Swadeshi Jagran Manch organises ‘Patent Free Vaccine Pledge Programme’ on World Awakening Day

June 20: World Awakening Day was celebrated by Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) on Sunday. A pledge for ‘Patent Free Vaccine Pledge Programme’ was undertaken during the day. About 50 volunteers associated with SJM and other organizations participated in Cachar , Karimganj and Hailakandi districts with posters & banners in their hands appealing the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to make the Covid vaccine Patent Free for its easy and early availability to all in the world.

To commemorate the occasion, a joint press meet was held along with Dr.Rajdeep Roy, MP Silchar on 20 June Ravi Patwa, Assam State Sanjojok of Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), Santanu Sutradhar- Cachar Zila Sanjojok, Binoy Paul- Hailakandi Zila Sanjojok among others were present at the press meet.

Speaking during the occasion, Dr. Rajdeep Roy applauded and thanked the initiative of SJM and signed the petition for Universal Access to Vaccine & Medicines (UAVM). He also threw light upon the positive outcome of this campaign which will help the entire humanity in fighting the COVID pandemic. He also informed that Govt of india has taken a massive vaccination drive and the nation will have 257 crores vaccine within December 2021. He said that with such initiative of SJM, mass awareness will be created and the multinational pharma companies will be compelled to adhere to the demand for sharing the formula with other companies.

Elaborating his view point, Ravi Patwa, Assam State Sanjojok of Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) said Global humanity has been experiencing an unprecedented crisis and trauma form Covid-19. More than 37 lakh persons across the world and 3.4 lakh in India have succumbed to untimely death from Covid-19 in the last about one year. The countries like Israel, US, UK, Norway etc. have controlled the fresh infections and deaths from Corona by vaccinating majority of their adult population. World needs about 1400 crore vaccine doses to save the people from Corona.

However, in last about 6 months only 200 crore doses of Covid vaccines could be produced by the eight pharma companies. At current rate, it may take another 2-3 years before the eligible population of the world gets vaccinated, whereas it is desirable to vaccinate them all in 10-12 months’ time to nullify the chances of new Corona variants to infect the already vaccinated people again. It means ‘No one will be safe until all are safe’. The hindrance in the large-scale production of Covid vaccines is the Patent Laws and Intellectual Property Rights under the provisions of TRIPS of WTO, which do not permit other pharma companies to manufacture these vaccines. Patent laws thus need to be relaxed to increase the production of vaccines and medicines to save 787 crore population of the world from the clutches of Corona, added Mr Patwa.

As regards Universal Access to Vaccine & Medicines (UAVM) Campaign, Ravi Patwa said, “This endeavour is for the noble cause of making the Covid vaccine available for all, has been launched worldwide by a team consisting of members from Higher Education Institutions and Social Organisations through two petitions, one for the eminent persons like Vice Chancellors or equivalent, and second for the other people. The first petition has been signed by more than 2000 eminent persons in the country and the second petition by about 14 lakh persons from
India & abroad (till June 16). Through these petitions, an appeal is made to WTO for granting a waiver in the provisions of TRIPS; the global pharmaceutical companies for voluntarily giving patent-free rights including technology transfer to other firms; the governments to use their sovereign rights to grant licenses to more pharmaceutical firms; and all individuals & organizations to support the campaign.”

He further informed that the WTO in its meeting on June 9, 2021 has agreed to start a text-based process to finalize on fast track the proposal of India & South Africa backed by more than 60 nations for a TRIPS waiver to increase vaccine manufacturing. This has happened due to the public pressure generated by campaigns like UAVM in India and other similar campaigns in the world. To ensure more awareness and support on the issue and generate more public pressure till WTO finalizes the TRIPS waiver, the UAVM campaign is going a step further with the decision to celebrate June 20, 2021 as World Awakening Day. Programmes for Pledge for Patent Free Vaccine will be undertaken in various cities and Universities / Colleges across India and many countries of the world in the form of Demonstrations / Briefings to the Press / Seminars / Webinars etc in the presence of some eminent persons of the area and the press & media persons. This program organized by Swadeshi Jagran Manch is also one of such programmes.

Basic tenets of SJM on World Awakening Day, June 20, 2021:

• Pledge for Patent Free Vaccines – Programme on World Awakening Day organised by Swadeshi Jagran Manch
• Humanity’s Call – Vaccine for all
• WTO should give TRIPS waiver for Patent Free Vaccine
• UAVM Petition signed by 14 lakh people from India & abroad for Patent Free Vaccine
• Fundamental Right to Life is above the right to Patent and Profit.