B L Nimesh IAS (Rtd.)
Global world is facing the most serious crisis of the time. It is a challenge whose direct target is the existence of human life, nay the human race. The challenge has come in the guise of Corona Virus or Covid-19 as also known. What potential danger this pandemic has caused to lives of people around the world in a short period of three months since its outbreak is evident from the figures vis a vis the number of people fallen prey to it and deaths it has inflicted as being reported by media on regular basis.
To take the global position first, on April 30; 2020 when this piece was conceived, the confirmed cases of Covid-19 were 3,204705. The number of recovered cases were 227. And the deaths that took place counted 222,847.
Majority of these cases were from USA and other western countries. All developed nations. USA has topped the list with 1,064572 as confirmed cases with 61669 deaths followed by Spain with 236,899 confirmed cases and 2475 deaths. And Italy, reporting 203591 and 27668 confirmed and death cases respectively. France got 166420 infected cases and deaths 44087. UK reported 165221 confirmed cases and deaths 26097, Germany, 161539 and 6467 case respectively. To take Turkey, a transcontinental country between Asia (mainly) and Europe the confirmed cases were 117589 and deaths 3081.
Coming to India, as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India press release of the same day, confirmed Corona virus cases were 33050 (including 111 foreign nationals) in 32 states and union territories. The figures include 8324 who had been discharged/ cured and 1074 deaths.
There doesn’t seem possibility of respite from from above rising trend as of now.
There is saying, ‘history repeats itself’. Regarding a pandemic, history has repeated itself after a century.
In 1918 broke out Spanish flu also known as 1918 pandemic flu. It lased for 36 months from January 1918 to December 1920. It infected 500 million people. About a third of world population.Deaths estimated to be anywhere were from 1.7 million to 50 million. Possibly as high as 100 million. Making it deadliest pandemics in human history( courtsey- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
The worrisome globally rising curve of Covid-19 needs to be arrested forthwith by all means lest the situation reach the calamitous level of Spanish flu.
Concerted efforts at global level as well as domestic are essential to achieve the objective.
While each country is taking requisite action as per its strategy and means within its reach international cooperation is also required under the aegis of UNO. The world leaders need to give serious thought to this.
Since no prescribed curative treatment or preventive vaccine is available at present the only possible and known remedy is observance of physical or social distance or isolation. And quarantine for 14 days in suspected and foreign travel cases. Affected countries are following this strategy though in varied degree.
Government of India too have advised the people to observe social distance and 14 days quarantine in the required cases.
Prime Minister Narender Modi initially ordered nation wide lock down for 21 days on March 24. It was later extended up to May 3, second phase. And now in third phase further extended till May 17. All the states and union territories in the country are following the instructions of Prime minister. Though there have been some instances of violation by migrant workers and others due to different reasons and not for want of cooperation by the concerned State Governments / UT administrations.
However; lock down for such a long period has its own domino effect. Due to stoppage of economic activities and concomitant loss of employment/ earnings the masses are facing lot of hardships.
To speak of Government, it has adversely affected tax collection. Country’s economic progress and financial health will suffer a set back due to decline in GDP. Notwithstanding Government is doing whatever possible to help the vulnerable section of populace in the shape of free ration, gas cylinders and financial assistance. Though there may be some problem regarding its implementation due to some reasons. Could be due to logistic. But the same could be overcome by the ground level implementing agencies through meticulous approach.
Government of India is doing its best to check the spread of this fatal contagious disease.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is not sparing any effort to extend necessary logistic support to state governments and UT administrations in this regard. Hospitals,health centers across the country are providing testing facilities in the suspected cases and necessary treatment in the infected cases to the best possible level within available resources.
Our medical professionals, paramedical personnel sanitary and other staff are performing their duties at this critical juncture to fight this menace with utmost devotion at the risk of their own lives and their family members.
The Civil Administration and Police Department are doing excellent job to carry out the Government instructions and help and advise the general public in this regard. This is a national scenario.
They all deserve our kudos.
However; ultimately it comes to the question of resources to fight this greatest challenge of the time squarely.
India is not a rich country unlike developed countries. Further, government has its own limitation in such a predicament. Which is if not more also not less a war like situation. The one main difference in this war is, the enemy is invisible.
As such people’s cooperation and other quarters’ is need of the hour. People can donate as per their will and capacity to the Government.
However; one such quarter which needs mention are religious institutions/ trusts. They are richest bodies in the country. Our temples and other places of worship irrespective of denominations through their trusts or managing bodies are in possession of treasure of humongous wealth. All this is public wealth/money.
It is high time that this public money is utilised for public cause at this undeclared emergency threatening the very lives of the people, the devotees.
It is opportune time that religious leaders, clerics, custodians of such trusts et al take a lead in this respect. They transcending their denominational affiliation need to come forward and together constitute a body and raise a corpus by generous contributions from their respective treasure trove to help their countrymen and Government at this juncture of distress and need. They can devise a modus operandi and seek the help of those agencies deemed fit for the purpose. And deploy volunteers to reach out needy to provide succour.
Further, besides serving for this noble cause they will be adding one more feather in their caps.
Their such act of benevolence will promote and foster feelings of fraternity amongst people of this country which they have ever longed for. Religion plays dominant role in the lives of people here. Religious leaders are catalyst behind it. Covid-19 has given a wake up call to them in disguise. Time for them to Act.
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