India’s Covid Crisis — Mistakes made so far
Despite, a year time, advances in the treatment, and a better understanding of the virus, here we are, with more than 2.5 crore cases and 2.7 lakh deaths. Adding around 4000 deaths daily from the past week, our country’s health care system has collapsed.
But, was this all avoidable? this catastrophe? could we have done better? This question will probably leave a void in our hearts for the rest of our lives. Damage is done. Our loved ones are gone. Not in grace, not in peace. But in agony. This feeling is and will be there for a long time, that our collective mistakes lead to their murder. Be it the government or the public, both are responsible. That we killed our people.
Role of the People
We the people have been complicit in our behavior. From day one we downplayed the virus. Some of us believed that we were more immune than the others and some of us thought that the virus was a hoax. It turns out, neither of the claims turned out to be true. Because now that we see death, truth has never been so truer than before. The virus is the new normal and god knows for how long. All our fake forwards and fake shares couldn’t be of any help. Neither a gargle of lukewarm water could cure the disease nor could the 30-second breath test diagnose it. Our Ignorance got the better of us. And our irresistible desire to venture out, socialize and have religious gatherings despite the threat, spread the disease like a wildfire.
Such complacency from our side is not shocking to me. This pandemic just lifted the curtains over our selfish and greedy souls, otherwise, we have acted exactly in the manner we have been acting for ages — selfish and greedy. We don’t care if the world burns unless it’s not our house on fire. Smoke is fine, who cares.
This thinking and behavior are what got us this far. Deep into the shallows of self-destruction. Now that repentance and self-correction won’t be enough. More deaths are coming, all because, we couldn’t do what we were supposed to do.
Role of the Government and the Local Leaders
Immature decisions, irresponsible statements, and complacency in reinforcement are the three murderous crimes our government committed in this period of crisis. Implementing an untimely and unsustainable lockdown when there was much to do and relaxing it when things went out of hand, explains the preparedness and decision-making of the current administration. It is a shame that a year after the first wave passed, we are witnessing people dying due to the lack of oxygen. Unable to ramp up hospital capacity, the government has turned out to be such a failure that it is not able to control black markets as well. And above all, holding election rallies and then denying reality and not taking responsibility is the worst thing it could have done. Statements from influential politicians and local religious leaders, trivializing the crisis have added to the problem. Lack of governance and ghosting its people in a time of need, is probably not going to fade away from our minds that easily. The Government of India is still in denial. Its horrendous mismanagement has lead to terrible consequences. Far worse than they look on the mainstream media. Too many sins, too many dead. It will take another crucified Jesus to cleanse them all.
3rd Wave and What to do
Repeating the same mistake and going through this kind of misery again, can be avoided, only if we come to our senses this time. Third-wave might be on its way. Both the government and the people should prepare. Mask, Washed hands, social distancing, Vaccine and accurate guidelines are the only solution. Nobody knows when it is going to hit or how hard it is going to hit us. In any case, if we are not able to defend ourselves due to our discrepancies yet again then I guess we don’t deserve to be saved.
