‘Lift Curbs Immediately, Allow People to Access Public Healthcare Services in J&K’

New Delhi: Around 130 public health activists, practitioners, organisations and individuals have called for immediate lifting of restrictions clamped down on in Jammu & Kashmir since August 4, to enable patients to access health care facilities, such as medicines, diagnostics, medical supplies, ambulance service etc at the earliest.

Expressing concern over the public health situation in the state, where all communication and transport has been halted after the Centre’s sudden announcement of abrogation of Article 370 and division of the state into two Union territories, a statement released by the signatories on Friday, said, “the current situation is a blatant denial of the human rights to health and life, guarantees enshrined in the Constitution of India, including Article 21.”

Read the full statement below:

Statement on Concerns about Public Health Situation in Jammu and Kashmir

We, the undersigned health activists, practitioners, networks, academics and individuals express our deepest concerns regarding the recent arbitrary abrogation of key parts of Article 370 as well as Article 35A of the Constitution of India, the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the loss of statehood. This was done without a semblance of consultation with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, in violation of the right of self -determination of the people of the state and in absolute contempt for constitutional and democratic processes.

The simultaneous clamping down on the freedoms and lives of the people of the state, creating fear and distress since the night of 4th August 2019 through arrests, shutting down of all communication services including landline telephones, mobiles, internet, television, enforcing silence, preventing movement of people and essential supplies has led to absolute disruption of life. We also express our indignation at the many statements that are a blatant violation of the rights and autonomy of the women of the state as well as all women of the country, being made especially by those in positions of power.

As health activists and practitioners, we are particularly concerned by several reports from the state that indicate the impact of the clampdown on people’s health. Access to health care facilities and essential medicines are affected; life-saving medicines are in short supply and stock-outs are already evident. News reports of the lack of transport causing pregnant women to travel long distances on foot for delivery or not being able to make it to the hospitals, are extremely concerning. Patients suffering from cancer are finding it difficult to access life-saving chemotherapy. Patients on dialysis are unable to make it to the hospitals. On the other hand, patients discharged from hospitals are unable to return home due to lack of transport. The non-availability of other medicines is also evident- a report based on a fact finding states, “an asthmatic auto driver in Srinagar showed us his last remaining dose of asthalin. He had been trying for the past several days to buy more – but the chemists’ shops and hospitals in his area had run out of stocks”. Several people, including children, have been injured by pellet gunshots, with some having serious injuries. The implications for the mental health of the people residing in the state are extremely concerning - the severe distress, trauma and the high levels of psychosocial stress that the people have been already experiencing, is likely to worsen.

The current situation is a blatant denial of the human rights to health and life, guarantees enshrined in the Constitution of India, including Article 21.

We, as health activists and concerned individuals demand:

• State must uphold its commitment to human right to health and ensure that all the constitutional guarantees towards this are fulfilled

• Allow patients to access health care without any delay or obstacles by removing all the restrictions on communications and transport

• Ensure immediate access to health care facilities- medicines, diagnostics and other medical supplies, ambulance service; including access to psychosocial care

• Ensure availability of essential supplies by Government across the State

• Prohibit the use of pellet guns and any other forms of violence against the people

• Take immediate action against those who have made statements violating the rights and autonomy of women in the state and to prevent any such further statements.

• Ensure immediate removal of the curfew and restoring of communications and transport facilities.

• Withdraw media blackout and restrictions on news regarding the ground situation especially related to conditions being faced by common people

We strongly demand that the Indian state must end all forms of repression and restriction of rights of people in Kashmir, and should ensure the full range of democratic rights and freedoms which are essential for health and wellbeing of the people.

