INDIA DEFINITELY CAN’T AFFORD ANOTHER LOCKDOWN

We can't afford lockdowns because our poor who are already living at destitution levels will not be able to live without their daily wages, yet again. They will die of hunger (unless they already are) and malnutrition before they die of Coronavirus. Secondly our governments will not transfer real minimum wages required to help them live, as we saw last time with only Rs. 500 transferred per month to the poor families. And finally we have clearly seen that apart from the owners of our government like the Ambanis and Adanis (who made billions of pandemic death dollars), everyone else struggled and our small and medium businesses won't be definitely able to take a second huge jolt.

SO IT’S TIME FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO REALISE THAT THE ECONOMY ISN’T A JOKE. If you can’t do anything to improve the situation of your countrymen, the least you can do is, not screw them further.

Today as the worst fears seem to be coming true,

HERE ARE THE 5 THINGS INDIA MUST DO INSTEAD:

1. Vaccinate the oldest 60cr of our population in next 6 months and achieve near herd immunity and make sure even if COVID is to happen , it happens to those who are at lowest risk. We must understand right now what we need is to roll out the vaccination smoother and faster for all if possible, instead of trying to get brownie points by distributing vaccines to virtually unknown countries who are facing just a fraction of our crisis. As you all are aware we have distributed more vaccines to these countries than we have given our own people and right now we have a shortage.

2. The poor are at the brink of destruction. We must urgently have a minimum of RS. 5000 transferred every month to the accounts of EVERY poor family of 5 at least for the next 6 months till the economy is back on tracks and the vaccinations are complete. THIS WILL COST 1 lac crore every month assuming we about 66% poor in this country and about 20cr family would be needing this support. We faked a 20 lac crore economic relief package last year. This year let’s really give one. At least 6 lac crore to the real poor.

3. A plan to give businesses tax breaks and a new special moratorium on loans so that they can cope up with this new wave is a must. This along with the money transfer to the poor will help give a boost to the economy and put it on revival path.

4. People with comorbidities and those above 65 must be kept under home quarantine till their second vaccine jab is done.

5. Finally we must explain people that like flu this will effect most of us without serious damage if we don't belong to the lot being quarantined. So the fear and panic must be removed while the focus on hygiene is increased. We must explain that worldwide we have 2000 deaths daily from normal flu also. So the number of deaths from COVID is scary but isn’t something that we need to ruin the economy for. Wearing the masks, wearing hands and getting the vaccination will soon bring everything under control. 

WITH THESE FIVE THINGS, we should say goodbye to the fear around this pandemic and focus on economic growth and better preparation for the next pandemic if ever it is to happen again.

MOST IMPORTANTLY WE MUST BID GOODBYE TO THE STUPID THOUGHT ABOUT ANOTHER LOCKDOWN PERMANENTLY.