March 11, 2021

COVID-19 vaccination drive leaves out the poor and lower-middle classes

Inequality: As the COVID-19 vaccination drive accelerates across the country, it has given rise to a class divide. More individuals from wealthier classes are turning up for the vaccine than from the lower-middle classes, and the poor are mostly absent. This trend has been noticed in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, and other big cities.

The reason for this divide could be because of poor access to smartphones and transportation. Recipients are required to download the Co-WIN or Aarogya Setu apps to register for the vaccination even though walk-ins are allowed in some locations.

There is also the issue of awareness. “We know there is a vaccination going on (in the country) but we do not know how to get it,” said Prem Nath, a 50-year-old daily wage earner who is a diabetic patient, to a reporter from Scroll.

Doctors in Bengaluru’s government hospitals admit that most of the vaccine recipients have been from the affluent class. According to Dr Sylvia Karpagam, a public health specialist, “online registration has always been a barrier to access. It is not an inclusive measure and discrimination is evident”.

Vaccine beneficiaries from lower income groups aren’t present at private hospitals in Delhi either. Health officials in Delhi pointed out that the absence of people from lower income groups could be because of the INR 250 fee that is charged for the vaccine. However, even in government hospitals, where the vaccine is free, their numbers remain low. “Only around 10 percent of the people seen here each day would be in the lower income group,” said Anil Kumar, nodal officer at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital.

To ensure everyone has access to the vaccine, the government needs to create a better framework, experts told Scroll. Before devising a strategy, it was important to first understand who the drive aims to target. “Whom do you want to give it to and how are you going to give it?” asked Sulakshana Nandi of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan.

“A pandemic, an infodemic, and the fear of vaccination.” Read this article to know more.


May 20, 2021

Home Ministry extends validity period of FCRA registration certificates

Fundraising & Communications: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a circular extending the validity of FCRA registration certificates to September 30th, 2021. This applies to all FCRA licences that have expired or will expire between September 29th, 2020 and May 31st, 2021. The decision to extend the deadline has been driven by the exigencies arising from the COVID-19 situation.

FCRA refers to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, which permits charitable organisations based in India to raise funds from foreign sources.

The order also clarified that nonprofits that have already opened an account and have the requisite permission to receive foreign aid, can henceforth receive it only in these newly-opened accounts.

The FCRA law was amended in September 2020 to include a clause that mandated that all nonprofits receiving foreign aid must necessarily open an account in State Bank of India’s New Delhi Main Branch. The government had initially set the deadline for this account opening as March 31st, 2021; it later extended it to June 30th, 2021 after several nonprofits argued in court that there had been delays because necessary approvals from MHA had not been received.

Several organisations have not been able to receive foreign funds during the crisis caused by the second wave, and this has impacted their COVID-19 relief efforts. Relaxing the foreign funding rules could significantly help organisations ramp up their operations to help individuals, supply critical healthcare equipment, and respond to communities in rural areas.

Read this article to know how amending the FCRA can have unforeseen implications.


May 20, 2021

Corporate spending on oxygen support and medical equipment now counts as CSR

Philanthropy & CSR: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has issued a circular that allows corporate spending on health infrastructure for COVID-19 care to qualify as corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure.

This includes setting up medical oxygen generation and storage plants, manufacturing and supply of oxygen concentrators, ventilators, cylinders, and other medical equipment to counter COVID-19.  

The announcement comes at a time when all efforts are being directed towards expediting efforts to support the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

According to the circular, companies can now undertake projects and activities in collaboration with other companies using CSR funds. Additionally, they can contribute to specified research and development projects, as well as publicly funded universities and certain organisations that conduct research in science, technology, engineering, and medicine.

The government had earlier clarified that setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID-19 care facilities would also be considered a CSR activity. Rajesh Verma, the Corporate Affairs Secretary, has requested businesses to consider converting vacant office buildings into COVID-19 facilities to cater to the rapidly increasing caseload.

Read this article to understand why media attention on COVID-19 deaths due to lack of oxygen in big cities has skewed donor priorities.