Stimulus packages are a welcome step forward, but these by themselves might not necessarily help the nation retrieve lost ground in the face of the nearly two-month long lockdown and suspension of public activities. Governments stopped getting tax revenue on a massive scale for two months and more; and yet it will have to shell out a lot to revive the economy. This is going to be gargantuan task.
Through two days, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has covered a lot of ground, extending a whole lot of stimulus to all sectors of public life. A total stimulus package of Rs 20 lakh crore has been unveiled with a rider that this included previous offers too to overcome the adverse impact of the Covid-linked lockdown. The claim is that this, altogether, formed some 10 per cent of the GDP. The offer is somewhat moderate, considering the heavy fund injections to the economy by the US, China and the EU. India has its limitations.
With the third phase of the lockdown ending two days hence and the fourth phase set to start with more of relaxations, this is time for the nation to get back into the active mode. This is no time for an extended holiday as many among the protected, the salaried class, especially the government employees, had conceived this to be. There are complaints across the board that even what could have been done during these past weeks were not attempted at because of this ‘holidaying’ mentality. In fact, no other country has had so complete a paralysis of life for so long. India is game with such situations too.
The large number of government employees from non-essential sectors too would need to put their best foot forward now, as much can be done in areas/regions that are not hotspots. The excuse that public transport is not available does not carry weight. Work from home is easy too for most. Almost all government employees, across states, have their own vehicles. There must be seriousness on the part of senior officials and ministers themselves to get work done. Unveiling of stimulus packages alone will not do.
Big questions remain to be addressed. How will elections be held; how Parliament and state legislatures will function, and how train services and bus services can be normalized etc., are serious concerns. World Health Organisation’s top brass is warning that there will be no early end to the pandemic. This is time, therefore, to get moving, with all the attendant risks but letting our guards down. We should not see danger where there’s none!
