Editor,
Ever since the Prime Minister announced a total lockdown, everyone expected it to be a total curfew, but I believe each one of us have at some point or the other come out of our houses for reasons best known to us. The Government has allowed shops at all localities to be opened and people, who can afford to were not only shopping for the bare essentials but for items that would have not been in their daily requirements or even in their regular kitchen menu. The social distancing protocol has been made a mockery of with people crowding inside the shops. While this is going on in our city, the situation in India and the world looks grimmer each day, with the amount of positive cases and number of deaths increasing by the hour. So the question arises: what if someone amongst the public carries this virus in our city? What would the consequences be? Who shall be held responsible and who is to be blamed? To me the ones on the street cannot be held responsible because they are still allowed to be on the streets during the hours of the lockdown. So is it really a lockdown? To me and other observers the answer is no. There is still so much crowding in so many different places which truly is a very big concern.
While everyone says this week is going to be very crucial, on the containment or wide spread outbreak of the Corona Virus what should be our actions as responsible citizens? , Will there still be public announcements that shops will be opened, banks and ATMS opened, curfew pass can be availed and so forth. If all of these still continue it is still not a lockdown and there is still a very high likelihood of widespread outbreak of the virus.
Hence my humble request to the Government is for a complete clamp down of the city for one week. No shops ought to open, no banks, no ATMS, no curfew passes issued and not even a single soul should be on the roads, for I truly believe that Shillong won’t die of starvation in one week, whereas for the containment of the virus one week will be a significant landmark. And being a Christian I would like to conclude with a verse from the Bible extracted from Isaiah 26:20 which reads “Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by”. If we act like responsible citizens and shut our doors behind us, this phase we are going through will pass and I sincerely believe that normalcy will return to our lives.
Yours etc.,
Wanjop Warbah
Upper Shillong.
Coloured agenda?
Editor,
The contents of the letter dated March 26, 2020 submitted to the Chief Minister (ST March 29, 2020) by the Kolkata based “AmraBengalee” Organization with “inflammatory” words like “inhuman torture”, “heinous crime”; “criminal activities,” “involvement of policemen,” supposedly meted out to Bengalees residing in Shella, Bholaganj, Ichhamati, Kalatek by the” Khasi Students Organization (according to them) and other groups reeks of a colourful agenda of the organization and their “Informants” on whose accounts the Organization seems to base their sources or inputs.
Majority of the Bengalees at the four places specifically mentioned by the organization, the last three names of which no longer bear vernacular names are “Sylheti Bengalees” whose citizenship is questionable but who over time had become a majority and whose border crossing activities at “their sweet will” and “as per wish” are well known in the entire area. Not only do they cross borders, they “openly” steal cows, betel nuts and other agricultural products from the fields owned by the local populace.
Now, the questions: if such inhuman torture is meted out to them as claimed by the Organization, why are they a majority in the area? Does it make sense? Instead of flexing their (Sylheti Bengalees) muscles to the local populace, should not they show gratitude to them for sheltering and providing them work both illegally and legally through NOC’s.
Is it justified that they should they go on a rampage, destroy property, beat and maim indigenous people who are peacefully conducting a Rally and attack the policemen including the “Sordar” of the village and snub the precious life of a KSU member? The same organization they are accusing of inhuman torture? Imagine the situation if a local Bengalee in his own land is being murdered by outsiders!
Should the organization character assassinate the policemen who are the protectors of their own kind? And to top it all make false claims as to incriminate the same people who are victims of their atrocities and that too in their own land? With these factual information, one is compelled to wonder (1) Is “Amra Bengalee” an organization led by a bunch of Amateurs? (2) Is “AmraBengalee” an organization scriptwriting a “Tripura Style“ horror play in Meghalaya?.
Just some thoughts!
Yours etc.,
Dr Esther Shongwan
Shillong -2
On tackling pandemics
Editor,
The most important thing people should realize about outbreaks of pandemics is that the spread in any country endangers the entire human race. Mutations make the virus more infectious or more resistant to the human immune system. The mutant strain of the virus will rapidly spread in the human population. This is a threat not just to the Chinese, Italians or Iranians but to the lives of all people all over the world who are adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
In our fight against the coronavirus, we need to closely guard borders, but not the borders between countries. Rather, we need to guard the border between the human world and the virus world. Millions of people around the world lack basic healthcare services. It puts the whole human species in danger. People usually think about health in national terms. But when the people of other countries get better healthcare it enables to protect us from pandemics. People must keep this fact in their mind but unfortunately they do not think about it.
Joint efforts and greater coordination between countries is needed to combat COVID-19. To defeat it countries need to trust each other. Over the years, irresponsible politicians have undermined trust in science, in public authorities and in international co-operation. Lack of global leaders that can inspire, organize and finance a coordinated global response has caused a crisis. The US had served as the leader during many healthcare crisis but in recent years, it has withdrawn from that leadership. When the coronavirus crisis erupted, the US stayed on the sidelines. The void left by the US has not been filled by anyone else. Without trust and global solidarity, we cannot combat COVID-19. The United Nations Security Council hasn’t yet held a session on the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU is unwilling to export medical supplies to nations beyond its borders.
The G20 with the co-operation of other affected countries may serve the purpose for the present. A collective global action is required in the context of the present pandemic. The following actions must be taken to overcome the challenge. First, there should be no shortage of drugs, equipment and protective gear. Second, supply chain must function efficiently. Third, there must be proper exchange of information. Fourth, there must be a cross-country collaboration on laboratory trials, clinical validation for vaccines. Fifth, there is a need for movement of trained healthcare workers.
World leaders must realise the relevance and importance of collective global action in the fight against the coronavirus. Winning a war requires the right strategy, rapid mobilisation of resources and timely action.
Yours etc.,
Venu GS,
Via email