18+ vaccination drive in Tinsukia district leads to discontent among people

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: The much-hyped 18+ vaccination programme launched in Tinsukia district along with rest of the country since Friday led to discontentment among semi-urban and rural populace as almost majority of them failed to register through Cowin portal due to poor or no internet connectivity.

What raised eyebrows was that a good number of people, may be 75-85 per cent, who turned up at the inoculation centres like Kakopathar, Doomdooma, Dangori and Digboi were from Dibrugarh, Moran, Duliajan, Tengakhat and far-flung areas outside Tinsukia district and belonged to a particular community. These people allegedly took the support of a youth organization which assisted them to get slot at a definite time and within minutes booking got exhausted. This left the people of Tinsukia district high and dry. While COVID protocol, particularly social distancing, was reportedly not maintained by these people despite frantic efforts by the vaccination staff, some turned up as a team comprising of several members. It is alleged that information from NHM got leaked and was passed on to organizations with vested interest.

This resulted in deprivation of not only needy people of the district but also a vast rural population who have no internet access. With several local organizations, including students' bodies, up-in-arms against the system, it is apprehended that if this practice continues severe problems are likely to surface in the district and even disruption in vaccination exercise cannot be ruled out.

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