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| COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown 4.0., State of Chaos and Confusion | | |
Ravinder Jalali
With the end of Lockdown-3.0 and the onset of Lockdown 4.0, which is going to conclude on 31st May and the uncertainty that large looms at the end of Lockdown 4.0, which perhaps may or may not be further extended, it has now become more important to think on the other side of life i.e. economy/work. It is now time to focus on enterprise as well.
With the onset of lockdown 4.0 Country is witnessing more chaos and confusion. People across the country are at cross roads because the central guidelines are on the downside while as the state level guidelines have become more, resulting chaos and confusion. Relaxations are different for different states. We are seeing migrant labourers and workers all along the highways, roadsides and railway tracks intending to go their homes throughout length and breadth of the Nation. These are the people who have been instrumental in building these roads and highways, and now the irony is that the same people are walking miles and miles under scorching heat. There seeing their conditions it is pathetic and deplorable.
Creating different zones has compounded problem. With the partial restoration of transport at different levels in different zones also likely to end in confusion. People having shops, which would have been open as per zone criteria but shopkeeper is in other zones hence unable to make it. Liquor shops are open but salons are closed. In some states like Gujarat barber was using PPE kit while giving haircut while as in Malda, WB, barber had no such kit and there were lot of people in his shop without any protection.
Had the things been improved, then why people after about two months of lockdown still want to go to their homes? It clearly indicates that lockdown is not going to end shortly. Despite lapse of more than 2 months and having moved lacs of workers to their homes in Bihar, UP, or different states, there are still people who want to go their homes. I have met some migrant labourers in Delhi, where they have assembled to get their registration for their transfer in buses to Railway station Delhi for onward journey to Bihar and other states. Although the Government is making all the arrangements for their transfer to their home states, still people are in queues from morning. They have to be in queues from morning to evening in hot summers and are not sure whether they will be moved on the same day or have to wait for many more days. Different States have different health protocols which are contradicting with other states. For the traveller who has to go to Bihar from Delhi has to undergo medical check-up using thermometer to check a passenger`s temperature at Delhi only and then sent to Home in Bihar in shramak trains at the cost of Govt., but in case of J&K people arriving at Jammu, have to undergo PCR test and have to wait till the results are out and till then they have to be in an administrative quarantine followed by home quarantine. There were reports from quarantine centre in Jammu that people are languishing in centres for more than a weeks’ time or even in some cases it takes more than a week. There were reports that in few cases test reports were missing and the suspects were forced to remain in administrative quarantine for more than 10 days for want of results.
As of now almost 46 Lacs of people all over world are infected with corona virus. In India about one lac people have been found positive with more than 3000 deaths. COVID 2019 has broken the spine of Indian economy. The list is endless and the biggest tragedy is that we do not know as of now when it will end and how long it will continue. The entire economy has come to standstill. Civil aviation, railway and road and navy have come to a grinding /halt. We have heard earlier that when employees go on day`s strike how much loss the organisation or institution incur. Airlines are running in losses because there is no income and the recurring expenses like salary and fixed charges are to be paid. Tourism is one more important area which has received a severe blow. With all road transport off the roads, the tourists are unable to move, which has given a harsh blow to tour operators. Hotel industry and other related sectors have come to a grinding halt. Airlines mostly private have reduces their salary to staff but in case of railway being Govt. owned, salary are to be paid to employees.
Daily wagers and casual labourers are the most sufferers. One is that they are out of homes and have no source of income. With two meagre meals a day, it is not going to solve their problem. Students, migrants, etc. are stranded for the last almost 55 days and are eager to go to their homes in villages where they can join their families. Unemployment is one more, rather foremost sector receiving a setback. It has been reported in media also how the labourers and those who are rendered jobless are moving to their villages covering the distance on foot. Some of the travellers have died also. I have seen people begging nowadays who are not actually beggars but are forced beggars. Shops and small establishments have ceased to exist and earn, hence unable to pay their employers. These Lockdowns are becoming nightmare for these people. Though Govt. is taking all these steps to protect the lives but these people are dying more than once every day. For them Covid-2019 is one time death but at present they are dying daily.
The economy of each state and the entire country is in bad shape. Recently the opening of liquor shops clearly shows the need of the Govt. to earn revenue, whatever source it may be. People have been making some obscene or lewd remarks against the buyers of liquor but are actually helping state to earn; rather they are becoming economic warriors. The sick people in homes are at receiving end and are not able to get the treatment.
Banking sector is heavily at the receiving end. With no income and no job, there will be defaults in the repayments of the instalments, which will result into rise in NPAs. Although RBI has already relaxed the repayment by 3 months but those who have no income will default. Delay in repayment will only delay in NPAs and not in reducing or stopping, new accounts becoming NPAs. This will give temporary relief to balance sheet of financial institutions but will not cure. |
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