A technical error in the Aarogya Setu app has brought a Ghatkopar businessman’s life to halt. Jitendra Machhar, 51, had tested positive for Covid-19 in May 2020. Since then, Jitendra is marked positive till date and is completely helpless about the same.
Jitendra, who is resident of Ghatkopar in Mumbai, after testing positive was admitted in Hindumahasabha hospital. Though he was asymptomatic for precautionary measures he got admitted and recovered in a week. Getting discharged from hospital, he completed his quarantine time of 14 days at home. After which to check benefits, alerts and other related programmes, he installed India’s Covid-19 contact tracing app Aarogya Setu. But his installation has increased pain in his life and even after recovering from the deadly disease, Jitendra still remains “positive”.
An interior designer by profession, Jitendra told The Daily Guardian, “I tried to install and uninstall the app more than 10 times, still things have not been fixed. I have also mailed to support.aarogyasetu@gov.in, yet there has been no response. I have also dialled emergency number used for medical aid, but was informed there is no such facility by which this can be solved.”
During such testing and difficult times of corona, Jitendra has had to bear financial losses in business and now as lockdown is being eased and relaxations are happening, he’s unable to visit corporate offices. He said: “I am stopped at number of places at gates and even when I explain to them about the technical flaw, people don’t understand and smelling something suspicious, stop me from entering their premises. This has taken a toll on me and my business as payments are stuck and I am unable to go physically to most places to send receipts. I request the Health ministry and related departments to fix this glitch in the AarogyaSetu app that has brought my life to a standstill.”