Since the beginning of the pandemic, the government has urged citizens to celebrate the work of its front-line health workers with gestures such as lighting diya, or banging thali or sprinkling rose petals. It even announced an insurance scheme of Rs 50 lakh for health workers who died during pandemic duty. However, when they were asked a question in the Parliament on September 15 during the Lok Sabha session, the Union Health Minister, Dr Harshvardhan admitted that they do not keep any records of health workers who died of COVID-19.
This statement made health workers furious. We at Suno India spoke to the health workers- Surekha, General Secretary of ASHA workers Union in Haryana, Indian Medical Association Honorary Secretary General, Dr RV Asokan and Jibin TC, president of United Nurses Association in Maharashtra who expressed anger at this apathy.