The deadly COVID-19 does not distinguish between rich and poor. It has struck heads of States, outstanding international sportsmen, renowned professionals and the poor labour class too.
Anyone can be inflicted with that virus, so it should not be taboo. It is something that comes so natural and has to be dealt with in right spirit. One fails to understand why the authorities withhold the names of those infected. It would have afforded an opportunity for others to take necessary precautions had they known the names.
This is a pandemic that mankind has not seen before. India which awakened a bit too late will now enter the second week of the total lock-down. In all probabilities this three week total shut down will be extended. We may be in for a long haul, a very long one perhaps.
The absolute chaos that we are witnessing today across the nation and in tiny Goa too could have been avoided if the authorities had a clear contingency plan to at least ensure that essential commodities would be available to all and particularly to the marginalized poor. All this could have been well planned as the epidemic erupted late last year. The government dragged its feet in planning cohesively on this critical issue and was instead busy with inconsequential politriks like unseating the Government in Madhya Pradesh etc. Having failed to focus on the COVID-19 priority, we find ourselves in this big hole we have landed in. India and the world find itself helplessly enveloped in the worst ever crisis by ignoring the warning signs and the severity of this pandemic from the WHO and other affected countries. We are now fighting against the odds.
But even at this late stage we must put peoples' lives before profit and politics by ensuring that adequate equipment and food supplies are made available and stringent measures are put in place to test and treat the people and ensure that the spread is mitigated through social distancing!
Let us with ramped up determination, honesty, investment, clarity of purpose and information based on expert medical and scientific advice, battle it to the finishing line. We shall overcome.
Aires Rodrigues
Advocate High Court
C/G-2, Shopping Complex
Ribandar Retreat,
Ribandar – Goa – 403006
Mobile No: 9822684372
Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012
Email: airesrodrigues1@gmail.com
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