Ensure security of frontline workers and take strict action against offenders: MHA

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday directed States to ensure adequate security to medical staff and frontline workers of COVID-19 and asked to appoint nodal officers at State, UT and District level, who would be available 24×7 to redress any safety issue on the functioning of medical professionals.

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday asked all states and union territories to take strict action against offenders who obstruct the performance of last rites of COVID-19 warriors succumbing to the virus, a source said.

In view of concerns over attacks on COVID-19 warriors, Ministry of Home Affairs also directed states and union territories' administrators to ensure adequate security to health care professionals, medical staff and front line workers to prevent violence against them.

In a letter written to state Chief Secretaries, Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla said that a few instances of unruly behaviour by people have also been reported in some parts of the country where the family and relatives of medical professionals suspected to have died due to COVID-19 infection were prevented from performing the last rites of the deceased.

"In such cases, adequate security should be provided and stringent action should be taken against offenders who obstruct the performance of last rites of medical professionals, frontline health workers," Bhalla said in his letter.

The home secretary has also asked the state government and UTs to appoint nodal officers at state and UT level as well as at district level who would be available all the time to address any safety issue on the functioning of medical professionals."They should also take immediate action in case any incident of violence takes place, " Bhalla added.