Hands of COVID-19 affected people stamped with election ink in quarantines

India struggles with coronavirus shutdown

The Health Ministry must fix an area on the body where the quarantine mark is to be made along with maintaining the record of the person on whom this mark is made.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday reviewed its decision to allow the use of indelible ink for stamping positive persons, who are home quarantined.

In a letter to Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the ECI has stated that following the extraordinary circumstances because of COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission has reviewed its decision suo moto and has decided to allow the use of indelible ink on persons for stamping for homestay.

However, ECI has set forth certain conditions that are to be followed as far the usage indelible ink is concerned on the person”s body.

The Health Ministry must fix an area on the body where the quarantine mark is to be made along with maintaining the record of the person on whom this mark is made.

As the left forefinger of electors is required to be marked with indelible ink at the polling stations before the elector is allowed to vote, the concerned authorities shall be instructed not to use the indelible ink on any finger on the left hand of any persons under quarantine.

The Health Ministry must fix an area on the body where the quarantine mark is to be made along with maintaining the record of the person on whom this mark is made.

India’s 1.3 billion people were under an immense lockdown on Wednesday to prevent an explosion of coronavirus cases as the government struggled to deliver essential goods and calm nerves, Reuters reports.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered everyone indoors for the next three weeks, saying this was the only way to avoid a disaster and effectively shutting down Asia’s third-largest economy.

But with less than four hours before the decree went into effect at midnight on Tuesday, crowds of people thronged shops to stock up on milk, rations and medicines even though Modi said these would be available throughout the lockdown.

Others including labourers and day workers headed home to the countryside from cities such as Delhi, many walking because public transport also stopped.

About The Author