Kashmir returned to lockdown
It is after a mere two months break that Kashmir has returned to the dark ages of lockdown, albeit of a different kind. This time round the lockdown seems more vigorous as it is aimed to save lives from an invisible enemy termed the COVID-19.
The lockdown however, is applicable to the whole of India with just essential services being allowed to work that too under a well established and controlled mechanism. The lockdown that has been announced as a measure to control the deadly COVID-19 has come up as a huge challenge to the entire country.
Not only has life come to standstill but the livelihoods too have been affected across the globe and Jammu and Kashmir is no exception to it.
Though the administration here too is attempting to salvage some of the loses caused however, the efforts need to be redoubled to reach to the maximum number of people in these times of distress.
On Tuesday the Administrative Council announced some measures particularly for the most vulnerable sections and the unorganised sector in the context of the situation emerging due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic.
It has been decided that one month’s wages in respect of all daily wagers will be released immediately so that they do not face any difficulty due to the current situation. The Finance Department has also been directed to take requisite measures in this regard.
The admin has also announced that two months advance ration for the month of April and May be issued to all ration card holders and even midday meals for school kids will be provided for those children who are entitled to it.
Even the slum dwellers, other urban poor, destitutes too have not been left out and ration packets are being distributed among them.
These measures have come amidst a slew of other measures which includes the release of Rs. 40 Cr to the districts as an emergency measures besides releasing funds to Municipal bodies, PHE Department and other relevant Departments.
While all these measures are aimed at controlling the spread of coronavirus the admin needs to stick to its plan and workout that the measures announced are executed with precision so that the maximum numbers of people are benefitted.
The priority should be to fix a plan and stick to it so that the people may not feel the need to move out of their homes to seek an end to their day to day requirements. The admin also needs to ensure that all the essential services that have been included in the list of 16 services that have been exempted from the lockdown should be allowed to function smoothly.
The media especially the print media too needs to be roped in to control the spread of rumors and other intentional and fake news meant to create panic and disorder.
KV Network
