As I write this, we are entering Day 1 of Lockdown 3.0.
India was first put into lockdown on the 24th of March for a period of 3 weeks. This was followed by Lockdown 2.0 which was to end on the 3rd of May. As the Covid-19 positive cases kept rising, the Ministry of Home Affairs released a circular announcing Lockdown 3.0 for a further two weeks, but unlike earlier, this is not to be a blanket lockdown. The country has been divided into three zones. Green (no Covid-19 cases for the last 21 days), Orange (relatively few Covid-19 cases) and Red (high number of cases and a high doubling rate). The notification enumerated graded relaxations in the Green and Orange Zones and the continuation of a severe lockdown in the Red Zones. As I write this, it sounds perfectly logical but the notification itself was vague, lacked clarity and was followed by several clarifications, revisions and backtracking. And then of course, while these were broad strokes by the central government, each State issued further clarifications, revisions and in some cases, relaxations.
The MHA notification also permitted the hundreds upon thousands of migrant labour to return to their homes across the length and breadth of India. However, trains and aeroplanes were not permitted. The States were asked to ferry them across the thousands of kilometres by bus, which could be filled only to 33% capacity to ensure social distancing. After all the States calculated the cost and logistics of this exercise and raised their collective voices in protest, a few trains were permitted to ply to transport these masses of people home.
I could get into what is now permitted in each zone, but that would be a futile exercise because our country is inextricably linked. It will be difficult if not impossible to restart industries in the Green and Orange areas without allowing the flow of people and goods from the Red Zones. Again, I would like to be proved wrong, but I believe this piecemeal relaxation is not going to kickstart our economy.
Also, as most migrant labour is at this very moment on the way back to their villages across India, where are they going to find the labour to restart factories and construction? I spoke to a friend who has a factory in Ahmednagar (Orange Zone). He has a staff strength of 150 people who have been stuck in the factory for the last 40 days. He arranged for their food and care as best he could and today when he has been allowed to restart his factory, 135 of the 150 people have decided to return to their families in their native villages. And no, before you jump down my throat, I am not judging them. Of course, they will want to return home and make sure their families are safe and well. I am just saying, my friend, cannot restart his factory even though he is now permitted to. And he is just one small example of what I am certain is happening across India. I am reminded of that silly line we used as kids; Operation successful, Patient dead.
I live in Mumbai. The entire city is a designated Red Zone and within this Red Zone, there are numerous ‘containment areas’ that have been sealed by the local authorities. So not only does all of Mumbai have a large number of Covid-19 positive cases, but we also have areas where the spread is so rampant, the entire area needs to be sealed to stop the virus from infecting more people.
After reading through all the notifications and clarifications by both Centre and State, I think it’s safe to say Mumbai Lockdown 3.0 is exactly the same as Lockdown 2.0 and 1.0. We remain housebound with permission to step out only for bare essentials from stores not more than 500 metres from our homes.
Summer is well and truly upon us and as I sweat it out in the comfort of my large (by Mumbai standards) home, the vast majority are hunkering down 7-8 people to a room with no air or ventilation.
In my last blog, I had said, “We will emerge from this. Not soon, but eventually. Hopefully unscathed but certainly not unchanged. And when we emerge, we will find that the world as we know it has changed beyond recognition.….
When we are unlocked, we will emerge into World 2.0”
This one paragraph received more responses than anything else on the blog with questions mostly on how we would change. Better? Nicer? Kinder? Did I think World 2.0 would be a gentler, more humane world? While some of you hoped it would be, some were sceptical and seemed sure the world would continue as it always has.
Sitting and writing this today I know for sure we will change. And I do not believe we will change for the better. I believe we will emerge from this as an angrier people.
I for one find I am angry far more than ever before.
‘People like us’ are refusing to pay their drivers, domestic help, dhobis and cooks for the duration of the lockdown. This makes me angry.
Instead of standing by their staff in these difficult times, restaurants and gyms are laying off people, not paying salaries and even going so far as to offer a half salary as a loan against future salaries. If you do not dip into your savings and show your humanity at this time, when will you ever do it? This makes me angry.
The government had three weeks to plan an exit from this lockdown and came out with a jumbled barely thought through notification that has seen 15 iterations and corrections in the last 24 hours. This makes me angry.
People who contract the virus are being shamed on WhatsApp groups and social media. This makes me angry.
We bang thalis, light diyas and even have helicopters shower rose petals to honour and thank the frontline health workers, but fail spectacularly in providing them basic PPE gear, security and dignity. The Delhi government went so far as to ask for a written explanation from hospital staff on how they contracted the virus when they weren’t a designated Covid-19 hospital! This makes me angry.
