Here in India, soon after the WHO declared the Novel Corona virus as pandemic in the second week of March, the government with in days introduced the "all India lock down". A very bold and timely decision which arrested the communal spread of the virus which so far was detected mostly on those who came back from overseas travel. All the educational institutions, both air and land transport, interstate movements, non-essential services, offices, shops etc., were all asked to close.
Since it was done all of a sudden, the poorest of the poor who work as migrant laborers soon found themselves without job and money. Anxious and worried, in the following days, they tried walking home 400 - 900 kilometers across states to their villages. Soon the country realized the danger, and arranged buses for their travel and each state was asked to look after their well being with proper relief measures such as ensuring food supply, place to stay, medical facilities etc. which was indeed the need of the hour.
Public Distribution system for the food is the back bone of our country when it comes to essential food commodities for sustenance. India was lucky to have attained food-self reliability decades earlier, we had in stock double the buffer level of food grains. So the government immediately announced free food grains and essential pulses above the normal subsidized rations through the PDS.
As we know, just having something to eat while asked to stay home is not enough as people have money requirements also. Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population. They increased the rate from Rs. 182 per day to Rs.200 there by ensuring atleast Rs.2000 more in the accounts of the beneficiaries of this Act.
Government also took measure to pay the elders who were getting Old age pension an additional Rs.1000 and gave the women account holders of the Jan Dhan scheme Rs.1000 each in two installments. More over they gave free cooking gas to all the families below poverty line for the next two months.
The front line health workers, the Doctors, the nurses, care-workers, janitors etc. were covered under a personal insurance of Rs. 50 lakhs (US$71,500) which they rightly deserve as they work under severe pressure arising out of the lack of training on the virus treatment, no Personal Protective Equipment, long hours, social stigma, anxiety etc. All the medical facilities are provided through the government run medical facilities and totally free for those infected, which is indeed a blessing.
All the educational institutions were closed down, postponing exams, promoting classes in junior levels, encouraging web classes etc. Interstate transportation was stopped along with airports which operate only emergency cargo and medical stores movements, a move that was successful in holding the rise of fresh infections and communal spread.
When we were not complying strictly with the regulations police became very very tough and that kept the folks inside. Luckily in our state of Kerala, the strict measures by a vigilant local government and officials, helped to keep the new infected cases well with in two digits for over a couple weeks now giving us hope that life would return to normal with in the announced lock down period which ends by April 15th, after 21 days.
Financial relief, community kitchens, relief for migrant workers are the top items in agenda for the social welfare apart from other front line medical activities.
Tourism and its workers are relatively wiped out without any hope for the coming year. Infected tourists were given adequate medical care and most of them have recovered. The countries like Germany, France, Russia, UK made arrangements with our government departments and have evacuated their citizens who were stuck in many tourist destinations around the country.
God bless India and the world in their efforts to win over the Corona Virus, wishing everyone health and peace during these very tiring and testing time.
