AHRC takes cognisance of encephalitis outbreak

A division bench of Assam Human Rights Commission has taken suo-motu cognisance of a petition alleging violation of human rights by the state health authorities and the state government in not taking proper measures for preventing and controlling the outbreak of Japanese Encephalitic (JE).
The AHRC took cognisance of the petition filed by former Asom Gana Parishad minister Dr Zoii Nath Sarmah that the government failed to control the onslaught of the mosquito-borne virus caused and transmitted by certain infected mosquito in a number of districts of the State leading to the death of a good number of persons with still a larger number being under treatment in different hospitals.

The Commission ordered the issue of notice with a copy of the complaint to the state Chief Secretary to cause an inclusive enquiry to be immediately conducted into the allegations and submit the report thereof to the Commission within 30 days of receipt of the Notice.
In the complaint, it has been, inter alia, alleged that "a number of 314 people have so far died due to the disease, while 1808 persons have been affected by the disease with the death toll rising day by day, but the State Health Department and the other concerned authorities have totally ignored the seriousness of the attack by the fatal disease unlike in West Bengal where the disease appearing in epidemic form has been brought under control by that Government".