This is a virus imported by ‘people like us’ and today we have the temerity to shun and ban the plumber and electrician and dhobi because they may infect us! While we can practice social distancing and sanitize our hands every few minutes, they live in areas where social distancing is just not possible and often several families share a community toilet! Our rich man’s virus has become the poor man’s burden as slums and congested areas have become Mumbai’s largest ‘containment zones’. This makes me angry
And just today, our cousins’ WhatsApp group – the nicest, funniest and funnest group anywhere – got into a fairly ugly argument on government optics vs delivery. This also made me angry
As our government, like governments around the world continue to struggle with this pandemic, I think the foreseeable future will see much more anger, frustration, joblessness, depression, crime and unfortunately violence.
We will emerge from this eventually, but I fear World 2.0 will be a world of angry people.
Beautifully expressed a point of view
Great Article . Makes us as angry as you for all the reasons elaborated by you.
Not sure what the world will look like a year from now I guess we will still be social distancing wearing masks and washing our hands frequently with soap.
In all this our spirits should not let us down and go into depression.
Cheers
Lena
Agree Lena. This is the time to stay positive
I couldn’t agree more. Anger is definitely topmost on our minds. Migrants were given wrong information about train departures twice, leading to huge mobbing at Bandra railway station. Ticket were sold at prohibitive rates, I believe, though I haven’t fact checked. Also I would like to know the strategy that is being followed by the government in the slums… social distance is obviously not feasible. So mass quarantine, is good. But rapid and continuous testing needs to be done in these contained areas, which isnt quite happening. Infact, the low rate of testing is very likely the reason our numbers are considerably lower. The entire handling of this pandemic by the centre at , seems sloppy, with zero ownership and strategy. Like a fire drill, one needs the entire strategy panned out, communicated & understood by the public. Instead there has been misinformation, confusion & chaos. Media optics and senseless drama seems to be the preferred route by our leaders, while leaders of other nations have clocked in every night, to update their people on hospital preparedness, supplies, research, drugs and vaccine updates.
Your point about the abyssal treatment of doctors and medical aid workers by some – this pandemic has brought out the basest of human instincts, prejudices and hypocrisy. If this hasn’t taught us that we are all connected – what happens to one will trickle down to the rest before long- then we have reason to be very very concerned!
Agree completely Priya, we do need to be very concerned. Our ivory towers, masks, gloves and sanitizers are not going to keep us safe much longer.
I feel this will be the ultimate manifestation of rage in all sorts of ways. Humans have turned into entitled brats, especially the elite in poorer countries and the vast majority in the first worlds. While this has brought out the best of many I fear it will bring out the worst of many more 🙁
The way this Government has handled this is typical. All dramatic gestures and massive optics, but no sense on the ground. I don’t know how much will change unless that UAE princess has a larger impact than anticipated. If we lose income from the Middle East. If Hindus are prosecuted in Muslim countries. If the Arabian countries refuse to all Hindus in, then the impact will be huge. Right now, with nothing else to do, people are stuck on social media. And the idiots who are going under the radar of Muslim countries – rich Muslim countries – are suddenly up front and centre. I think there is going to be an even wider divide once people realize how awful things have actually been.
Agree Pandrang, we should all be very, very concerned
Very well expressed Arti. You are rightfully angry. Cant even imagine the plight of the under privileged. Not all will be lucky to have employers who will dig into their pockets to compensate them. Lockdown 3.0 has added to the confusion. The MHA Circular came first and the internet buzzed over whether we can now get maids, followed the Maharashtra government notification which is still not clear on the guidelines. Instead of a seamless transition from Lockdown 2.0 to Lockdown 3.0, we notice only goof ups which add to the chaos.
Not only angry but also fearful.
I had gone out to get some groceries as the shops are open only on Mondays.
Some neighbors who were waiting outside the elevator and who have been good friends over the years, refused to get in with me fearing they may contract the virus.
This act did not surprise me as much as the sheer look of fear in their eyes and the blatant lack of trust displayed openly. Now when I meet them we have an unsaid awkwardness between us which may remain long after this lockdown is over.
That’s so sad Jasmeet. I have not experienced it, but I can imagine it.
Fear, anger, mistrust coupled with joblessness and financial instability make for a very unhappy scenario.
Stay safe, say well
After all this we will be left with collective anger. The so called blacklisted NGOs are coming up trumps. All we hear from the centre is ‘what can you do’ not ‘what we will do’ this makes me angry.
Yes, we have pretty much been left to fend for ourselves.