The current global crisis coronavirus pandemic crisis is unique in many ways. Firstly, it is first of its kind in today’s highly connected globalised world. It has nearly the whole global village in its grasp. Secondly, many countries lacking previous experience to tackle severe pandemics are struggling hard to contain it. India is no exception. Post-independence, it is one of its kind experiences for the country.
Following China where it began, every other country responded with firm lockdowns to contain the spread of the virus. Lockdown involves keeping the populace away from all types of social, economic, commercial, political, religious activities as well as suspension of all types of transport barring essential services and goods. It prevents the spread of the virus by cutting links through which the virus can propagate.
Let us look at the lockdown from the administrative point of view. The administration is an act of balancing odds while achieving maximum good of maximum people based on a cost-benefit analysis taking into consideration all variables of any matter. To fulfil the above condition, a lockdown certainly requires many corrective steps.
In many discussions on the topic, the two important factors of time and space were missing. Often examples were given from the middle or late Middle Ages when death tolls of the pandemic were mind-boggling. But then the knowledge about microorganisms was simply not there. Similarly, medical knowledge, government machinery, transport and communication, food security were but rudimentary.
We live in an era of great scientific progress and advanced medical knowledge. With the kind of transport and communication, far better government machinery and food security at disposal, far better aggressive mechanisms to fight corona-like crisis can be devised while causing the least inconvenience. Lockdown also misses the angle of space. Our world indeed is one today. But it is as varied as it was in the stone age. Every country, state, region and city are different. One size lockdown measures don’t fit all. India is far different a country than communist monolith China or the so-called ‘Developed World’, in terms of population density, economic classes, ethnic diversity, climate, lifestyle, immunity levels and so on.
Heavy urbanisation and mass migration are two crucial factors as well. We must keep in mind these factors in mind to design the containment measures for different regions and categories.
WAS IT STAY AT HOME FOR ALL?
Pune, with a population of five million, till April 18, had confirmed a total of 565 coronavirus cases (including 48 deaths). Some critical issues that come up with strict lockdown are worth noticing. 'Stay Home Stay Safe' is the slogan given for lockdown. But for many, it is not a home. The city has a large number of a student population from all over the country, and abroad, a huge number of migrant workers from inside the State and from other states and unmarried professionals are doing different jobs and small professions. With the sudden closure of all activities in the city and eateries, this section was the worst hit. The subsistence means of those living hand to mouth existence like unorganised labour, daily wage earners and street vendors were taken away with.
After the initial worry, desperation has set in among these people. At many places, migrant labourers were caught at nakabandi points leaving city en masse by whatever way possible, even walking barefoot. One student called me for help to get permission stating he was subsiding on biscuits for the last three days. Many old people suffered due to the flight of their caretakers. Even closure of everyday necessities like plumbing, saloons, washermen, press, electricians etc. have affected households.
One old lady, working as a rag picker, complained that she doesn't know how to survive if similar conditions prevailed for long. Many people who came for a short visit to the city got locked inside due to sealing of city borders. The issue of slum people is altogether different. With a dense population, poor economic condition, tiny rooms and common public toilets, containment measures are taking a long time to have any impact. Pune city police were one of the first to put in various containment measures in anticipation. We have one of the best digital pass systems for travel permission. The role of Pune city police in social security measures to provide food to the needy is very commendable. Enforcement measures are strict, yet humanitarian and public awareness campaigns excellent. Yet with rising desperation, issues mentioned above remain.
We also need to consider some other costs of lockdown. The psychological stress of living at home constantly can be huge. Many families are dysfunctional. With everyone at home, space crunch can cause a tensed environment.
I came across many people who have developed other health-related issues or their old diseases or have become aggressive due to continuous stay at home and lack of activity. Boredom can be the worst killer. The impact on the national economy and related consequences on livelihood, especially that of poor are also worrisome.
In past whenever disease had struck, people used to flee to fields and jungles to avoid catching it. In the initial stage of the corona crisis when cases were yet in single and double digits and mainly related to travel history, we could have allowed students, migrant labourers, stranded and those wanted to leave the city to leave through some special travel arrangements after the necessary health screening. This would have allowed them to stay at their places with families and also reduced extra burden on the city. Those in the city are now more susceptible to the disease.
Instead of en masse lockdown in the entire nation, varied types of lockdown models based on local conditions and inputs would have a better impact.
With all the awareness, education levels and reach of media and mobile phones, we can educate people about safety measures and allow economic activities where there is no mass gathering at one place or dealing with outside people.
The Indian government’s adding more to list of what is allowed after April 20 amid lockdown 2.0 is a welcome step.
RESTORING NORMALCY?
Vaccine and medicine are one issue, but before that is our inbuilt medicine: the immune system. Generally, after the first exposure, the human body tends to develop resistance to many pathogens. Majority of those dying of corona already have other health issues. No doubt, we need to take care of vulnerable groups. But we need to seriously think about allowing young, adult, healthy people to carry out normal activities taking all possible precautions.
Prevention is always best than cure. In corona crisis, our discourse was more focussed on hospitalisation and ventilators with the majority not requiring hospitalisation; we should also focus on preventive aspects and self-care at home. Equal importance needs to be given to Ayurveda and indigenous medicine systems to fight the virus better.
We still need to go far in terms of mechanisms for cooperation between different government agencies for a unified response to the crisis.
As the situation is changing day by day and with the accumulation of experience, knowledge and perspectives local inputs based on local conditions are very important to refine the policy continually. The role of the police department is very important here. Report from different police units can give the far more real knowledge of actual field situation.
Any audit of lockdown measures should not be on its own (corona cases) but should involve its impact and costs on all areas of human activities to get a better perspective and devise best possible policy in future.
It is our first experience as a nation. It offers excellent opportunity to develop policies, protocols and insights to cope with future incidences in a better way.
I stop here by saluting all unsung heroes both inside and outside government who are putting up a brave fight to defeat the corona monster.
(Special thanks to Hon CP, Pune Dr K. Venkateshan, Joint CP Dr Ravindra Shisve, Dr Sanjay Shinde sir, my seniors and colleagues in Pune Police Commissionarate for guidance and support.)
(Prasad Praladh Akkonouru, IPS is the DCP Traffic, Pune City. The views expressed here are personal and not of the government.)
