Why insult Covid warriors, Rahul asks Centre

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18

After the government informed Parliament that 155 Covid warriors had applied for insurance under the Central scheme meant to cover their Covid mortality risk and that it did not have full data on doctor deaths, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked the Centre why it was insulting Covid warriors.

“This government is averse to adverse data. More important than clapping for Covid warriors is ensuring their dignity. Why this insult to warriors?” Gandhi asked tweeting government answer in Parliament that it did not have the entire data on death of Covid warriors since health is a state subject.

Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey informed the Rajya Sabha this week that health was a state subject and “such data is not maintained at Central level by Ministry of Health”. This was in response to a question on the number of healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses, support staff and ASHA workers, who have been affected by the virus or died due to it. The IMA has published a list of 382 doctors, who have died of Covid.