A recently released Covid study has suggested that one in five British Indians would give their vaccine to those who are more vulnerable, including those in India amidst the dire context. British Indians want the UK Government to provide more medical equipment and not enforce patents on life-saving medicines. British Indians are organising to send resources to India including money, medical supplies, and human assistance
The Indo-British All-Party Parliamentary Group hosted The 1928 Institute, a think-tank led by academics from the University of Oxford, to brief on the Covid-19 crisis in India. The group presented to Parliamentarians on:
i) Public health data: infection and death rate projections
ii) UK assistance: what the Government is going and what British Indians are doing
iii) Impact on British Indians: emotional distress yet comradery is developing
iv) British Indian plight: call for collaboration and assistance
The group used data from their seminal Covid Report which was published earlier this year to inform parliamentarians. The group also highlighted that British Indians may go to India to assist their relatives, many of whom are elderly.
Virendra Sharma, Chair of the Indo-British APPG said, "Good policy making requires clear knowledge and understanding. The Indian diaspora in the UK is a rich tapestry committed to the best for society, but the government and policy makers are letting them down with outdated and blanket assumptions. This report can fix that."
Baroness Verma, Chair of UN Women (UK) said, ‘‘British Indians are organising to support organisations and community groups to ensure they can send as much help and assistance to the people of India, where many have strong family ties. Not only is it our moral obligation to assist our close friend, India, but swift action may also mitigate the chance of Covid-19 strains permeating their way to our shores.”
Kiran Kaur Manku, an academic at the University of Oxford and co-founder of the 1928 Institute said, “The Government needs to act immediately and provide resources such as oxygen cylinders and concentrators. It is imperative that any UK assistance is inclusive and appropriate, and many British Indian organisations are on hand to collaborate.”
