It seems like Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government at the Centre has lost its plot in identifying what services and sectors are to be regulated, restricted, allowed and locked after the proliferation of cases across the country.
The COVID crisis has brought people and their day-to-day activities to a standstill. However, the relaxations and restrictions should be brought in based on the priorities and necessities of people, otherwise, they would lose their livelihoods and economy would further suffer.
Early on, the Centre had issued guidelines allowing opening up of offices, business establishments for people to get on with their daily grind in a restricted manner. However, people had to face trouble in the absence of public transport and metro rail operations fearing it might intensify the spread of the deadly disease.
Time to allow public transport
Unlock 4.0 has allowed commencement of metro operations from the first week of September. The pertinent question is that the metros operate only in the big cities. What about those living in the rural regions? Don’t they need public transport?
The Centre might say that public transport would fall under the State’s preview; however, it bodes well for the State Government to give clarity on running of public transport buses while implementing the fresh Central guidelines of Unlock 4.0.
The public transport buses can be run by taking necessary precautions by allowing a restricted number of commuters. This gives the much-needed relief to the poor and middle-class people. It is time to reopen the public transport taking necessary precautions.
Allowing political and religious meetings
The Unlock 4.0 allowed political and religious meetings with an attendance of people up to 100. However, the decision is not going down well with people because the virus is spreading at a rapid rate. At a time, when the daily number of the positive cases in AP is hitting the 10,000-mark and the overall COVID count is running in lakhs, is it really necessary to give permissions for political and religious meetings?
The unwarranted enthusiasm allowing such meetings definitely needs a review. Earlier, the central guidelines restricted the total number of attendees to marriage functions to 50 people. It is easier to observe physical distancing, sanitization and other COVID guidelines at marriage events than at organized political and religious meetings. Will heavens fall if the religious, political and sports meets are not allowed? Is it possible to implement COVID guidelines strictly at such events?
Movie theatres may be allowed
The Unlock 4.0 guidelines provided no breather to the film industry facing crisis due to the COVID lockdown. The latest guidelines continue to prohibit running of movie theatres. Lakhs of people whose livelihoods depend on the industry continue to suffer. Movie theatres may be allowed to restart with a limited number of tickets issued per show.
The decision on schools should be welcomed
The Centre has banned reopening of schools until September 30. This decision needs to be welcomed, particularly when parents are expressing dread to send their wards to schools. It is unfortunate that some state governments are showing unnecessary urgency to reopen schools.
Going a step ahead, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced September 5 as the date to reopen schools. However, parents are not ready to put the health and safety of their children at risk. As of now, the CM is adamant on his decision, reasons of which are not known. Governments should take appropriate decisions considering the fears in people during these troubled times. They should instill confidence and not scare them more.
Depending on the prevailing situation and keeping the health and safety of people on their agenda, timely review and suitable decisions are the need of the hour. The Centre should also review its decision to allow religious and political meetings to prevent the spread of pandemic for the safety of people.
