Page 18 - The Indian EYE 102221

Op-Ed
1 billion covid-19 jabs: Too early to celebrate?
Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media
he clash of self-congrat-
ulatory cymbals is being
Theard, once again, as In-
dia has crossed the mark of 100
crore administered doses of
Covid-19 vaccine. The prime
minister has stated that the na-
tion has scripted history and
the occasion is being marked by
several events, including the un-
furling of a khadi tri-color from
the Red Fort. This milestone in
India’s inoculation campaign is,
indeed, an achievement. The
number of administered doses
was a paltry 415 million only
three months ago and has since
gone beyond the 100-crore bar-
rier. This can only mean that
the campaign has gained mo-
mentum with the removal of
bottlenecks in the production
of indigenous vaccines as well
as greater public receptivity
towards vaccination. The Cen-
tre’s enthusiasm to mark the
achievement is a bit strange
though. The battle against the
pandemic is a public responsi-
bility of an elected government.
There is no need for indulging
in conceit especially as India
has a long way to go in terms
of achieving full immunity. Ex-
isting data should temper the
brouhaha. The Centre has set
itself the target of inoculating
all adult Indians by the end of
this year. This means that as of
Wednesday, 892 million dos-
es need to be given over the
remaining 72 days. Moreover,
only 30 per cent of the total el-
igible population of recipients
has received the mandatory
two doses while nearly 70 mil-
lion vulnerable adults are yet to
receive even a single dose.
-- The Editorial Board, The
Telegraph
second dose challenGe sons by March 2022. We should
hat we are nearing the
landmark of 100-crore
TCovid inoculations is cer-
tainly a morale booster, espe-
cially when we look back at the
OCTOBER 22, 2021 | The Indian Eye 18
witness statements under Sec-
tion 164, they help minimize
the incidence of witnesses turn-
ing hostile later.
-- Editorial,
The Times of India
the tWo Quads
he UAE is India’s sec-
ond-largest trade partner.
TThe Indian diaspora is
the largest expat community in
the UAE and many other Gulf
countries.
the agra Fort illuminated in tricolour to mark the milestone of 100 crore India has elevated ties with
(1 billion) coViD vaccination thursday (aNi) both Israel and the UAE to
strategic ones. The visit of
first half of 2021, when there lessons Army chief Gen MM Naravane
was uncertainty about the to the UAE and Saudi Arabia
For police last December has given a ma-
planning and pace of the pro- jor fillip to defense cooperation
gramme amidst a devastating C has to again school UP between India and her Gulf
second wave. While there is a
on the Lakhimpur probe.
need to complete second dos- SState police is failing at partners.
es for many, which the govern- essentials
ment is addressing as a priority, The Supreme Court took india has also participated
we can draw satisfaction from suo motu notice of Uttar in military exercises with
the fact that over 70 per cent of Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri
the population has received at case when the state failed to both israel and the uae,
least one shot. Combined with make any arrests even three
the natural immunity that may days after the grisly violence and of course with the us.
still be lingering among those there, and speculation mount-
infected in the Delta-charged ed as videos made their way to The original Quad, initiat-
ed as a counter to China in the
second wave a few months ago, the social media. Since then, Indo-Pacific, has demonstrated
a large number of Indians may SC has had to continue to prod that it would not become a mil-
presently be protected against the UP government to do its itary bloc but would co-operate
serious illness and death from job properly, repeatedly voic-
the virus. ing such concerns as whether in creating alternative supply
In terms of single-dose vac- the state is “not investigating chains, vaccine production,
and technological cooperation.
cinations, we are ahead of the properly”, “dragging its feet”, The geopolitical context in
United States (66 per cent). “going soft” on the accused, all the Middle East is a little differ-
This is because anti-vaccine of which together suggest an ent. Both Israel and the UAE
resistance is minimal in India, attempt to turn the investiga-
where apathy and the feeling tion into “an unending story”. have excellent relations with
that the “worst is over” are Among the probing questions China. However, the Chinese
greater barriers than politi- the court asked this Wednes- courting of Iran, especially its
much-hyped $400 billion deal
cal or religious opposition. As day, the critical one was why with Iran last year, offers both
immunity from the first dose the statements of only 4 out of these countries an incentive to
or natural infection fades, we 44 witnesses so far have been seek alternative partnerships.
need to ensure a second dose is recorded before a judicial mag-
administered to all eligible per- istrate under CrPC Section 164. -- Aditi Bhaduri,
India’s abysmal conviction The Quint
aim for 100 crore more vaccine rate under criminal laws owes a Every week, we look at what
shots, building on the momen- lot to such intentional/uninten- the top commentators in the
tum. tional negligence in the early Indian media are talking about
stages of any case. Because of
and bring to you a slice
-- K Srinath Reddy,
The Indian Express the extra evidentiary value of of their opinions and comments
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