A long road (Coronavirus won't leave anytime soon)

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 A long road (Coronavirus won't leave anytime soon)

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• Unprecedented lockdown: The 21 day pan-India lockdown is the biggest effort yet to stop the spread of the viral infection. The curve of transmission is to be flattened out.
• Sudden enforcement: Due to some gaps in preparations, millions of citizens have been left to fend for themselves. A one-day drill was done as the "Sunday Janta Curfew", but clearly the various complex issues of a long lockdown weren't understood fully.
• Welcomed: The medical community has welcomed this lockdown, as a means to cut transmission cycle. Alongwith this lockdown, international traveller arrival too is stopped. So three weeks will give authorities enough time to plan.
• Crowding: The lack of efficient planning on lockdown led to another round of crowding on the streets, for essential purchases. Police violence was seen. If prior discussions with states was done, a lot of this could be avoided.
• War room approach: If this long lockdown is to not result in widespread citizen misery, some things need to be done.

1. Reliable access to food, water, medicines and emergency assitance is crucial
2. Cash relief and free rations need to be given
3. If movement is to be restricted, doorstep delivery of essentials is needed
4. All key personnel must be given passes to ensure free movement of medicines etc., and safety of personnel
5. Social discrimination against health care workers needs to be stamped out
6. Governments are solely responsible for ensuring essential supplies, else people will break the curfew sooner or later

• The economic standstill: India's Rs.200 trillion economy is now at a standstill. The mind boggles to imagine its meaning.

1. Millions of daily wage earners and informal sector workers are hardest hit
2. SMEs will be hit badly too, as will the landless rural poor
3. Vital segments of manufacturing will stop working as transportation is halted

• Relief package: The Finance Min. came up with a package of relief measures - compliance deadlines deferments and some credit relief - but these are marginal steps. The relief package has to be of an unprecedente scale.

1. Abandon the now-meaningless fiscal deficit goal. It means nothing.
2. Cash grants must be released to Jan-Dhan account holders, and BPL ration card holders (and other welfare scheme beneficiaries - PM KISAN and MGNREGA)
3. Investments in public healthcare to be ramped up
4. Loan repayment holiday to be given

• A big opportunity: For the central govt., this crisis must be used to address the well-being of the public and the economy. Let not the loss of lives be in vain.
• Summary : A crisis of unimagined proportions has hit India, and the government must not waste this opportunity.

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