Mitigating Hardships

Things which could have mitigated hardships of citizen

Mitigating Hardships

Indian Government announced lockdown with 4 hours’ notice to general public. Later extended the same 4 times and further extended by 1 month.

This situation has caused
#separation of families ,
#loss of livelihood ,
# businesses becoming defunct ,
# education suffering
# migrants walking
#Industry's eminent closure
# Rising unemployment
# Increase in beggars
# Collapse of real estate sector
# Restaurants and Saloons closing
# Entertainment industry coming to their knees
# Stock market collapse
# Lowering of interest rates
# Perishing of Agricultural Produce
# Poultry and fish supplies suffering

It is not the case that Central or State Government wanted people to suffer. But information on Covid_19 came in trickles and kept changing also.

1) Inadequate information to control pandemic

when started in December 2019 in China and then other countries became hotspots. It was said that this virus is heavy and gets transmitted from solid surfaces and physical touch. The advice given was to wash hands frequently and maintain social distance.
However cases continued to increase and then it was advised to wear face mask and as far as possible stay at home.
Government used their might to make lockdown successful. Police have freely used their stick to hit those roaming on road. Those citizens who were taking morning walk were made to do sit ups.
However these measures did not help in containing the number of Covind _19 patients

2) last Pandemic was 100 years back.

Earlier pandemic was 100 years back called "Spanish flu ". That time measures taken were washing hands with soap and wearing masks. We have not made any further progress in this matter and even now adopting same measures.

3) Virus shall die due to summer heat

It was said that this virus multiplies in cold climate. It was also advised to not to sleep in AC rooms. We waited for Virus to die in April and May heat but it did not happen.

4) Cases increased in spite of Lockdown

What has puzzled Govt officials is that cases continued to increase in spite of lockdown. They consoled themselves by saying that if lockdown would not have been there then there would have been still more cases.

5) Lack of visualization about what would be effect on people

.
Present Government also announced demonetization suddenly. It was supposedly to unearth black money of people. However what happened in reality is rich changed their notes from green to pink and poor people stood in queue to change their small amounts. Many lost their jobs and some of them even their life.

Following measures could have helped in mitigating the hardships suffered by people.

1) Gap between 2 lockdowns

There should have been gap of 3-4 days given between 2 lockdowns.
This would have helped people to address some of the hardships mentioned above. Families could have been reunited. One 5 year child was away from his mother for 70 days. One housewife who visited her ailing mother was stuck and her son and husband were managing things somehow with child crying every day. Migrants would have got safe passage home.

There are certain guidelines in enforcing lockdown
1 day - Trial
3 days - Gap
21 days - Lockdown
3-4 days - Gap
18 days - Lockdown
5-6 days - Gap
Thereafter depending on the situation to take a call.
We did trial on 22nd March and did banging of thalis in the evening.
Lockdown started immediately and no gap has been given for more than 70 days now and further 30 days.

2) CommunicationDuring lockdown PM and CM made speeches on TV. Only broad guide
Iines or decisions were conveyed. When it came to specific information then same was not easily available.

#which are locations wherein free food is being served?
#which are stations where Shramik Specials are available?
#what are destinations of such trains?
#How to book ticket to native place?
#Where to board state transport bus?
#How to travel to nearest hospital?
#which medicine brings immunity?
The Government has to communicate these things in clear fashion.
Every citizen is not on twitter.

3) Railways could have been savior.

Indian Railways are for the country what arteries and veins are for human body. The proper blood circulation is must for human life and so also running of railways very important for any country.
The sudden lockdown brought railway network to standstill.
In spite of rush of migrants on stations the administration was adamant on not running the trains. There was no proper guideline from Central and Government failed to understand gravity of the situation.
The train services were suspended for 2 months and later Shramik Specials were started for migrant workers to reach their native place.

# how do you expect worker to book his ticket online?
Whenever we visit bank or reservation counter there are many who seek your help to fill forms. Now you expect them to book online.

# Why regular trains were not run?The main exodus was to UP and Bihar from other parts. If railways would have run regular trains like Gorakhpur Express , Kamayani Express , Patna Express , Chennai Express etc. Then workers would have known timings and also about intermediate stations and destinations. There would not have been chaos.

