CENTRE’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Manisha Gupta : India’s response to Covid-19 has been pre-emptive and pro-active. India had already put in place a comprehensive response system at its borders much before WHO declared it as a public health emergency of international concern (30th January). Screening of incoming air passengers followed by suspension of visas and and ban on international flights was done much ahead of any other country. A look at the global scenario would highlight that Italy and Spain, which are devastated by COVID-19 , had started screening of travellers 25 days and 39 days respectively after first reported case.
As it continues its global rampage, government has taken other drastic steps to stem its spread. It has allotted Rs15,000 crore to strengthen the country’s health infrastructure. This fund will be used for developing health infrastructure in the country, increasing the numbers of beds, testing kits and even training of professionals to tackle Covid-19.

अमेरिका ने भारत समेत 64 देशों को 17.4 करोड़ डॉलर की अतिरिक्त आर्थिक मदद देने की घोषणा की
21-day national lockdown is an unparalleled step. There is scientific basis and epidemiological significance for it. “In epidemiological terms, the logic is that we have arrived at an incubation period of 14 days. Give another week for the residual infection to die out, for the tail end, to be entirely safe, and you arrive at 21 days,” says Tamil Nadu’s Director of Public Health K. Kolandasamy. He also said that it will create some breathing space to convince people of the seriousness of the situation and build positive public opinion, carry out disinfection of all buildings, vehicles and surfaces, and allows hospitals to prepare themselves for the next phase of operations.

This is the most effective way of preventing the spread of the infection from those already infected into the community as it would cut the transmission chain of the virus. Although this move would help in flattening the curve of transmission, it has left millions of people unprepared for severe disruption. It has resulted in another bout of crowding, with people rushing out to buy essential supplies and medicines. Also, it has already hurt marginalized communities due to loss of livelihood and lack of food, shelter, health and other basic needs. Tens of thousands of migrant workers are left stranded, with rail and bus services shut down. The onus is totally on the central and state governments to provide the essentials- food, medicines and emergency assistance to all the people and especially the poorest and most vulnerable.

The ₹1,70,000-crore relief package announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 26 -Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) – is a good step towards relieving the distress caused by the 21-day lockdown.The government has devised innovative ways to offer relief. It covers various sections of the vulnerable, ranging from farmers and women Jan Dhan account holders, to organised sector workers, and also the healthcare workers, who will now get a sizeable insurance cover of ₹50 lakh. The doubling of foodgrain allocation offered free and providing free cooking gas refills to the underprivileged who are part of the PM Ujjwala scheme is a good move.

But the government should also announce a relief package for the corporate sector and the middle class along with the PMGKY.
Government will transfer around Rs15,000 crore to close to 75 million farmers from April 1 under the PM KISAN scheme, which gives farmer cash benefits of Rs 2000 in three equal instalments. This will help farmers support their living during the nationwide lockdown, due to which they are not able to sell their produce.

कैश फ्लो बनाए रखने के लिए बैंकों से बात करेंगी वित्त मंत्री
The main challenge that now stands is the effective implementation of these steps and how the government delivers the essential supplies to the people in this lockdown. This is the hard time ahead and will test the mettle of India’s national and state governments.