The first week of the three weeks lockdown would end in a few hours, and so would the rest two weeks as well. It is difficult to predict if there would be an extension of the lockdown, despite the government assuaging that there will be no extension. Examples of other countries enforcing longer lockdown in the more substantial interest of the safety of their citizens, should not be missed.
The first week of the lockdown was tardy without planning. The abrupt announcement of the lockdown was not like after a meteor had struck. It was well after nearly eight weeks of the appearance and the spread of the virus. The migrants’ problems were not taken into consideration. The shut factories evicted the workers, and many labour colonies existed within the factories. Even before a battle, the army logistics department swings in arranging for food, medicine, transport et al. In the case of civilians, the district administration should have done a better job. I recall seeing a ‘Law and order Manual,’ jokingly called War manual by the District Magistrates, which was a British legacy. It dealt with every required intervention by the administration in case of calamities like war, flood, droughts, pandemics or any other adversities.
Religion seems to scare the lawmakers, and enforcing discipline with religious groups seem to cause fear of backlashes and poll prospects. The apprehension lets governments turn a blind eye to congregations even at these critical times as we have witnessed in Trivandrum and Nizamuddin. Collectively the migrants’ march, the religious assemblies have negated the pain of 1.3 Billion people in staying indoors for the past seven days. Sending a few people responsible for the lapses to jail will send a strong signal of future avoidance of such repetitions.
April 15 is also an auspicious day for Hindus, and many would rush out to throng the temples and holy places. City Malls and Cineplexes will again get crowded. The Friday prayers will resume, as will the Sunday Mass in the churches. Many migrants and day labourers, with no sustenance and support, will get back to the cities in overcrowded trains and buses. There could be many carriers of COVID 19 amongst them, and there could be a second and an even more lethal wave of the virus lashing at us.
Needless to state, it is essential to focus right now on the containment of the virus. Still, it may be of worth, if a thinktank of experts simultaneously assess and work on a post-lockdown-scenario. Three weeks of lockdown is long enough to permanently change the mindset of many, where community counselling will play a crucial part.
The usual lethargy and ‘we will cross the bridge when it comes,’ attitude could prove to be costly.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