# expecting State Government to make list
This arrangement has unnecessarily delayed matter. Migrant workers are in every nook and corner of city. They had no transport available to reach stations. Those who reached station ticket windows were not available.

# Late starting of Shramic SpecialsAs such when lockdown started patients were around 5 thousand. That time Shramik Specials were not run for fear of not being able to maintain social distance.
When patients became over 1.5 lac then Shramik Specials started.How are you maintaining social distance now?
These trains should have been started even much before.

# Inability of railway drivers to see object on track.
In Maharashtra Goods Train driver has run over migrants who were walking on the track. Similar incidence had happened in Punjab earlier during ram leela celebration. Why not have fool proof system of emergency breaks?

# Wrong movement of trains
Railways carring migrant workers have taken wrong routes. This is complete collapse of Administration.

4) Curfew methodology
There are many occasions when curfew is announced due to law and order problem or to undertake any disciplinary operation.
In such situations local administration appeals to locals to fill proper quantum of ration. Essential supplies like milk, medicine etc. are made available. Curfew is also relaxed for some time and people from different lanes are released turn by turn to avoid any rush.
This things could have been followed in lockdown as well. We could have insisted for masks and social distancing to be followed.

5) What Government thinks and what people do is different.
Government need to visualize as to what people want. People have elected them and they should know pulse of people.
Sitting in AC room surrounded by security and with assured Government salary one cannot just appeal to stay at home.
In big cities there are 10 people staying in 1 room. Some work in day shift and some at night. They take turns to sleep. All of them cannot be in one room for 24 hours and 70 days.
These cramped people became restless and they came on road at Surat, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Pune and at Bandra in Mumbai.
Another thing which Government has to keep in mind is each one has different food habit. Some of them rice eaters and others chapatti eaters. Some are vegetarian and some non-vegetarian. Many migrants complained that they do not like food being provided to them.

6) Continuation of Economic Activity
There are daily wage workers who earn every day to pay for their food of that day. Shopkeepers are dependent on their daily sale. Those who sale perishable goods should have been allowed to transport their goods and sale.

7) Support systems for hospitals
While it is expected to run hospitals and patients are pouring, what is arrangement for travel of doctors and support staff? Everyone is not having their own vehicles. Also supply of medicines and oxygen cylinders, ventilators require those companies to work and also transport things quickly.

What can be done from now onwards to mitigate the hardships of people?
Following are things which need to be done.

1) Start Public Transport within city for essential services staff.In big cities people mainly travel by buses, local trains, metro etc. These need to be started for staff of essential services, hospital staff, banks, airport employees, patients to travel. The entry to stations to be given only on the basis of I-card. There is one case MMR region in which pregnant woman walked on railway tracks to reach hospital.

2) Start regular train service
At present railways have started shramic specials which are point to point service. Instead of that it is better to start regular train service on their regular timings. People will know as to what is destination and which stations it is going to stop. Social distancing and limited passengers to be ensured.
Open stalls on platforms with regular sanitization.

3) Mobile medical teams
At present patient is required to go to designated hospitals wherein Covind_19 can be tested. Hospitals are overflowing with patients and no adequate beds. It is better to send mobile medical teams to affected localities. Attend patients, give medicine and only those requiring treatment to be sent to hospitals. In UK also patients are encouraged to do home quarantine and medicines are home delivered.

4) Start taxi service
Taxis are livelihood for many. They can be equipped with plastic screen between driver and passenger. They are mini ambulances and can reach patients to hospitals. If flight operations have started on 25th May then connectivity for arriving passengers is required.

5) Make plan to remobilize migrants
People moving to other location in search of work is common thing all over the world. Now railways, state transports and NGOs have helped and are helping migrants to reach home. But then administration to be ready to bring them back when things normalize. Let there be proper planning for the same.Finally Central and State blaming each other has to STOP. It does not help anyone. It is better both learn from the mistakes enumerated above and work to mitigate hardships of citizens.DPK Udas
datt.udas63@gmail.com