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Round The States
New
Delhi, 18 April 2020
Restless Labour
GOVTS NOT DOING ENOUGH
By Insaf
Words without deeds don’t count. A simple
message which sadly both the Centre and States seem to ignore, in the midst of
growing restlessness among daily and migrant workers across the country. Even
after the first 21-day lockdown, a system is not in place to make this
vulnerable section feel cared for. Instead, their captivity in cities is
extended till May 3 following extension of lockdown. With borders sealed and uncertainty
of getting two meals a day, these workers yearn to go back home, for not only
is the relief package too little, but they miss and are concerned about their
families. There is bound to be a reaction and impatience is rising. So we saw on
Tuesday last, a 2,000-strong crowd of migrant workers gathered at Mumbai’s
Bandra railway station demanding passage back to their native States. But they
were dispersed, faced lathicharge and sent packing to their ill-equipped
shelter camps. This despite, New Delhi asking all States and UTs to take “welfare
measures, including provision of food, shelter, medicine, mobile and video call
facilities and counselling, for migrants living in shelter homes across the
country.”
However, it takes two to tango. New Delhi must
aid the States well and give a relief package they seek. The lockdown has
caused misery to tens and thousands of poor labourers. Last week saw hundreds
of workers employed in textile industry of Surat, Gujarat, pouring on to streets
demanding transport and permission to go back to their villages; In Delhi, migrant
labourers reportedly set three shelter homes on fire on Sunday last, after an
argument with staff over food; in Aurangabad, a sub-divisional police officer
and a health department team were attacked on Wednesday last and a BDO and
three cops roughed up in Areraj, East Champaran when they went to create
awareness on social distancing; the same day, 150-odd migrant labourers and
their families, natives of MP and Chhattisgarh, staying around Katraj area, Pune,
started their journey home, about 1,000 km away, on foot only to be sent back before
they could cross the city limits; hundreds of chili-pickers from Vidarbha and
MP districts in AP and Telangana are demanding to go home as their task is over;
on Thursday last 30 textile workers in Surat were stopped by police while trying
to return home on foot...Such distressing stories are never ending, some not
even reported. Time to see the writing on the wall.
* * * * * * *
Secular
Fibre Damaged
The country’s secular fibre gets further
damaged. COVID-19 adds another casualty to its long list i.e. the virus is encouraging
enmity between different groups on grounds of religion. Ahmedabad, in state of Gujarat,
may just have scratched the scars of the 2002 communal riots as it signals distressing
news: the 1200-bed Ahmedabad Civil Hospital has separated wards handling coronavirus
patients for Hindus and Muslims! A report quotes its Medical Superintendent saying
‘usually wards were separated on basis of gender, but in this hospital, they
have segregated wards on the basis of faith, and this was done as per State
government’s decision.” But the BJP-ruled government denies it: ‘no such
instructions were given ...patients are kept in different wards based on their
medical condition, severity of symptoms and age, purely based on treating doctors’
advice.’ However, patients accounts suggest names of 28 men admitted in the
first ward were called out (belonging to one community) and they were all
shifted to another without citing any reason. The direct action obviously has sent
disturbing messages, in the backdrop of reports from other States like UP,
Haryana, Punjab wherein members of minority community are said to be
discriminated in form of vegetable vendors either being stopped from selling their
goods or people being told not to buy from them. The trend is frightening
indeed and must be contained.
* * * * * * *
Kerala’s
Phased Relaxation
God’s own country continues to lead the way.
On Thursday last, Kerala spelt out its plans of a phased easing of lockdown.
Chief Minister Vijayan, praised for his deft handling of the
pandemic, committed to follow Centre’s guidelines and announced grouping of
districts into 4 Zones based on number of active/positive cases: Zone 1 has 4
districts with higher restrictions, where full lockdown will continue till May
3; Zone II with 3 districts will have
partial exemptions from April 24 as positive cases are less; Zone III with 5 districts, including capital
Thiruvananthapuram, with minimum cases will see partial relaxation after
April 20 with shops/restaurants (only parcel) to remain open till 7 pm, though
hotspots will remain sealed; Zone IV
with 2 districts with no cases, will have minimum restrictions, travel
will be allowed after April 20, but use of masks, sanitisers will be mandatory.
General restrictions such as inter-State/inter-district travel won’t be
permitted during the lockdown period; restrictions on public transport, closure
of education and training institutes, religious places, cinema theatres and
places of public gathering remains. However, soon there will be a phased
opening up of construction and traditional sectors like coir, cashew, beedi and
handicrafts; agriculture sector, plantation sector, cooperative institutions,
among others. Getting the people back to normal life is now the goal.
* * * * * * *
Breather
For Convicts
Thousands of convicts and undertrials will
taste freedom again, albeit briefly. The pandemic ironically will give them a
breather. Most governments have readily agreed to follow Supreme Court’s
directive to reduce overcrowding and prevent virus’ spread in prisons. Rajasthan is the latest State to release 638
inmates either on “interim bail” or “emergency parole,”; Delhi released 419
inmates of 3,000 proposed from Tihar Jail; Tamil Nadu 1,180 from 9 central prisons;
Odisha 80 so far of 1,727 inmates proposed; Assam 41; Gujarat shall release 1,200
prisoners; UP and Maharashtra 11,000 each from 71 and 60 prisons respectively,
MP 12,000-odd; Punjab 6000 and Uttarakhand 855. However, governments need to
think long term. National Crime Records Bureau 2018 statistics reveal India has
over 4.5 lakh prison inmates-- about 17.6% more than their capacity. Examples
being: TN has a capacity of 10,000 but has over 18,000 inmates; UP houses
double -- 1,04,011 instead of 58,914; Maharashtra 36,195’s instead of 24,032;
MP 45,000-odd against a capacity of 29,000 etc. Prison authorities must set
their house in order. Sooner the better.
* * * * * * *
Alcohol
Go-Ahead
Assam and Meghalaya may have raised many an
eyebrow. Liquor shops in both these north-eastern States have been allowed to open
their shutters since Monday last for seven hours a day! The order of Excise
department in Assam to the Deputy Commissioners says shops can open from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. and work with bare minimum staff, not more than 50%, provide
hand sanitisers to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash.
Further, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries too can
be open but must accommodate staff within their premises and arrange food and
other amenities for them. Any violation will invite cancellation of their
excise licence, is a warning. Meghalaya has justified its decision saying consumption
of alcohol is a way of life in the State. The ruling MDA had first allowed home
delivery of alcohol, but later withdrew its order and now has approved opening
of wine shops and bonded warehouse from 9 am to 4.p.m. subject to strict
compliance similar to Assam. Will other States follow suit, is worth a watch.
---INFA
(Copyright, India
news & Feature Alliance)
New Delhi
17 April 2020
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