Duty of the federal government
On 18th May 2020, India is reaching the one hundred thousand mark with 97,577 confirmed Covid19 cases of which 3,041 are dead.
With the harshest lockdown implementation in the world, for the estimated 145 million migrant workers in India, the question of shelter - a place to stay or sleep and, two square meals a day during this pandemic, are forcing them to go back to their native places, from where they had earlier migrated to the urban milieu in search of income and livelihood. With this huge number of people going back home, it will hurt India’s rural and national economy. Think in addition of the homeless and the people with no income, who mostly depend on alms. What will happen to them?
Definitely the sense of ‘normalcy’ has broken down, no doubt about it. The sense of social insecurity is engulfing the mass psyche, everywhere. How do we assure a minimum income for the needy and the deserving? How do we protect our senior citizens? How do we protect the underprivileged? How do we protect small businesses? Informal sector? Migrant workers or workers of the unorganised sector?
The rich and the affluent will survive through their savings and enhanced income over the years. The middle-income group will have dwindled income and savings and yet limp along. These people may have assets, which they will monetise possibly at a discounted price.
However, one thing for sure, the poor are breaking down. How do we protect them? How long do we force them to live and carry on with their lives accepting meagre private charity?
The problem and impact of COVID19 will not go away just like that. The planners and the administrators know that it will take at least 12 to 18 months before we can call ourselves and our nation safe from this threat.
In India, this is the time to think of and look forward to government-sponsored Social Security and healthcare facilities, in its truest sense, for all deserving citizens.
It is the duty of the federal government. And should be done right now.