Apr 15, 2020
3 min read
Lockdown in India extended: Reading between the lines of PM’s address and the MHA guidelines
- Tougher lockdown imposed but a human face of government is urgently needed: The government says lockdown is set to be even more stringent over next three weeks, yes that is the need of the hour and the right thing to do. The government also understands the pain that the public is going through to make it all possible, as PM truthfully spells in his address. But it’s equally important that following lockdown norms must not be made only a sacrifice of a dutiful citizen. There must be a compassionate assistance to the vulnerable communities like the poor of the poorest, daily wagers and migrant workers. News channels are reporting that a comprehensive package to that effect is in works. Hopefully it is rolled out soon. That will allay fears and instil compliance into masses.
- Preparations for the Post COVID 19 world: The world post the containment of pandemic is going to change fundamentally in some crucial ways. Everyone will need some kind of virological testing and clearance to integrate into the mainstream, be it boarding a plane, getting into a mall or a restaurant, doing business or even getting hired for a job. It’s an exercise of the scale of making a digital identity like AADHAR for our 1.4 billion population. That took us about five years to complete, this time we need to move seriously faster. Rapid testing kits based on antibody detection, is the way to go and it’s a very good sign that PM and the government puts their faith in indigenous manufacturers and scientists and urge them to rise to the occasion. This is in backdrop of the fact that there is unfortunate competitive bidding going on internationally for these test kits with affluent nations splurging any amount of money.
- Getting the country ready to take it when it hits hard, if it does: The lack of enough testing in India has caused a palpable fear that is beyond numbers. Till we don’t get some handle on where we stay in the natural history of pandemic, we have no choice but to close down. According to latest press briefing by Ministry of Health, we’re currently testing sixteen thousand people a day and we aim for getting a million tested per day. And add to that the hospital and healthcare preparedness. Measures have been taken to ramp up the capacity but they need more time to load up. And that is one strong argument that prompted this decision of lockdown extension.
- One size doesn’t fit all: The implementation of lockdown in India has seen two extremes. On the one end are states like Kerala and Karnataka who have seemingly flattened the curve while on the other are states like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar where testing is abysmal. Therefore the government puts the onus on states by announcing a week long evaluation ending on 20th April. Those getting good marks will reap the benefits of relaxed norms and restart the economy.
- Link to the PM address to nation dated 14.04.2020
- Link to the MHA guidelines dated 14.04.2020
