THE DARKER SIDE OF THE LOCKDOWN
While many among us are criticizing the government for the 21 days lockdown just because we are getting bored and we are unable to resist the temptation to move out and enjoy, have you ever felt grateful for having at least a good shelter and food?
While you are busy in devising new methods to fight your boredom, have you ever imagined the condition of a person who is wandering around cities just in search of a job so that he could arrange for at least one meal a day for his family?
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| Source-The Wire |
I think my questions would have given you a clue about which section of the society I am talking about.
Yes, you are right I am talking about the poorer strata of our society. The laborers, The rickshaw pullers, The daily wage workers, The painters, The cobblers and the list goes on.
Now, let me take you a bit deeper into this topic so that you could realize the grim reality of the situation.
THE STORY OF RANVEER-
Ranveer Singh, a resident of Badfra village, was the father of three children. He worked at a home delivery service for a private restaurant in Delhi.
After the lockdown rendered him unemployed, he decided to return home as he was left with no source of income.
Since no public transport that he could afford was available, Ranveer decided to cover the arduous journey of 285km from Delhi to Morena district of Madhya Pradesh by walking.
But this Earth-shattering decision proved fatal, and after covering a tiring journey of 200km Ranveer took his last breath and died due to a heart attack in Agra, leaving behind his family in despair. (Source-TOI)
Not only Ranveer, but there are many workers who are struggling hard to survive in these testing times.
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| Source-Telegraph India |
Not only Ranveer, but there are many workers who are struggling hard to survive in these testing times.
While these migrants are desperate to reach their native places, they are being charged anywhere between 2,500 to 10,000 per person by the truckers to transport them illegally inside the trucks, carrying essential goods and eatables.
It is obvious that for labors earning a meager amount of rupees 200-400 per day, this offer is a luxury.
"We started our journey from Kanpur and it took us 4 days to cover 200km and reach Prayagraj. While we had just one meal in the past three days," Said 'Dilip', a daily wage laborer from Kanpur.
On reaching their destination, these workers are either sent back by the police or are compelled to stay at various shelter points around the city.
Now, the most important question that arises is-
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CONDITION?
In my opinion the government is clearly responsible for the situation. Because in a country like India, where people are being brought from abroad through airplanes during the pandemic , some arrangements for the transportation of the laborers residing inside the country could have been made.
If the government would have informed about this lockdown a week before and would have assured that the basic facilities such as food and shelter would be provided, then such a situation would have been prevented. Moreover, those willing to go back to their native place could have easily reached there without any panic and chaos.
But there is a famous idiom in Hindi that,"DER AAYE DURUST AAYE",that means "BETTER LATE THEN NEVER". Therefore we should appreciate the following efforts of our government-
As a precautionary and proactive measure, all DMs have been asked to keep two medical teams at major bus stations and one at small stations immediately, to ensure immediate medical checkup and listing of the passengers.
This wage increase will help in tackling rural distress and will raise consumption to boost the rural economy.
Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath transferred Rs611 crore into 27.15 lakh workers' bank accounts.
But in a country like India, where the great diversity upholds 1.3 billion people, such contributions were not sufficient.Therefore I would like to list some other contributions made by the people that were of great help to these people.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY NGO's-
Similarly,there are hundreds of NGOs who are trying hard to help those sections of the society which are neglected by the government during these testing times.
DONATIONS MADE IN THE PM CARES FUND-
While the government is trying hard to help people all over the country, the main financing help is being given by the common people through donations in the PM Cares Fund.
Many celebrities and organizations have contributed to help the government in fighting this pandemic. Here are few of their contributions-
Celebrities-
These contributions have helped a lot especially in those areas where the government was unable to reach.
The misery of the workers is extreme but together we can help in overcoming this situation.
"We started our journey from Kanpur and it took us 4 days to cover 200km and reach Prayagraj. While we had just one meal in the past three days," Said 'Dilip', a daily wage laborer from Kanpur.
On reaching their destination, these workers are either sent back by the police or are compelled to stay at various shelter points around the city.
Now, the most important question that arises is-
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CONDITION?
In my opinion the government is clearly responsible for the situation. Because in a country like India, where people are being brought from abroad through airplanes during the pandemic , some arrangements for the transportation of the laborers residing inside the country could have been made.
If the government would have informed about this lockdown a week before and would have assured that the basic facilities such as food and shelter would be provided, then such a situation would have been prevented. Moreover, those willing to go back to their native place could have easily reached there without any panic and chaos.
But there is a famous idiom in Hindi that,"DER AAYE DURUST AAYE",that means "BETTER LATE THEN NEVER". Therefore we should appreciate the following efforts of our government-
- 1000 UPSRTC BUSES FOR MIGRANTS-
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| Source-First Post |
As a precautionary and proactive measure, all DMs have been asked to keep two medical teams at major bus stations and one at small stations immediately, to ensure immediate medical checkup and listing of the passengers.
