By Toki Blah
Only just a few weeks ago, Corona was a faraway Chinese problem, as distant away from us as the moon. Today the whole of India and Meghalaya along with it, is in total lockdown in an effort not to go down the Chinese or Italian way. Life as we knew it has changed. For better or for worse is yet to be determined but very few indeed would dare to wager that things would ever be the same again. Our kids, instead of being busy with their scholarly pursuits are rapidly turning into couch potatoes, glued 24×7 to their TV and Internet devices, as going to school and studying together in a classroom is no longer viable. All of us know it’s not good; it’s not what we want for our children and ourselves but then do we have an alternate option? A tribal society vibrant in its social interactions and set on traditional social etiquettes is torn asunder as we struggle between the urge to come together and bond socially like we used to or to obey Health advisories on social distancing. It’s bound to tear our social fabric apart! Shillong suffered from a chronic traffic disorder. Congestion and traffic violations were becoming the order of the day and how some us moaned and groaned for better road management. Today under curfew and lockdown one can zip from one end of this town to the other in a matter of minutes. But is this eerie curfew bound ghost town what we really want?
In all the chaos, fear and tension that Covid 19 has brought along there still remains a small window of hope for Meghalaya and its people. We realise that the disease is not inborn nor is it possible for it to conceive on its own, within the state itself. It’s an illness that will be brought in and imported from outside and till date, touch wood, it has yet to cross the borders into Meghalaya. It has yet to be brought into our state and till date we remain one of the few remaining states in the country that that are Covid 19 free. Let us be clear on this score – We intend to keep it that way and under no circumstances nor under any pretext allow the disease to introduce itself among our vulnerable society. To be able to do this, three things need to be done. First, there must be social preparedness and determination to suffer the consequences of lockdown and social distancing as long as required. Second, there must be ruthless restrictions on the entry of people into our state until the all clear is sounded. Our borders, both international and interstate borders need to be sealed and strict control maintained over all fresh entries into the state. Third, the return of our own people from outside demand that all such must be identified, registered, kept under quarantine and rigorous monitoring be kept on them as long as the quarantine period demands. Some might be from villages. The DCs of the respective districts they belong to must be alerted and informed. We should make no compromises on the above three issues if we want to stay safe and safe we must stay at all costs!
Friends from outside ring me up to ask in wonder as to how Meghalaya managed to stay Corona virus free. I had given the question a lot of thought and it is safe to say that the answer to the above depends on how much of the truth one is prepared to accept. Criticising the Government is one of the privileges of a democratic set-up which has become a pastime for many. This time however the Government of Meghalaya and its administration has been able to put its best foot forward; it has done whatever is expected of it and so far has managed to steer the state and its people away from the dangers of Covid 19. Merit has to be given where it is due and this time it is due. The District administration ; the police force; the health department together with the other branches of the civil administration have worked hard throughout, to the keep the people safe and secure. The Chief Secretary and his colleagues have been literally burning the midnight oil to ensure smooth functioning of the system despite the restrictions and limitations of the lockdown and fear of the virus. All in all, the administration in Meghalaya deserves a well earned pat on the back for its efforts.
One of the most noteworthy venture of the Government this time around is its reaching out to the traditional grass-roots institutions, the Dorbars, and to seek their help and cooperation in the battle against the Corona virus outbreak. One is delighted and enthused to note that the Dorbars too have responded with the sense of responsibility, maturity and conscientiousness expected of an institution that carries the trust and confidence of the common man. The Government discovered in the Dorbars the ideal partner to help carry the relief and disaster management programme of the Govt to the people. The Dorbars on the other hand realised, perhaps for the first time, that their agenda and that of the Govt was one and the same – to serve the people. In the current menace we are living under, the Dorbars have officially been recognised as the First Responders and it is a title well earned and deserved. The Dorbars have realised that the Govt and its administrative machinery could be counted on for the recognition, support and respect that the Dorbars have always asked for. This close coordination between traditional and constitutional entities is crucial if the state really wishes for a winning combo in its struggle against the virus. Working together not against one another is a win-win situation for all concerned especially the hapless common man. It is hoped that this new found cooperation between the Govt and its traditional Dorbars will continue into the future.
So far no cure for the Corona virus has been found but it is hoped that such a discovery will not be that far off. In the meantime the only defence we have is precaution and the main weapon against the disease is social distancing. It’s tough; at times it goes against the grain but it’s the only defence found so far and we have to adhere to it. To come together; to gang-up ; to congregate goes against the whole concept of social distancing and the spread of the disease is enhanced 1000 times fold when social distancing is ignored and abandoned. In India we learnt this the hard way and the main culprit against social distancing in this country has been fanatic religious dogmatism. When religious fanatics congregate, despite advisories to the contrary, the speedy spread of the disease is ensured. It places hundreds, if not thousands, of unwary innocent lives on the line.
In Meghalaya Good Friday and Easter, two major events in the Christian calendar are due. The faithful need to pray and worship on these holy occasions. No one disagrees with this need. However in view of the ongoing health crisis we are in and in order to avoid congregating under one roof and in one place, can the services be conducted on line? There is nothing in the Bible that forbids this. God loves us; he wants to protect us and we can help him this time through social distancing, by worshiping from our respective homes. Please, let’s do it.
This crisis as any other crisis in our lives will one day end and pass. When that day comes we shall need an exit strategy on how to get back to our normal lives as we knew it before the onset of Covid 19.The return to normalcy will have to be gradual as perhaps the disease will be most reluctant and obstinate in leaving us alone. So no sudden withdrawal please, and no pun intended. Perhaps we can start with the reopening of the street corner shops that dot the landscape of Shillong city and every village in the state. Here the help and assistance of the local Dorbar will be required to ensure that social distancing will be maintained even within the locality. Encourage the setting up of essential commodity shops, green grocery stores and meat shops in every locality. The Dorbar can help with the registration of such shops which in turn will help with the economic mapping of the local area. Encourage online buying and selling as well as door to door peddling of meat, vegetables and essential commodities. The reopening of businesses with skeletal staff may be encouraged. The reopening of the bigger markets, offices and schools and colleges can be then thought of. Hopefully the return to normalcy will be less traumatic than when we left it.