Are we Humane enough to be Human?

With active inputs by @Rakesh Singh.

We are all listening and viewing the tales of COVID-19 and the questions, it is asking us. And the biggest of them all. is whether Humanity exists, as it should be, in these times?

Yes, many would say. Just take a look at Sonu Sood, how he has helped hundreds and maybe thousands. Is he the only human on this planet, along with a few others?

Just look at the private hospitals, how there are taking advantage of the situation. Today, The Honorable High Court of Telangana should pass order on a hospital that is not releasing the body, because a payment of Rs. 4.86 Lakhs was due, even though the Army veteran was eligible for the CGHS scheme. Telangana Govt. passed an ordinance that mentioned the upper limits of the charges under different situations for COVID patients. Did one hospital follow it? NONE, WHAT A SHAME? 

What did the Governments do? Announced a moratorium of 3 months on the loan EMIs, Credit Card payments and other EMIs, and such other things. But I get an email from my bank saying that I may take this option, but the interest due will be added upon, compounded, which I have to pay once the 3 months period is over. Why cannot the banks say that we are taking a pause and giving a 3 months holiday for all their esteemed customers and the interest due for this period will also not be added, once the period ends. In fact, one major Bank is raising its Credit Card payment related charges from Sept. 01, 2020. Did the banks help us tide over the crisis? NEVER!

 When banks announce this holiday, many companies, which have taken loans, will benefit. Then, these companies can pass on something out of such benefit to the customer. For example, Car companies can announce one free Service to all its customers. Spares may be charged. This, instead of sending SMSs stating that 20% discount on service and 3% discount on spares on cars outside the warranty. The workshops will be full and the workmen and the dealer are also happy. The dealer can also forgo a little margin on this. A win-win situation for all the stakeholders viz; the company, the dealer, the workshop staff and the customer!

 They said that all MSMEs can take a loan without collateral, which you need not pay anything for the first year and start to pay in the second year onward. No bank has ever contacted any customer asking them to come over to avail this loan. But for home loan, car loan, personal loan the solicitation continues. The insurance companies are contacting nearly 45 days in advance and there is a bombardment of SMSs (Text messages) and e-mails, almost one very day reminding us that our Premium is due. It’s actually a new normal. More pressure and more coercion. Did any of the companies say that the grace period of paying premiums is extended from the normal 1 month to 3 months, without the policy lapsing. NONE!

My broadband service provider mentioned that they have provided a higher bandwidth in view of WFH situation that has developed. But quietly they raised the monthly fee by Rs. 30, instead of reducing the same. And threats of disconnection, if you don’t pay within the date prescribed. The story is the same with the telecom service provider. With so much sale of their shares and infusion of so much money into one of them, the net result is that the promoter is becoming richer. Do they care for their loyal customers? Could they have passed on a 2 months’ free service (especially when most of the lowest segment of the populace is their customer?) They could have, but did they? NO!

A major Supermarket chain normally offers a few (monthly offers like 5% discount till 11th of the month on billing more than 1999) discount schemes. But when the times got tough during COVID, all the schemes were withdrawn as the items were flying off the shelf! Did they reward the loyal customers that made a 2-store company to become 50+ stores one? NOT EVEN AN IOTA OF CHANCE?

 An airline sent me an email stating that I can book 2 seats in my name, at double the cost, so that I may follow social distancing on the aircraft. Did they offer 50% off on the second seat? NOT A CHANCE!

 The point I am trying to make here is that instead of making the lives of your customers slightly better, every organization has taken the opportunity to try and fill their coffers. CAN’T THEY STOP THE STOCK MARKETS FOR THREE MONTHS AND IS THIS THE TIME FOR US TO CHECK ANNUAL / QUARTERLY REPORTS OF COMPANIES? It is quite clear that many a company that was dependent on the old normal (Tourism, Travel, Hospitality etc) will suffer. So, you are encouraging people holding those shares to sell them at peanuts. Already they are suffering a loss of income and then they have to sell these shares at a huge discount.

One governmental department had the temerity to send us a notice on a matter that was already closed by a lower office of the same department. In this COVID time, when companies are just trying to survive, they are asking us to pay penalties. HOW GROSS? Yes, if there is any illegal transaction going on, sure go ahead and persecute.

 Some countries were busy blaming China rather than concentrate on arresting the spread of the Virus. What about a global response? G-20 countries committed a few billions for the effort to fight COVID? Where is that money? NO ONE KNOWS!

 What about the people themselves? Are they taking the precautions that have been prescribed? A large number of them don’t care, not only putting themselves at risk, but also putting the people following the same, too at risk. Do they care for a fellow human being? Their own family members? NO, NO and a BIG NO!

 I am sure that in all other countries tormented by COVID-19, there are similar cases of wrong strategy – where instead of applying a balm on the affected, fleecing them of whatever little, they have, is being implemented.

 Did any of your friends reach out to you and ask if you need any financial help? One amongst my 100+ friends did. I’m grateful.

 What did I do, you may ask? Closed my office for 2 months due to lockdown. Paid the 2 persons employed, salaries for that period, and even today I do it, when they are not actually required. Same is the case with the maid-servant at home. Nothing big, I know. We do our bit. As did my office space owner (Mr. Geetha Prasad) by waiving off 3 months rent for my office. He has helped me survive. Hats off to him. May more of his tribe increase.

 I can ramble on and on. The commercialization goes on unabated. Everything is about money and more money. Can’t we as a race look beyond it and provide for the unfortunate at least on a no-profit basis, in these times. Little things like waiving off a few critical taxes or at least reducing them, cutting margins and passing it on, and such other things, can we not do? YES, WE CAN & SHOULD!

 As a Human race, we have woefully fallen short of the response that was required. Whether it is Govts., Companies, Banks, Hospitals or even the masses, they are still led by people only. It’s in absolute shame that we need to hang our heads, for what we did and are still doing in response to a global pandemic!

 LET’S BECOME HUMANE, TO CALL OURSELVES AS HUMANS!

 Disclaimer: All views are from a personal viewpoint. There is no intention here to malign any person or organisation or politician. Anything related to a person or an organisation is purely coincidental. The article is an expression of experiences and the thoughts thereupon, of the authors. The authors are not liable to any damage or loss of value to anybody, due to this article.