Sarthak Kanjilall
Port Blair, May 18: On one hand several groups, NGOs are helping the migrant labourers in Andaman and Nicobar Islands with food and money following the lockdown, on the other hand, several private clinics are taking full advantage of the situation and making money in the name of thermal screening test from these poor migrant labourers.
As per reports, the Andaman administration has started taking steps to shift the stranded migrant labourers and before the movement, a medical screening has been done mandatory for all the stranded people.
Although there are two centers in the city, one at Netaji Stadium and another at JNRM college, where medical screening is done by the Government Doctors at free of cost but as the place is too far, many are opting to go for thermal screening test in a private clinic located at Bhathubasti and Junglighat, where those clinics are reportedly charging huge amount.
“I thought all the hospitals are doing the screening for free but when I reached here in a clinic at Bhathubasti for testing, I learned that they are charging Rs 250 for the test, I have borrowed Rs 1000 from my house owner to do the testing of mine and 03 other family members as I have to go to my hometown at any cost,” said a migrant labourer.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Angshuman Roy, State Vice President, BJYM and co-in-charge of stranded Islanders in Mainland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands said that he had discussed the issue with the District Commissioner and the DC clearly stated him that nobody can charge from the migrants for the testing.
“It is not fair when the people who have been helped for food and money during the lockdown are charged, there should be some humanity,” said Mr. Roy.
Mr. Roy has also demanded the District Commissioner, South Andaman to take action against the private Clinics, which have charged money from poor migrant labourers just for thermal screening.
When Andaman Sheekha contacted the District Commissioner, South Andaman, Mr. Abhishek Dev in this regard, he said that no private clinics or hospitals have been given permission or engaged to conduct the thermal screening.
The DC further said that for migrant labourers it’s the responsibility of the contractor to carry out the screening of their labourers with the help of the nearby PHC in their particular sites.
“We have not received any written complaint against any private clinic for charging money and if we receive a written complaint we will immediately take action against the clinic or the hospital,” said the DC.
However, Andaman Sheekha has also learned that on the instructions of the administration a team of Pahargaon Police Unit under the leadership of the SHO has informed several migrant workers standing in front of the private clinics, about the testing centers at Netaji Stadium and JNRM college so that they can do their testing free of cost instead of paying huge amount in the private clinics.
