Discuss the salient features of the epidemic diseases act 1897 along with the examples of its implementation.(200 Words)
Refer - The Indian Express
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IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
· Government of India has invoked the provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, so that Health Ministry advisories are enforceable.
· The Epidemic Diseases Act is routinely enforced across the country for dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, dengue, and cholera.
Epidemic Diseases Act 1897
· The colonial government introduced the Act to tackle the epidemic of bubonic plague that had spread in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency in the 1890s.
· Using powers conferred by the Act, colonies authorities would search suspected plague cases in homes and among passengers, with forcible segregations, evacuations, and demolitions of infected places.
Provisions of the 1897 Epidemic Diseases Act
· The Act, which consists of four sections, aims to provide for the better prevention of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Diseases.
· Section 2 empowers state governments/UTs to take special measures and formulate regulations for containing the outbreak.
· The inspection of persons travelling by railway, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected with any such disease.
· Section 3 provides penalties for disobeying any regulation or order made under the Act. These are according to section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).
· Section 4 gives legal protection to the implementing officers acting under the Act.
Examples of implementation
· In 2018, the district collector of Gujarat’s Vadodara issued a notification under the Act declaring the Khedkarmsiya village in Waghodia taluka as cholera-affected after 31 persons complained of symptoms of the disease.
· In 2015, to deal with malaria and dengue in Chandigarh, the Act was implemented and controlling officers were instructed to ensure the issuance of notices and challans of Rs 500 to offenders.
· In 2009, to tackle the swine flu outbreak in Pune, Section 2 powers were used to open screening centres in civic hospitals across the city, and swine flu was declared a notifiable disease.
