Pak Hindu migrants' vaccination begins in Barmer and Jaisalmer, Jodhpur awaits govt's nod

Jodhpur, Jun10 (PTI) Amid a lingering uncertainty over Covid vaccination of Pakistani Hindu migrants in Rajasthan, Barmer and Jaisalmer district ministrations have begun inoculating m, while Jodhpur ministration is awaiting state’s decision over issue.

On inoculation of Hindu migrants in his district, Jaisalmer District Magistrate Ashish Modi said y have surveyed such migrants who do not have any Indian documents but have Pakistani passports.

“We have identified 2,281 such migrants in Jaisalmer and have started ir vaccination on basis of ir passports. So far, 17 of m have been vaccinated and drive would begin from Friday in full swing,” he said.

Similarly, Barmer District Magistrate Lok Bandhu said inoculation of migrants with no local identity document has alrey begun.

A total of 21 of m were vaccinated on first day of drive on Tuesday, he ded.

“We have alrey started a survey of se migrants with no citizenship with help of ir representatives. But parallel to this, we have also started ir vaccination,” officer said.

But re is no decision on vaccination of migrants without identity documents in Jodhpur and ministration is still awaiting state government's directions over issue.

Jodhpur's Chief and Medical and Health Officer Balwant Manda said y have not received any directions on vaccinations of Pak Hindu migrants from state government and have not yet taken any decision on issue.

Jodhpur has largest number of Pakistani Hindu migrants awaiting citizenship and no decision about ir vaccination by ministration has furr ded to ir insecurities.

Seemant Lok Sangthan president Hindu Singh Sodha termed Jodhpur ministration's indecision “shocking” and said when Barmer and Jaisalmer ministration have alrey proceeded with vaccination, why is Jodhpur ministration reluctant to inoculate m.

“We are unable to understand reluctance of Jodhpur ministration. Jodhpur has over 20,000 such migrants with no local identity proof, which is largest in state,” he said.

"When all or districts with presence of Pakistani Hindu migrants, including Jaipur, have started ir vaccination, I fail to understand why Jodhpur residents among migrants are being denied se life-saving shots,” Sodha said.

two district ministrations began inoculation of Hindu migrants on Tuesday amid a purported uncertainty over state and Centre’s policies over inoculation of people without identity documents.

Rajasthan High Court h earlier this month taken exceptions to state government's submission that it h written to Centre seeking its clarification over special operating procedures for states on how to identify people for inoculation in absence of prescribed identification documents.

During judication of a plea related to Pakistani Hindu migrants' inoculation, state government h also told high court’s Jodhpur bench that it has also requested Centre to declare Pakistani migrants eligible for vaccination.

high court subsequently h taken strong objections to state’s submission saying that bench h in May itself clarified that Centre’s SOP clearly makes migrant Pakistani Hindus eligible for vaccination against Covid.

high court h also ordered Rajasthan chief secretary to file a detailed affidavit on state government’s step to inoculate people without valid identification documents, including Pakistan migrants.

A Jodhpur bench of high court is slated to hear matter again on Monday. PTI CORR RAX RAX