Experts urge youths to play proactive role in creating awareness against Corona

GUWAHATI: Communication and information awareness play vital roles in the empowerment of youths and also to tackle COVID-related issues, emphasised experts in a webinar organised by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Guwahati on the topic here on Thursday. A galaxy of experts deliberated on the topic from varied perspectives.

Prof. (Dr) A Lakshminath, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Maharashtra National Law University and former Vice-Chancellor, Chanakya National Law University said that the legal fraternity, Media and Communication has a huge role to play in empowering the citizens of the country by making them aware of their responsibilities. He said that there are many issues related to COVID which a citizen has to be aware of. He referred to health precautions, redressal of grievances related to disobedience to quarantiCommunication and information awareness play vital roles in the empowerment of youths and also to tackle COVID-related issues, emphasised experts in a webinar organised by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Guwahati on the topic here on Thursday. A galaxy of experts deliberated on the topic from varied perspectives.e rule, activities which endanger the life of fellow citizens, activities that lead to diseases, health norms/rules and Health department guidelines, penalties that are imposed if one violates the social-distancing norms in social functions, among others. Referring to the growing cases of fake news and children harassment, he stressed the need to address stress reduction among children.

Advocate-on-Record, Supreme Court, Anurag Pandey dwelt on COVID precautions and provisons related to issues among Heathcare workers and medical professionals of the country. He also deliberated on the various ways to communicate to people the efficacy of precautions to tackle COVID.

Amit Khemka, Advocate, Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, said that there are numerous provisos in IPC-1860, Epidemic Disease Act-1897, Cr PC, Essential Commodities Act-1955 and Disaster Management Act-2005 and National Disaster Management Guidelines-2008 on the management of biological disasters. He said that the interpretation of law is for justice; and people should not hesitate to seek redressal of their grievances if anyone is aggrieved.

Abdur Rahman Mallick, Advocate, Delhi High Court mentioned that the law and justice system is fully equipped to tackle any issues and grievances related to COVID. He further said that technology and video conference facilities have eased the process of adjudication as well as the legal system. As a case in point, he referred to the latest amendments in the Consumer Protection Act-2019. He further said that students play an important role in creating awareness on COVID precautions. He also said that the education system has also acclimatized itself with the changes what with classes now being conducted on the Internet and telecommunication; and the IT changing the way how the education is being provided to the students.

Sanyuk Banerjee, Advocate, PurboBardhamaan, dwelt on emergency arrangements for medical practitioners and hospitals — the moral and ethical responsibility of treating all patients including those with COVID infection, accessibility to hospital and medical facilities to all, affordable and judicious hospital fees and consultation fees for patients/wards, Healthcare facilities to children and pregnant women. The legal fraternity along with Healthcare authorities have to be judicious and play the roles of facilitators, he said, adding that there are laws which apply to the Healthcare workers and doctors when they are extending their service. He said that awareness on these topics is quintessential for the well-being of all the medical professionals.

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, Dr Ajay Sonawane said that students of law and the judicial system are responding with optimism on the utilisation of technology and its vital role as adopted in the latest law curricula and pedagogy. He further said that COVID-related precautionary measures have to be made integral of one's lifestyle and disciplined behaviour of the individuals, stated a release.

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