Tabrez Ahmad'sTechnolex


Tabrez Ahmad's Technolex

Technology, Education R&D, Consultancy,Hyperawareness,ODR,

Network of Law

The objective of the blog is to provide a fair analysis and awareness of legal issues in an easy way for the understanding of the people at large


Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Social and Moral Responsibility of the Individuals, Governments, and the Protection of Human Rights in the Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19)


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.   



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