Priyanka Chaturvedi appeals for adequate salaries and safety equipment for healthcare workers

Priyanka Chaturvedi, MP and Shiv Sena Deputy Leader, recently spoke about the health workers battling the pandemic at the moment.

Chaturvedi appealed for better facilities, efficient equipment, reduced working hours and timely pay.

स्वास्थ्य कर्मियों को बेहतर सुविधाएं मिलनी चाहिए, उन्हें सुरक्षा के बेहतर उपकरण, काम के घंटे कम करने, समय से वेतन जैसी सुविधाएं भी मिलनी चाहिए~@priyankac19 pic.twitter.com/L6Jatu2N0N

— Office Priyanka Chaturvedi (@Priyanka_Office) September 19, 2020

She was speaking in the upper house of the Parliament. Rajya Sabha on Saturday passed the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The Bill amends the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to include protections for healthcare service personnel combating epidemic diseases and expands the powers of the central government to prevent the spread of such diseases.

Even though the health workers have been on the frontline, fighting COVID-19, they have been mistreated across the country due to the contagious nature of the illness. The government had earlier brought the ordinance on April 22 to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 in order to make the occurrences of violence on health workers treating patients suffering from the coronavirus a non-bailable offence with provisions of a penalty and a jail term of up to seven years. The bill aims to ensure that amidst the outbreak of the coronavirus, there is a prevalence of zero-tolerance to any form of violence against healthcare personnel and damage to property.

Moreover, under the proposed act, the commission or abetment of such violence will be punishable with imprisonment for a term of three months to five years, and with a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000. In case of causing grievous hurt, the imprisonment shall be for a term of six months to seven years and with a fine of ₹1,00,000 to ₹5,00,000.