India, with population of over 1.3 billion, is still not among the worst affected country by the pandemic, but with cases reaching 45,000++ after a strict lockdown of people and economy since 25th March, it raises a concern and question:
Was the early lockdown a masterstroke or it crippled economy far earlier than the actual crisis is yet to be faced?
Corona Virus Outbreak and Covid Crisis is exposing once again India’s deep social, religious, political and economic divide. The Lockdown which was considered as Masterstroke when implemented in March ot save Human Lives could not effectively deliver its purpose, and now relaxations are to be imlemented at a time when cases nearing 45,000 ++ which means covering Economy Crisis at Cost of Human Life Crisis.
Fighting 2 Pandemics, Economy Crisis and Covid-19; Migrants, Poor, Corporates are all in Relief Package Beneficiaries, what about Middle Class. Waive off Rent, School Fees, Electricity Bills, such waivers will let them sustain ongoing fight against Corona
After the apathy of Migrant Workers, in Lockdown 1.0 and 2.0, is the country prepared to fight the crisis of middle class families which sustained and struffled first two lockdown cycles but are nearly in bad state of crisis with the backup and resources depleting day by day with almost no direct relief to them by Government.
Hash Tag Social Media Campaign (Twitter and Facebook) to Request and Demand Relief Packages for Middle Class Families, Use Hash #Care4MiddleClass #MiddleClassCrisis with Pointing out the Relief and Demands including Rent Waivers, Waiver or School Fees, Electricity Bills and Mobile Bills and Recharges. Ask and Demand else you will be Skipped from priorities.
Corona Crisis and Lockdown in India has brought the country on standstill and since the day when first lockdown was announced in 25 March 2020, country is facing socio-economic emergency situation. With cases reaching to 45,000++ by 5th May, it now raises a question – Was the early implementation of lockdown a masterstroke or its improper implementation will going to be more fatal. With almost 40 Days in lockdown, at a stretch any relaxations provided in lockdown 3.0 or thereafter for the sake of reviving economy will cause to be more deadly as the spread and impact of corona virus will be more terrible in this current situation. Unequal scarcities is going to make it tougher in coming times to judge, evaluate and identify the needy.
Fighting 2 Pandemics, Economy Crisis and Covid-19, Migrants, Poor, Corporates are all in Relief Package Beneficiaries, what about Middle Class. Waive off Rent, School Fees, Electricity Bills, such waivers will let them sustain ongoing fight against Corona
While making the appeal of Lockdown and Janta Curfew, there was a request made to support Government in the time of Crisis. Social Workers, Middle Class and Almost Everyone stood united to Fight Corona, then came Lockdown 2.0 and people still were expecting and trusting the leader but now – Time to Show that PM actually CARES. People making appeal to waive Bills, School Fees, Rents but then just in order keep one segment happy or any other probably undisclosed reason – whatever the reason, the requests are not taken care of and ignored completely.
Worst sufferers to this longer stretching lockdown and restrictions will be middle class families in India, who are not getting any respite announced in relief package by Government for the Poor, the relief is biased on the basis of Government Data and Understanding, rather on the actual situation of people. There were 2 approaches of relief which could have been provided to the population, backup your people with food, minimum sustainable amount of money or slash their expenses at the root source and boost the root source of relief and control the delivery chain. In the first approach the chances of black-marketing, corruption and unfair distribution may happen but in second approach the unfair distribution and evaluation criteria becomes more transparent and fair.
Still for basic expenses in time of zero income for most middle class population of country are not being considered. Electricity Bill, Mobile Recharges, School Fees, Emergency Medicines, the relief at the expense level will be more transparent and direct. Government of India has UID (Aadhar Cards for Indian Citizen) so time now to make use of this UID to provide the basic sustainable help to people, broadly without classifying them in other criteria, as Covid Crisis within its first few weeks have crashed the business, sources of income so someone being categorized into Middle Class family may be in state of apathy but still not listed in any Govt. benefit schemes. I believe you have great strategists so create the rules and policies which in itself able to create the economic slots in population, such as Electricity, make first 200 units free, next 200 units being charged slightly extra than the previous charges or incremental tariffs after every 100 units. Similarly when Jio can offer free Sim and Free 3 months at the launch on 2016, why it can’t offer same 3 months free now during the crisis. The xxx.xx amounts people will save in this electricity, mobile, school fees and such other expenses which could be segmented at the source will not only be a relief package people really looking for, it will also create channels for whom to consider free and whom to charge slightly extra than regular.
When liquor shops were closed in lockdown 1 and lockdown 2, people were adjusting, or more precisely to say, the availability was there which was restricted and its availability was through a black-marketing channel. In lockdown 3, now the decision to now opening wine and liquor shops raises a question, why it is now considered as essential commodity when country actually needs lockdown restrictions. Are these relaxations to revive economy coming at the cost of risk to lives of people? Why the rules are first made, enforced and then withdrawn or modified, again and again.
Don’t Miss, Skip or Turn Deaf Ears to the appeal of Middle Class Population of India as it consists of Small Traders, Professionals, Service Providers or working in Unorganized Sector, with Zero Cash Flow and Income in Lockdown. Their expenses consisted of Rent, Electricity, Bank Loan/ EMI, Maid Salary, School Fees, Mobile Recharges etc. and indirectly they are in the channel so any impact on this class directly will bring more misery to lower middle and poor.
It’s an appeal to government, any improper implementation of Policy or Step to Revive Economy at the Cost of Corona Contamination Risk or Vice Versa will bring unforeseen but awful outcomes, so time to think before implementation and not to create the actions a PR or Politically motivated Stunts. For every Problem, Solutions always exist, it depends what’s the approach and implementation which creates a masterstroke.