The virus, the social distancing, the panic and the hospitals rule the current scenario, which must end sooner or later. The plot will change to an ever more disturbing chapter, people and pain.
The oversight of migrant labour was apparent. The demographic details like the place from where they hail, their family back at the village and their work were largely ignored. Many employers locked their workplaces and shoved these labourers out, and having no other way, they headed for their homes, often a day or two by walk, and in cases as long as four days walk.
End of COVID must also mean the start of economic activities, as the stoppage of work costs the country dear, leading it to negative growth this year. Various statistics are pouring in estimating a shutting down of 40% MSME sector units. Millions of workers will be thrown out of employment. They have to survive with dignity.
We steered away from many crucial supportive steps in the last decade, falling for the sparkle of the cheaper Chinese imports. The venerable Hindu gods and goddesses like Laxmi, Ganesha and even Saibaba are Chinese made. So are thousands of other items, which were traditionally and hereditarily made by families of artisans in various villages.
COVID has impacted the minds of all, to a little or a great extent. The chase for materialism could end for a few years. If people take to helping out fellowmen, they must support local farmers, vendors of vegetables, lentils, rice etc. MNCs have grabbed whatever is needed the most, water, salt, wheat, bread, rice and tea. We waste 40% of the fruits but prefer fizzy drinks like Coke and Pepsi over healthier fruit drinks.
Dazzling advertisements, attractive packaging and marketing costs are 65% of the value of the material. It’s time to make cost reductions and Indian brands from local bazaars and Kirana stores.
If Gandhi urged Indians to wear Khadi, one aspect was to teach a lesson to the English mills, exporting expensive clothes to a few Indians. The second was to sow a seed of nationalism and support the local weavers. The nation has moved forward, and we can also assist as much with handloom clothes, which are of superior quality.
The government must make urban public transport better so that reliance on private vehicles is reduced. This will reduce pollution and give better health to all. Maids are absent, cooks cannot work and drivers unavailable during the lockdown. Most homemakers are managing their chores. There might be a loss of jobs for these categories of people too. We collectively need to apply our mind to making every villager more productive to the nation and earn better in the process.
The dominant media, ad and publicity, has made some of us overtly flamboyant. It’ll be back to simple living and high thinking period for the future that will sustain us.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
