Mumbai (Maharashtra): Covid vaccination drive is going on in India, however, many nomadic communities find themselves in the lurch as they don't have requisite identity proof to register for the vaccine.
The entire country, including Maharashtra, has a huge number of nomadic communities. These people don’t have a permanent settlement. They wander and do odd jobs to make a living and live in temporary settlements. And as such do not have identity proofs like Aadhar and PAN cards.
A request made by RSP's Mahadev Jankar
Mahadev Jankar, the founder of the Rashtriya Samaj Party, called on the Central and the state government to take significant measures to solve the problem for the majority of the nomadic community. According to Mahadev Jankar, 52% of the people in the country are OBCs. However, a community consisting of such a huge number of people is often ignored. About 7 to 11 percent of the people belong to the Pardhi, Kaikadi, Banjara, and Shepherds and they need to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
Jain sages allowed to vaccinate without Aadhaar card
Not only nomadic communities, sages, and religious saints who do not have Aadhaar cards and documents required for vaccination, are also finding it difficult to register for the vaccine.
In this connection, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant had requested that the sages and saints should be vaccinated, even if they lack the necessary documents. Sawant informed that the request has received a positive reply. Municipal Commissioner I. S. Chahal has responded positively to this request.
BJP demanded the same
BJP corporator Bhalchandra Shirsat also requested that a policy should be framed to vaccinate the sages without any identity proof. Gujarat has allowed vaccinations based on registered charities, temples, and doctor's age certificates. Shirsat had said that similar vaccinations should be provided in Mumbai on the same principles.
If saints are allowed to be vaccinated without any identity proof, then, in the same way, everyone is wondering whether the citizens of the nomadic community will also be included in the vaccination drive by relaxing their identity proofs.
