Reading Monday’s figures and the statements which arrived from various government departments and Ministers, it's easy to guess that that the week lying ahead, just like the earlier one, will bring news only about escalation of positive cases and little or no positive in real terms. More than 700 additions during last 24 hours taking the total past 4200, deaths crossing the century mark and the revelation that the nation is standing between stage 2 and 3 of the pandemic have enough elements to bring further worries for all. The vital union cabinet meeting on the day has also hinted nothing clearly on the continuance of the lockdown beyond the pre-declared April 14 and it’s all difficult to make anything concrete from the one liner delivered by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar: “A decision will be taken in national interest in this regard and will be declared at the right time." Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has suggested that the lockdown in his state be extended till June 3 and the Prime Minister has also opined that it’s going to be a “long war ahead”. All these mean that the nation must brace itself up to face more difficult times ahead and should that happen, the question now to be faced is how to tide over it financially.

 

By now it must have been understood by the union government that the Rs 1.70 lakh crore relief package in form of food grains and cash transfers for the lockdown’s worst sufferers i.e the poor and vulnerable will be nothing adequate. Even if it sounds something mammoth, practically it’s just 0.8 % of the GDP when globally, the relief response pattern has been round about 10% of GDPs of the respective affected countries. This will no doubt exert huge strain on the exchequer and questions of sticking to fiscal prudence will also arise. But, for the larger good, there will be no option really but to cross these limits and save the millions of hungry people, whose hunger will prolong directly in proportion to extension of the lockdown. A series of humane gestures have been noticed such as creation of PM-CARES fund and appeal for all to donate generously to tide over the crisis period. These are all welcome and the nation has also participated wholeheartedly. Despite so, there still lies an innovative route to attract fund which is by bringing into effect something akin to the electoral bonds where the donor remains anonymous for ever.

It had raised eyebrows during last general elections. But, at this time of acute financial crisis, why not apply it, if it channelizes the black money for the national good. People will not disapprove it for sure. As time is running out, thoughts and actions over it must flow fast. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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