FARIDABAD: It was only after several attempts, and arguments, since 8am on Wednesday that Charu Jain, a microbiologist with a government Covid-19 testing lab in Faridabad, was finally allowed to cross the border from her home in Delhi.
But she was told that in line with the drastic sealing orders announced the night before on the Faridabad-Delhi border, she would not be allowed back home after noon, despite having an essential service provider pass. Two concerns raced through her mind — the seven-month-old son she had left at the care of her parents-in-law, and the people whose test samples have reached the lab and who are anxiously waiting for the results.
In between pleading with cops at various checkpoints, her phone buzzed with texts and calls from colleagues who had been turned away. It had become clear to her that the staff strength at the lab would be significantly less than other days. Her decision, though not easy, was firm. Her husband, a Delhi-based surgeon who was driving the car, dropped her at the lab at ESIC hospital, as she wanted to ensure analysis of the samples wasn’t delayed. However, since her work doesn’t get done before 7pm, she had doubts whether she will be able to return home to her infant in the evening.
“My father-in-law is a heart patient. In the absence of any domestic help, my mother-in-law has to do everything, from household chores to taking care of the baby, when we are away. Now in this case, if I stay back at the hospital, who will take care of my baby and elderly parents-in-law?” said Jain. She was relieved when, by the end of the day’s work, the dean of the hospital managed to seek permission from the local administration to let the staff cross the border to reach home.
But the day’s struggle left Jain a little rattled and demoralised. Like the hundreds of others who have been going to work because they are involved in one essential service or another, and yet must face such difficulties. “The mental pressure is too much. It is going to affect my productivity. I have to ensure I reach on time, my husband reaches on time and Covid testing is not delayed. We were given essential services passes yesterday (Tuesday) but today cops refused to acknowledge it. I cannot leave my baby there for the entire night. It is impossible for a woman health care worker to leave her baby at home. These things have to be taken into consideration while enforcing such restrictions,” she said.
On Tuesday night, the district administration had issued an order stating that government employees, doctors, paramedical staff and bank employees will be allowed entry into Faridabad only till noon on April 29 and no passes except those issued by the Centre would be recognised. The orders will remain in effect till May 3.
The sudden and harsh restrictions imposed overnight caused harassment to several other health workers on Covid-19 duty. Gargi Upadhyay, a doctor working at the lab in ESIC medical college and hospital, commutes from North campus in Delhi to Faridabad every day. But on Wednesday morning, she was stopped at the border.
“This government lab facility was set up in a few days after we were told that a government facility is needed to cater to Faridabad’s population. All of us worked so hard and underwent training to test Covid-19 samples. We put have put in long hours to ensure that maximum numbers of samples are tested every day. But I felt today all our efforts will go waste if don’t get the support of the government,” she said. Her husband, a scientist, is stuck in Amsterdam since the lockdown.Meanwhile, apart from seeking permission from the administration to let the medical staff cross the border, ESIC hospital also made staying arrangements for some of its staff members. “Around 50 of our healthcare workers will stay back and remaining 50, who cannot afford to be away from home, will go back. I have provided a list of such staff members to the state government and have arranged a bus for their daily pick-up and drop. The administration has been very helpful and allowed us this arrangement,” said Dr Asim Das, dean, ESIC medical college and hospital.
Asked about the border ordeal faced by ESIC staffers, Faridabad deputy commissioner Yashpal Yadav said, “ESI is our Covid hospital and testing lab. They have special status. We will facilitate them.”
But she was told that in line with the drastic sealing orders announced the night before on the Faridabad-Delhi border, she would not be allowed back home after noon, despite having an essential service provider pass. Two concerns raced through her mind — the seven-month-old son she had left at the care of her parents-in-law, and the people whose test samples have reached the lab and who are anxiously waiting for the results.
In between pleading with cops at various checkpoints, her phone buzzed with texts and calls from colleagues who had been turned away. It had become clear to her that the staff strength at the lab would be significantly less than other days. Her decision, though not easy, was firm. Her husband, a Delhi-based surgeon who was driving the car, dropped her at the lab at ESIC hospital, as she wanted to ensure analysis of the samples wasn’t delayed. However, since her work doesn’t get done before 7pm, she had doubts whether she will be able to return home to her infant in the evening.
“My father-in-law is a heart patient. In the absence of any domestic help, my mother-in-law has to do everything, from household chores to taking care of the baby, when we are away. Now in this case, if I stay back at the hospital, who will take care of my baby and elderly parents-in-law?” said Jain. She was relieved when, by the end of the day’s work, the dean of the hospital managed to seek permission from the local administration to let the staff cross the border to reach home.
But the day’s struggle left Jain a little rattled and demoralised. Like the hundreds of others who have been going to work because they are involved in one essential service or another, and yet must face such difficulties. “The mental pressure is too much. It is going to affect my productivity. I have to ensure I reach on time, my husband reaches on time and Covid testing is not delayed. We were given essential services passes yesterday (Tuesday) but today cops refused to acknowledge it. I cannot leave my baby there for the entire night. It is impossible for a woman health care worker to leave her baby at home. These things have to be taken into consideration while enforcing such restrictions,” she said.
On Tuesday night, the district administration had issued an order stating that government employees, doctors, paramedical staff and bank employees will be allowed entry into Faridabad only till noon on April 29 and no passes except those issued by the Centre would be recognised. The orders will remain in effect till May 3.
The sudden and harsh restrictions imposed overnight caused harassment to several other health workers on Covid-19 duty. Gargi Upadhyay, a doctor working at the lab in ESIC medical college and hospital, commutes from North campus in Delhi to Faridabad every day. But on Wednesday morning, she was stopped at the border.
“This government lab facility was set up in a few days after we were told that a government facility is needed to cater to Faridabad’s population. All of us worked so hard and underwent training to test Covid-19 samples. We put have put in long hours to ensure that maximum numbers of samples are tested every day. But I felt today all our efforts will go waste if don’t get the support of the government,” she said. Her husband, a scientist, is stuck in Amsterdam since the lockdown.Meanwhile, apart from seeking permission from the administration to let the medical staff cross the border, ESIC hospital also made staying arrangements for some of its staff members. “Around 50 of our healthcare workers will stay back and remaining 50, who cannot afford to be away from home, will go back. I have provided a list of such staff members to the state government and have arranged a bus for their daily pick-up and drop. The administration has been very helpful and allowed us this arrangement,” said Dr Asim Das, dean, ESIC medical college and hospital.
Asked about the border ordeal faced by ESIC staffers, Faridabad deputy commissioner Yashpal Yadav said, “ESI is our Covid hospital and testing lab. They have special status. We will facilitate them.”
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