to fight with the
Coronavirus Pandemic Covid-19 but we should collaborate with the Govt. and
provide full support in whatever manner we can do to get success against the
most difficult times of this century for the benefit of all of us.
[1] https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/19/human-rights-dimensions-covid-19-response#_Toc35446578
Visited on 14th April, 2020.
