A maulvi issues a brainless fatwa, and it’s prime time debate. Three weeks later, a Category 4 super cyclone devastates Odisha and it’s not even covered properly.
India vs Pakistan and Mamata vs Doctors were reported extensively, but in a juvenile manner. The quality of these useless and mindless debates could put gutters to shame. But then, Indian media has a penchant for ignoring real issues and natural disasters. The term ‘TRP Leeches’ could best describe the abysmal state of Indian TV media.
The latest victim of this leech is Bihar. For all of you who’re celebrating India’s win in a cricket match, there’s some bad news back home.
More than 100 children have died due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) within two weeks in Bihar. By the time you read this, the death toll might unfortunately cross 150. AES is a painful disease that causes inflammation of brain due to infection. It is caused by a wide range of viruses, bacterias, parasites, spirochetes, chemicals and toxins.
Little kids are dying a painful death because the government has so far failed to contain this outbreak. The authorities, who were initially in denial mode, have finally sprung into action, but it’s too little too late.
This horrific situation reminds us of Gorakhpur’s Japanese Encephalitis outbreak, which also killed hundreds of kids. Encephalitis isn’t a new phenomenon in Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Both regions share a similiar hot and humid climate, which is favourable ground for the spread of Japanese encephalitis and AES. Every year, the government fails to stop the outbreak of encephalitis and it takes hundreds of little innocent lives.
After the Gorakhpur tragedy, Yogi Adityanath’s government opted for desperate measures and launched Action Plan 2018 for containing encephalitis. Massive vaccination and sanitation drives were launched and awareness campaigns carried out. These measures seem to have worked for Uttar Pradesh which saw a two-thirds decrease in cases of encephalitis next year.
The Bihar government has so far failed spectacularly at every front and tried to put the blame on litchi farmers. But medical researchers clearly stated, “the luscious fruit is only a triggering factor for malnourished children as the toxin MCPG can lead to hypoglycaemia (fall in sugar levels). So, if a healthy child eats litchi, they will not suffer from AES. The governments, both central and state, must accept that malnutrition is the cause. They should not try to run away from their responsibility to deal with malnutrition by putting the onus on poor litchi farmers.”
Clearly, the state and central government are accountable for the lapses and victims deserve justice. Heads must roll and serious measures should be taken to make sure that this disease is eradicated.
But, how can we demand justice and stand in solidarity with our Bihari brothers and sisters when we don’t know what they’re going through in the first place?
The media which was supposed to ask the correct questions and make the people aware, has been compromised and failed to do its job. Perhaps the Indian media would’ve showed interest if there was a scope of hate-mongering, but those who died aren’t just Hindus or Muslims, they are ordinary, innocent and little Indians who hoped that their government would take care of them, who hoped that we would take care of them and won’t let them die.
But, we failed those kids. We all failed them.
The lack of media coverage in this grave tragedy disheartens me and makes me ask Indian media: how many deaths are enough to be news worthy?
Keep Bihar’s children in your prayers. Pray for their good health. Amen.