It looks like Covid 19 cases in the 2nd wave are trying to break records everyday. Yesterday, India registered record 1,15, 249 cases, which is the highest single day registered cases since the onset of pandemic. From this tally, Maharashtra’s contribution was 55, 400+ cases, this is also highest for single day. The total deaths due to Covid 19 cases registered yeaterday were 630, biggest daily toll since 5th Nov 2020, and Maharashtra’s toll tally in this was 297.Maharashtra has been the worst affected state, both in number of daily cases and deaths.
With Maharashtra govt declaring a partial lockout in the state. It was chaos in the Mumbai market places, as per order non essential shops are supposed to be closed till 30th April 2021, but most of the shops in various localities were not ready to accept this guldeline and argued with authorities and took out morchas against this order. The traders federation, Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade (CAMIT), & the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture have given an ultimatum for withdrwal of this order of lockdown by Thursday Evening. If the govt fails to withdraw this order, traders across the state will go ahead and open their shops.
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) said 90% of reataurants in the state will be forced to shut down due to the latest ‘Break the Chain’ guidelines. The state has 2.10 lakh restaurant and 10,500 hotels. Already small and medium size restaurants are in deep trouble, without govt support this industry is facing disaster.
The opposition party leaders also reacted to this order of closing non essential shops and restaurants. The leader of opposition in Maharashtra assembly commented that he had been only informed about the lockdown only on the weekends, which he had agreed, but the rigid lockdown restrictions during the week days had led to anger in the trade. The traders point of view is that ‘ Train, buses, big markets and hawkers are far worse pandemic risk that the organised shops and trade business, which take precaution as per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)’, second thing which is essential and which non essential commodity. Further traders say that ‘ it was with great difficulty they went through the lockdown last year, so another lockdown will disastrous for them and their business will be finished.
There were very interesting tweets on the social media by Anmol Ambani, son of Anil Ambani. In a series of tweet posts that not only tore into lockdowns-which he said destroy the very backbone of our society and economy.
His first tweet was “ Professional actors can continue shooting for their films. Professional cricketers can play their sport late into the night. Professional politicians can continue their rallies with masses of people.But YOUR business or work is not ESSENTIAL.”
Next one was “ What does essential even mean? EACH INDIVIDUALS WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO THEM”.
Another one said “ The lockdowns are key in continuing and enabling greatest wealth transfer in human history. The mistake is that the people think this is simply inefficient governance. It’s not. It’s a coordinated, thought out set of policies designed to enable a new order to be brought in.. It’s no coincidence that the losses of the common man are gains of the wealthiest. That the closure of brick and mortar benefits digital and e commerce.”
The next one said “ These lockdowns were never about and nothing to do with health. They destroy the backbone of our society and economy, from the daily wage workers, self employed and SMEs to the restaurants and dhabas, fashion and clothing stores. They completely destroy and diminish our health by closing gyms, sports complexes, playgrounds etc-exercise, sunlight and fresh air being some of the pillars of good health and strong immunity.”
Last one said “ This is not about health. This is about control, and I would think most of us are unknomingly and unconsciously falling into the trap of a much larger and very sinister plan. To control every aspect of your life- A technocracy like China-A totalitarian bio surveilance facist state control led from outside. But I have faith in India and Indian people. That we will resist this global cou d etat and not let our country get colonised even more. All we need is wake up to the truth. Stand for love, peace, unity and compassion”.
Now whatever he has said is totally relevant. One thing is sure with every lockdown small shopkeepers, traders, self employed people, SMEs suffer, and on the other side big e commerce companies prosper, and most of them are controlled by Muti national corporations. This is the main reason why so many people are against lockdown. In my opinion nothing big is going to be achieved, in curbing pandemic menace.
So what are your thoughts on this issue.
Plese do write your views/comments.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
7th April 2021