Minority Affairs Ministry To Launch Nationwide Campaign To Curb Vaccine Hesitancy

The Union Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi held a review meeting about Haj 2021 at the Haj House in Mumbai on Thursday (10 June).

He, however, said that “while we have done our preparations, India will go by the decision of the Government of Saudi Arabia.”

The Minister said that a nationwide campaign would be launched by various social and educational institutions to “curb and crush” rumours and apprehension regarding the vaccination drive going on in India.

“State Haj Committees, Waqf Boards, their associated organisations, Central Waqf Council, Maulana Azad Education Foundation and other social and educational institutions will be part of the campaign,” he said.

Naqvi said, “Women’s Self Help Groups will also be included in the campaign. These organisations and Women SHGs will also encourage and persuade the people to get vaccinated to tackle the Corona pandemic. The campaign will be called Jaan Hai To Jahaan Hai and will be launched especially in villages and remote areas of the country.”

Recalling his visit to some villages and the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among people due to lack of awareness, the Minister said, “unfortunately some narrow-minded elements are creating confusion and fear on the vaccination front. They are not only enemies of the health and well being of the people but also of the country.”

Speaking about the country’s preparations for Haj 2021, Naqvi said that a review had been taken of the current position on vaccinations, based on directions given by the Haj Committee of India and the guidelines issued by the Health Department of the Government of Saudi Arabia.

More than 2.5 million people perform the Haj pilgrimage in the city of Mecca every year. Last year, due to Covid-19 pandemic, the Saudi Arabian Government had announced that it would hold a ‘limited Haj’ confined to people of different nationalities already living in the Kingdom.