The world is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and India is not immune from it. India is facing a surge in daily cases and recording the highest daily number in the world. This surge once again created the fear in the commons of possible lockdown and restrictions affecting their lives. The problem for India is somewhat different from the rest of the world. It is battling not only with the pandemic but the series of problems that are hitting the commons the most.

Farmers protest, Rising food and fuel inflation, Restrictions due to pandemic, educational shutdowns strike by Karnataka bus association, one day strike by petrol pumps across Rajasthan to name a few.

The second wave of COVID-19 and restrictions.

Due to unprecedented growth in daily cases, state governments are imposing several restrictions to control the spread. Some of them implemented night curfews, regulated times for the shops and establishment, some have gone to impose weekend lockdown and others complete lockdown in some cities. 

The reason put forward was that people are not following covid appropriate behaviour. I think it becomes a blanket to hide their failures in improving the healthcare infrastructure and facilities. From the very start, we are hearing to flatten the curve of infection so that we get the buffer to improve the health care facilities in the country. Now it is more than a year and governments are busy imposing new regulations daily instead of improving infrastructure.

It was well portrayed by the Prime minister the people are now facing COVID fatigue. If the restrictions keep on increasing it will not just have a mental effect on people but also the economic impacts. People started recovering from the first lockdown, people were moving to cities for work. The condition is not like before the pandemic but they are earning for their livings. Jobs are not available. Young people seeking jobs did not find any. They cannot even fry PAKORA as stated by PM once because the restrictions are affecting street vendors and small shopkeepers the most. 

Marriage and festival season is around the corner. Businesses are already reporting their bad sales. These are the seasonal industry on whom the governments put yoke from the last 3-4 seasons. Lakhs of people earn their livelihood from these seasons for their entire year. This has multiplier effects. Further imposition of restrictions would dig a well for the without water.

Educations sector, tourism, hotel industry, gym, cinema hall small street vendors they are the first to be in the list of regulation and last in the list of opening. All these adding to the suffering of the commons.

Vaccination is the target of the government without enough doses even for the limited population.

List of ignored sufferings.

The country was in technical recession in the last Financial year. People have less earning, bare to suffice their necessities. The height of food and fuel inflation is adding extra expenses to their limited earning. Petrol and diesel prices shot through the roof. 

Everyone has the right to protest. Yes, it is very fair but what about the rights of commuters, the villages around the protest sites, the shop and the establishment around the highways on which people were sitting for several months. No one suffering as the commons.

Recent strikes by the bus association of Karnataka with dissatisfaction with the government and a one-day petrol pump strike in Rajasthan over VAT by the state government. The people in government have their vehicles with full petrol do not worry but it adds to the suffering of the commons.

Governance Failure.

All the above issues and problem is the part on the government side. Due to its mismanagement and taking things lightly, it adds a burden on the burgeoning poor governance of the country.

• The second wave will be in control if both the centre and state government work in synergy to improve the health infrastructure when the caseload was very low. They in turn took it lightly and ignore it once again. Under Vaccine Maitri central government exported crores of doses of vaccines at the cost of their people. Like every initiative of the government, it would bear fruits in future, let’s see.
• It is always easier said than done. I would like to see all those people who are telling to maintain covid appropriate behaviour first by themselves round the clock. Go and buy vegetables and groceries in the market instead of sending your helpers. Everyone should feel the economic crisis, If further lockdown is imposed there should be a salary cut for everyone. The media people should also be brought into the ambit of not earning a penny during the lockdown.
• Education is the hardest hit. We are already in a dire state in terms of our education quality. Further restrictions would make the situation grave for both the learner and the industry.
• Protest and strikes are a complete failure on the part of the government in handling the situation with poor monitoring and poor governance.

Both lives and livelihood should be saved. It can happen only with our cooperation by following covid appropriate behaviour and governments across the country should also tighten their loose shoe of governance. Any further governance failure put the country in great distress. They should understand we can not keep the people locked if the virus lasts for years.

The mid path to bring a new normal along with improved health infrastructure would bring the light of hope.

Minimum suffering to the common should be the ultimate aim.

Divyanshu Singh

(Views expressed are personal)