Signed by

1. Aarti Pai, Lawyer and Activist, Bangalore

2. Aashna Jamal, Economist

3. Dr Abhay Shukla, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan

4. Abha Bhaiya

5. Abhijith NP, Public Health Professional

6. Abhiti Gupta, Health Activist, Delhi

7. Dr. Akshay S Dinesh

8. Dr. Amar Jesani, Independent Researcher

9. Aflatoon, All India General Secretary, Samajwadi Jan Parishad

10. Ambika Tandon, New Delhi, Researcher

11. Amita Pitre, Consultant, Public Health and Gender Justice

12. Amitava Guha, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA)

13. Anand K Sahay, Journalist, New Delhi

14. Dr Anand Zachariah, Physician, Vellore, Tamil Nadu

15. Anandhi.S, Researcher, Chennai

16. Anupama Potluri, Assistant Professor, University of Hyderabad

17. Arun, Social Activist

18. Arundhati Dhuru, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

19. Arunesh Sanganna

20. Ashish Kothari

21. Ashish Ranjan, NAPM

22. Aswathy Raveendran

23. Aysha Khan, Right to Food Campaign

24. Dr B Ekbal, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan

25. Dr Biswaroop Chatterjee

26. Bittu K, Scientist, Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)

27. Brinelle D'souza, Centre for Health and Mental Health, School of Social Work, TISS

28. Chaand Ohri

29. Chayanika Shah, Independent Researcher in gender, sexuality, and health issues, Mumbai

30. CommonHealth

31. Dr CS Verma

32. Deepa V, Medico Friend Circle

33. Deepika Joshi, Public Health Professional

34. Devaki Nambiar, Public Health Professional

35. Dimple Oberoi Vahali

36. Dunu Roy, Hazards Center

37. Farhana, Public Health Professional

38. Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai

39. Dr Gargeya Telakapalli, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan

40. Gargi Mishra

41. Gautam Mody, New Trade Union Initiative

42. Dr. Goldy M George, Activist, Researcher & Writer

43. Haneen Bég

44. Health Watch, Uttar Pradesh

45. Indian Christian Women's Movement, Mumbai

46. Indira C, Public Health Researcher

47. Indranil Mukhopadhyay, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan

48. Jaideep Ahuja

49. Jan Swasthya Abhiyan

50. Jashodhara Dasgupta, Social Activist

51. Jaya Sharma

52. Kamayani Bali Mahabal

53. Kanika Sharma, Researcher

54. Kanneganti Ravi, Associate Editor, Tolakari

55. Karuna D W

56. Prof K. Laxminarayana, University of Hyderabad

57. Malini Ghose, New Delhi

58. M. Mandakini, Advocate

59. Maya Sharma

60. Meena Seshu, Activist, Sangli

61. Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)

62. Dr Monica Chandy

63. Dr Mira Shiva, Public Health Physician

64. Misba Farooq, Public Health Professional

65. Mukut Lochan Kalita

66. Nachiket Udupa

67. Nandini K

68. Nandini Rao

69. Dr Narendra Gupta

70. Neelanjana Das, Public Health Professional

71. National Platform of Rights of Disabled (NPRD)

72. Neha Naik- Public Health Professional

73. Dr Nidhin Joseph

74. Dr. Nisha Biswas, Scientist, Kolkata, Member, Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)

75. Nisha Gulur, Human Rights Activist

76. Dr Padma Deosthali

77. Pallavi Gupta, Public Health Consultant, New Delhi

78. Pamela Philipose

79. Prabha Nagaraj, New Delhi

80. Dr Prabir KC, Independent Public Health Consultant, Kolkata

81. Prachi Singh- Public Health Professional

82. Prof. Mohan Rao, former professor, Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health, JNU

83. Purnima Gupta, Activist, Delhi

84. Radhika Khajuria

85. Rahul Roy

86. Rakhi Sehgal, New Delhi

87. Dr Ramani Atkuri, Public Health Physician

88. Ranjan De, Delhi

89. Ratnaboli Ray, Kolkata

90. Ravi Duggal, Health Researcher and Activist, Mumbai

91. Ravi Narayan, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Medico Friend Circle

92. Renu Khanna, JSA, Gujarat

93. Richa Chintan, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan

94. Ritika Kar

95. Rohini Kandhari

96. Roshmi Goswami, Feminist social activist

97. Dr. RS Dahiya

98. Runu Chakraborty, Independent Activist

99. Sarojini N, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA)

100. Dr. Savinitha Prakash S Srinivasan

101. Saba Dewan

102. Dr. Sagari R Ramdas, Food Sovereignty Alliance, India

103. Dr. Saibal Jana

104. Sakina Bahora

105. Sandeep Pandey, Social Activist

106. Sanjay Parate, Political Activist

107. Sanjiv Shankaran, Delhi

108. Sankalp Trust

109. K. Sajaya, Social Activist and Independent Journalist

110. R Srivatsan

111. Shabnam Hashmi, Social Activist, New Delhi

112. Dr. Shakeel, Bihar

113. Sheba Chhachhi

114. Shraddha Chickerur, University of Hyderabad

115. Sneha Makkad

116. Sudha N, Activist / researcher, Bangalore

117. Suhas Kolhekar, NAPM

118. Sujata Patel, National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study

119. Sulakshana Nandi, Public Health Researcher, Chhattisgarh

120. Sumi Krishna

121. Dr. Sundararaman T, Public Health Professional

122. Suneeta Dhar, Activist

123. Sunita Bandewar

124. Susheela Singh

125. Dr. Swathi S B

126. Uma V Chandru

127. Uwais Nazar, Public Health Professional

128. Dr. Varuna Saroha, Pharmacovigilance Consultant

129. Dr. G. Vijay, School of Economics, University of Hyderabad

130. Vrinda Marwah, PhD student

131. Dr. Yogesh Jain, Chhattisgarh