In a somewhat problematic move, police officials in Madhya Pradesh are now branding people based on their vaccination status. A recent video from MP's Niwari shared on Wednesday showed people being awarded badges and posters with cautionary or complementary messages depending upon whether they had been vaccinated or not.
"I'm a patriot as I'm vaccinated, proclaims the badges that visuals show the police pinning onto the clothes of inoculated individuals. However, it was not immediately clear how the officials were ascertaining this fact.
Others still bore their un-vaccinated status like an albatross around the neck, with posters that called for people to avoid them. "Stay away from me as I am not vaccinated yet," these urged.
Needless to say, the situation has caused quite the furore online. While some pointed issues such as vaccine shortage, others noted that there was no rule that forced all Indians to get themselves vaccinated. Nor was there a deadline that these people had missed.
"Giving Badges for Vaccinated people is Good to encourage Vaccination. But this poster of stay away from me is wrong because no such date given for deadline. GOI has given target of December 21 to vaccinate 70% only. Also this thing in vaccination shortage period is not acceptable," summed up one Twitter user.
"Honouring and shaming. A new low,"' remarked another.
