The move to insist that all those working in shops and other retail outfits in East Khasi Hills be vaccinated against Covid-19 before being allowed to reopen is just one of the measures taken by the government to encourage the public to get the jab, Health Minister AL Hek said today.
This move by the district administration has received criticism in some quarters, from those who are either sceptical of the vaccine or those who argue for the protection of individual rights.
Refusing to accept the accusation that this order amounts to blackmailing, the minister said, “We just appealed to the people. Why do we need the shopkeepers to take the vaccination? Because they are meeting hundreds of consumers and this will protect themselves and the consumers. If the certificate (of vaccination) is displayed (in the shops) it will motivate others to also take the vaccine.”
Providing an example of other districts’ methods to boost vaccination, Hek said that the West Khasi Hills administration has offered all those who have received both doses a chance at a cash award of Rs 10,000.
“The district administration is doing all this to motivate citizens to take the vaccine. We have left it to the Deputy Commissioners to use their wisdom to encourage people to take the vaccine. This is not the decision taken only by the Deputy Commissioner but it was taken during the review meeting of the government,” he added.
