Friday, March 29, 2024
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Preventing economic crisis & starvation while fighting Covid-19

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By Aristotle Lyngdoh

The current pandemic (Covid-19) originated from Wuhan, China and has caught the nations of the world unawares rendering most of them helpless and clueless on how to cure people infected with the disease. The unavailability of specific antidote against Covid-19 has reduced medical treatment and procedure to a mere art of nursing and caring of patients with life support systems until a new medicine is developed. In the absence of such remedy, the only solution for the time being is isolation or social distancing. Ultimately, lockdown is the only option that the authorities can enforce to minimize the impact and break the chain of transmission of the virus in the community. Staying at home is the only safe thing to do but this does not come easy for those who daily wage earners to put food on the table every day. If this situation continues, the greater cost and liability will be borne by the society and the state. Because when one type of crisis occurs, it gives birth to another crisis and affects other sectors of the society as well.

In Meghalaya so far we are free from this contagious outbreak and I sincerely pray that God will keep us that way. But that does not mean that we should take things lightly. Rather we should be prepared to identify each and every loophole that may serve as possible links for community transmissions. Otherwise if something happens in this tiny community with the typical cultural fabric and tradition that is prevailing, I cannot imagine the magnitude and impact of the outbreak that may penetrate the society. Social distancing I feel is not sufficient in our case because we are very much in touch with one another in many ways but never realize or even care about it. Therefore, here lies the danger of explosion of the virus from unrealized transmission.

Thinking about western countries which have been badly affected by the Covid-19 outbreak despite people there being more advanced than us in many ways, especially in the conduct of their personal hygiene and cleanliness makes us wonder about our own vulnerabilities. Even shaking of hands between people has been suspended to avoid any possible contraction but still the effect of transmission is so powerful and seems difficult to contain the disease. What would be the situation if that happens in our society? Though we may have followed the instructions not to shake hands with people but there are still areas where we generally share in common like eating ‘kwai’ or pan (betel-nut& leaf) from the same hand or from person to person. What will happen if that hand is infected? I am afraid that this symbol of our human equality can also become the mode for community transmission and destruction if we do not take extra precautions. Another aspect for community transmission is also the overcrowding of people in homes of bereaved families. Here also people share ‘kwai’ from the same container. Further, allowing limited numbers of prescribed shops to be opened is also not a good idea. It leads to crowding and concentration of buyers in a single place. The administration should in fact adopt a different approach and avoid making people stand in queues; instead they should disperse buyers to scattered shops at various locations. Door to door selling of essential goods and other items as well is one option. In fact this is not new; we have seen many such vendors before the outbreak selling various types goods to households. Even meat and vegetables too are common items. I do not see any harm in this business if properly monitored during this lockdown.

Time is still there and we can do it now else it will be too late and any measures deployed will be ineffective. It is now a known fact that the virus spreads through physical contact and from droplets of affected persons. These droplets from infected persons can remain active on any surface that they land for quite a long period. That is why we need to wash our hands with soap frequently to completely erase the possible contamination of the virus. The important of this lockdown is to contain the spread of the virus from person to person. On the other hand it has adverse impacts on the livelihoods of the people and the economy as a whole when economic activities come to a standstill. We have no other alternative for now but to bear with it collectively.

While bracing ourselves against this dreaded disease at this critical time, there will be many who will suffer due to loss of jobs and livelihoods. Those who depend on daily wages to buy essential goods and rations etc. will have to   undergo a severe financial crisis and perhaps even starvation if the situation does not improve soon. Cash in the hands of people is important because people can choose the type of food items to buy according to their purchasing power. As a result of the lockdown, business activities too have come to a halt and workers have to be sent home. Consequently production and economic productivity is dysfunctional and sales of goods and services other than essentials items are paralyzed. Stock markets and trading around the globe is uncertain and the situation may drive the world back to agrarian activity and barter system.

In circumstances like these, economic repercussions and starvation is imminent. Hence I urge the government to look into these threats with surgical eyes. Should the government choose to become a charity feeder for thousands who may be left without food and essentials items or should it also pave the way for economic activities to emerge and create a sustainable economy? These are some pertinent questions that we need to introspect in order to save this economy from collapse. As we know the market is fulcrum of each and every economic activity and markets can be in various forms and mode. Once the markets open, economic activities too will begin to pick up show signs of survival. As of now, door to door marketing is one option to partially revive the falling economy and to provide livelihoods to many.

As far as Meghalaya is concerned, the coming days appear challenging with only the agricultural sector being able to operate freely. Therefore, the government should plan on engaging more people in agriculture and allied activities including integrated farming.  This will improve food security and at the same time strengthen people’s health and immune system. While appreciating those who have contributed to the CMs relief fund, can we do that continuously? I don’t think so. When production stops there will be huge shortages ahead. Here is the chance to revive our dying agricultural activities and the allied sectors and services with a new dimension and manned by educated farmers.  Also Government through the Health Department should explore the possibility of herbal treatment and large scale production of medicinal herbs that exists in the state which directly or indirectly benefit the immune system and also help in combating nutritional deficiencies and diseases. Farmers too should be encouraged to venture in this business and scale up production. This will increase the revenue of the state and generate employment. Finally, if there is a will, there is no door that cannot be opened.

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