- 29K CRORE SDRF FUND FOR MIGRANTS-
- 10%INCREASE IN MNREGS WAGES IN UP-
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| Source-CNBC-TV18.com |
This wage increase will help in tackling rural distress and will raise consumption to boost the rural economy.
Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath transferred Rs611 crore into 27.15 lakh workers' bank accounts.
- Rs100 CRORE FOR LABORERS BY BIHAR'S CHIEF MINISTER -To help the migrant workers from Bihar, who are far away from home and are severely hit by the nationwide lockdown, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday deserted that Rs 100crore is released from the CM's fund to set up shelters for Rickshaw pullers and daily wage earners who are living in state but far from home.
- FREE LPG CYLINDERS-Over 8 crore PRADHAN MANTRI UJJWALA YOJANA beneficiaries will be entitled to a total of three 14.2 kg LPG cylinders for free between April to June, a move that will cost the government an estimated Rs13000 crore.
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| Source-Hindustan Times |
- 21000 MIGRANTS RELIEF CAMPS-Over 21,000 relief camps have been made operational in the country where more than 6.6 lakh destitute people and those stranded because of the lockdown are sheltered.
- BJP MP's CONTRIBUTIONS -BJP president JP Nadda announced that all party MP's will release Rs1 crore from their annual relief fund to fight coronavirus pandemic.
But in a country like India, where the great diversity upholds 1.3 billion people, such contributions were not sufficient.Therefore I would like to list some other contributions made by the people that were of great help to these people.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY NGO's-
- Sumanasa Foundation--This is a Chennai based foundation that has called for a contribution to fulfill a Target of Rs20,000 in order to provide 100kg of rice,50kg of dal,45l of oil,15 kg of salt and spices,for city's community kitchen run by Greater Chennai Corporation.
- SAFA-This NGO is working with daily wagers like the auto drivers, vendors and some members of the trans community of Hyderabad for 11 years.Safa has been providing a standardized package of rations that can sustain a family of 4 for 5 days.
- Hasiru Dala-It is a Bengaluru based NGO and has recently received permits for its vehicles and staff members. This NGO have been working with waste pickers in six towns and cities around Karnataka for 11 years.This NGO is providing food kits and children hygiene kits including soap and handkerchiefs.
Similarly,there are hundreds of NGOs who are trying hard to help those sections of the society which are neglected by the government during these testing times.
DONATIONS MADE IN THE PM CARES FUND-
While the government is trying hard to help people all over the country, the main financing help is being given by the common people through donations in the PM Cares Fund.
Many celebrities and organizations have contributed to help the government in fighting this pandemic. Here are few of their contributions-
Celebrities-
- Sachin Tendulkar-Rs 25 lakh
- Varun Dhawan-Rs 30 lakh
- Kartik Aryan-Rs 1 crore
- Rohit Sharma-Rs 45 lakh
- Suresh Raina- Rs 31 lakh
- Shilpa Shetty-Rs 21 lakh
- Salman khan-25,000 to all daily wage workers in the film industry
- IT CZAR AZIM PREMJI-Rs 1000 crore
- Adani Foundations-Rs 100 crore
- Mukesh Ambani and group-Rs 500 crore
- Hamdard-Rs 3.05 crore
- Tata Sons-Rs 1500 crore
- JSW Group-Rs 100 crore
- TVS Motors-Rs 25 crore
- Aligarh Muslim University-All staff members contributed their one day salary
These contributions have helped a lot especially in those areas where the government was unable to reach.
The misery of the workers is extreme but together we can help in overcoming this situation.
It's show's only govt effort to overcome d problem.you should also highlight that who is responsible to create such a mess in which a large number of person died due to insensitive decision of d govt.Also you should highlight d contribution of other eminent personalities of d country...your article is good..but it is tilted in favour of d present govt
ReplyDeleteVery nicely presenting the ground issues of people who r struggling to save ourselves from corona as well as from starvation, the real picture of more than 50% of indians is painful due to nationwide lockdown.
ReplyDeleteOne important issue must be added here that our doctors and health providers are facing alot of problems because govt is unable to provide PPE. in our country very less number of people are testing for Covid-19.Need to address the real issues and problems...
Sure sir, my next article would cover all those things that I haven't included.
DeleteThe main thing about inconvenience was , who already have the money to travel through private planes were brought through government services, but who actually needs this service like Ranveer , government cant arrange vehicles to transfer them into their villages
ReplyDeleteHowever this fact is also contradicted by government's further actions.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteNo bro,the people who are been brought by the government from abroad are not because they have money but the real thing is that their ticket expenses are being taken by the government.Therefore I was saying that this money should be used for arranging transportation for workers residing inside the country.
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