Editor,
Apropos the write up, “Naked Profiteering..the new nationalism” by Gyan Pathak (ST. May 11, 2020), I strongly endorse the views expressed by the writer. Yes, during this distressful and difficult time the increased taxes on PoL by the GoI and the added VAT on the products by the state governments is a deadly blow on the common man especially, the lowest strata of the society. People are already economically overburdened and hard-pressed by the lockdown and they are in extreme dilemma on what to do next and where to go to particularly when this infectious disease seems to spread its tentacles further and faster defying all human cure. The GoI and the states may have their own reasons for this hike but they should not have touched the poor and the marginalized sections of the society during this time of crisis.
In Meghalaya, in every nook and corner of the state, over and above the tax burden, there is an exploitation spree in the market by the traders, grocers and middlemen taking advantage of the prevailing situation. Prices of commodities, especially essential items including food items, are prohibitively high which the poor can ill afford. In fact, they are groaning under their elbows with none to look forward to for succour and help. The government has been promising the people that it will control the prices of commodities yet nothing is being done. The DCs of the respective districts who are the right hands of the government in the districts, have made tall claims of containing soaring prices of essential commodities, yet they did nothing during this serious crisis. The traders, middlemen, especially the grocers, are having a field day. They make hay while the sun shines. We appeal to the government authorities, particularly the Deputy Commissioners and the magistrates of the districts concerned, to strictly monitor and put a stop to the continued spiraling of prices of essential commodities which has hit the poor very hard.
Yours etc.
Philip Marwein,
Shillong-2.
Centre deaf to Kerala’s appeal for help
Editor,
Kerala may be one of the states in India which has the greatest number of expatriates working in other countries in the world. Millions of Keralites have been toiling hard in the desert to eke out a living and their hard-earned money is the backbone of Kerala’s economy. USA and Canada also are equally important countries providing job opportunities to Keralites. Needlessly, there are innumerable families well settled there. European countries and Australia are also home to a great number of Keralites.
Kerala’s seesaw battle with coronavirus saw the pandemic getting an upper hand on Sunday as seven persons tested positive for the pandemic. Now with the Covid-19 pandemic spreading its tentacles in almost all countries in the world, the hapless Keralites are facing a hard time in many of the countries especially in the Gulf, where Covid-19 has claimed many lives. Many were rendered jobless after almost all countries in the Gulf declared the harshest lockdown and many are alive because of the mercy of others. Faced with such a harsh situation, Keralites were forced to return home to Kerala. Another important yet hard truth is that medical care system in the Gulf is not that good when compared with Kerala. So, a great number of expatriates are coming back to home where familial care also is unbelievably bestowed on a patient.
With such a big number of expatriates returning home due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic everywhere, an explosive situation prevails in Kerala. Already overburdened with financial crunch and lack of medical equipment to combat Covid-19, Kerala has requested the Centre again and again to help the state with funds and other necessary medical paraphernalia to fight the coronavirus. As ‘well begun is half done,’ Kerala was able to contain Covid-19 completely with the initial herculean task it had undertaken to fight the pandemic. The meticulous planning and tremendous efforts by the state government could flatten the curve of Covid-19 at the very outset.
Thousands of expatriates from the Gulf and other parts of the globe have already arrived in Kerala. On Sunday morning the government’s first evacuation by sea following the Covid-19 lockdown was carried out by the Indian Navy ship with 698 passengers on board. The evacuation was part of the Central government’s ‘Operation Samudra Setu’ to rescue Indian nationals stranded in the island nation, Male. One native of Tamilnadu and two Keralites were shifted to hospitals after they showed Covid-19 symptoms.
The fresh arrival of expatriates from different nations across the world with inherent Covid-19 threat has necessitated the state to fire on all cylinders. The truth being that God’s own country having exhausted its energy and resources in the fight against Covid-19 is making an earnest appeal to the Centre to pitch in with some financial aid so that it can continue its war on the virus. But the Centre’s step-motherly attitude towards states is more painful than the pain being brought in by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email
Time to show empathy
Editor,
I am a citizen of Shillong and want to appeal to house owners of Shillong on the problems faced by the poor and middle class in paying their rents during this lockdown period. The Corona virus ( Covid 19) is harming everyone not only health-wise but in other ways too. The poor have lost their livelihoods and people in the private sectors have lost their jobs or are not getting pay checks. People who own firms or small businesses or retail outlets have closed down hence there is no monetary transaction. The savings of the poor and middle class is now depleted. Expenses are piling and proving to be a burden what with having to pay house rent, rent for office space, shops and rent which is in five figures.
Sadly there is no consideration on rent exemption. I believe 70% of people in Shillong are staying in rented accommodation or are renting a shop or office and the maximum revenue generated by the owners are from such rent. Now the question arises as to how can the poor and middle class tenants working in the private sector where they get only half the salary or no salary and people who run businesses have virtually lost their incomes due to the Lockdown. Should there not be any relaxation in this criteria perhaps not fully but at least partially during this pandemic?
A common mans ask these questions to everyone be it a tenant or owner. Are we not going to help each other in these distressing situations? When I was small my parents and teachers always said that we should help one another and stand together when there is a need in society. The house owners and government should seriously consider this matter and take necessary steps to benefit every person who is passing through these tough times. This is the time to show empathy to those in dire need of help.
Yours etc.,
Abhishek Deb,
Via email