Categorical Information Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Whereas the state authorities claims that fifty.04 p.c of the folks above 18 years of age within the state have been given the primary dose of vaccination, the protection amongst migrant employees is dismally low, elevating main concern because the third wave of Covid is across the nook. In accordance with the well being division stats, as on Sunday, 1,66,89,600 folks (first dose for 1,20,10,450 and second dose for 46,79,150 folks) got vaccines.
Nonetheless, the stats obtainable with the labour division reveal that solely 14,890 migrant labourers (first dose for 14,100 and second dose for 790 migrants) have been administered the vaccines. Of the overall vaccinated migrants within the state, Ernakulam accounts for the lion’s share with 7,200 employees from different states (first dose for 7,166 and second dose for 34). No correct knowledge on the floating migrant inhabitants is offered with the state companies.
Nonetheless, the NGOs which work for the welfare of the migrants estimate that round 25 lakh of them are employed within the casual sectors within the state of whom round 10 lakh belong to the footloose class. Although variety of migrants had left for his or her residence states following the primary lockdown, the vast majority of them have returned to the state since then. If the inhabitants knowledge is true, lower than one p.c of the migrant inhabitants is vaccinated.
Migrants, particularly the footloose labourers, are essentially the most weak part within the state. For the individuals who work within the industrial ventures, the employer will take the initiative to get them vaccinated as it’s obligatory for them earlier than using such employees. Benoy Peter, govt director, Centre for Migration and Inclusive Improvement, mentioned there must be a particular technique to hurry up the tempo of vaccination among the many migrants.
“Vaccination camps must be held on Sundays to hurry up the vaccination charge among the many migrants as the vast majority of them work on all different days in per week. A particular marketing campaign needs to be held for sensitising them about the necessity to take vaccination. Lastly, there must be ample inventory of vaccines,” he mentioned.
A senior officer with the labour division mentioned, “The tempo of vaccination could be very sluggish amongst migrants within the state, the primary purpose being the scarcity of vaccines, which poses a severe problem to the division,” he mentioned.
