Many of Guwahati's homeless claim they've not been vaccinated

-By Prasenjit Deb
GUWAHATI: At a time when the state is facing an acute shortage of booster doses amid a rising threat of Covid-19 cases, a considerable number of homeless people have claimed they have not received any dose of the Covid vaccine.
The Kamrup Metro district administration, however, said around 700 homeless people in the city have been vaccinated with both the doses.
According to the social welfare department, the estimated population of the homeless in Kamrup Metro district is around 800. The homeless usually reside in places like railway stations near Paltan Bazar, Shukreswar temple, Kamakhya railway station, Bhootnath crematorium, Nabagraha crematorium and slum areas near Fancy Bazar.
Rajen Sarma (28), a beggar near Shukreswar temple in Guwahati, said, "I didn't receive any Covid vaccine and I was also not aware where and whom to approach for the vaccination. I earn my livelihood by doing rag picking, but, since the last couple of days my wife is not well, so I am looking after her."
Another homeless person identified as Ram Singh (45) near Shukreswar temple said that around 50 to 60 persons residing on the footpath have not received the two doses of Covid, while a few of them have not received the second dose of Covid vaccine.
One Ashim Kumar Sarma (43) originally from Nalbari town said that he has been living on the footpath near Shukreswar temple along with his wife for the last three years.
They have taken both the doses of Covid vaccination. "In the last two years, everything has changed in my life. I lost my home, parents and so both my wife and I decided to come to Guwahati. I am handicapped. But we have been vaccinated," Ashim told TOI.
On the other hand, additional deputy commissioner (ADC), Kamrup Metro, Dhruva Hazarika, said, "We will have to check, but, as per our records, almost everyone (cent percent) has received both the doses of Covid vaccines. There might be some new people who have started staying here in Guwahati and have not received the doses. We will identify them and try to provide them with the vaccinations."
The ADC also stated that the administration has covered almost all the localities and has provided vaccine doses to all the homeless people who are staying in the city for the last couple of decades.
BK Das, district immunization officer (DIO), Kamrup metro, also told TOI, "We have covered almost all the localities under the Kamrup metro district and have vaccinated approximately 700 homeless people. The drive at Shukreswar ghat was successful. A few of them have migrated from other cities and hence some of them might have been left out. It's tough to keep a track on the movement of these people."