UP DM takes initiative to address social boycott of returning workers

Shahira Naim
Tribune News Service
Lucknow, May 23

As the terror of COVID-19 is threatening to rupture social and family relations in rural Uttar Pradesh by socially boycotting the workers returning to their villages after facing cruel hardships Basti District Magistrate Ashutosh Niranjan is pro-actively attempting to apply the healing touch.

A one-minute animated film developed at the district level in the local dialect is widely being used to censure those indulging in such harassment of the returning workers.

In the film, a local ‘Hariya’ is seen calling up the village Pradhan informing him in a conspiratorial tone about Lakhan and Kishun who had returned from the city the previous night.

“Please see to it as they don’t spread corona in the village”, he whispers to the Pradhan.

The village Pradhan severely reprimands the caller: “Buddhi brashta ho gaya hai kya Hariya tumhara? Jo bhi shahar se ayega usko corona hoga ee kaun bola? Afwaah mat failao.” (Are you out of your mind Hariya? Who told you that everyone returning from the city is suffering from corona? Don’t spread rumours”)

The Pradhan than enlightens ‘Hariya’ that for the safety of their families and the villagers both Lakhan and Kishun are quarantined in their homes. They have returned to the village after completing all the formalities prescribed by the government.

“Unke baarey mein koi aisa baat hum bardasht nahi karenge, samjhe ke nahi”, (I will not tolerate such talk about them, understand?) the Pradhan sternly warns Hariya

A voice over informs that every person returning from other states is being medically screened and asked to follow the instructions of the COVID-19 protocol. For that reason, such discrimination against them is not correct.

“Apno ka rakhenge dhyan, carona se rahenge savdhan” (Will take care of our ones and will be on guard against Carona) is the tagline of the public interest advertisement.

Speaking to this reporter Basti DM explained why he felt the need to spread awareness against such socially disturbing behaviour.

“I am getting phone calls from returning husbands complaining that their wives are not letting them in their homes. Fathers are discriminating against their sons, such behaviour is rampant today.”

“I wanted people to know that the disease is contagious but is curable and only a minuscule minority develop complications. Under such circumstances, the social boycott of the victim may make things worse”, he pointed out.

According to him, Basti’s district-level grass-root workers are going around spreading this message in order to prevent a permanent rupture in social and family relations that may continue beyond the pandemic.

The animated film was made using indigenous talent. Niranjan said that there were several persons employed in the district primary education department who were IT technology savvy and helped in making the film.