Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, June, 08:
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla on Monday reacting to Unlock 1.0 asked all to adhere to strict safety and hygiene norms, apart from ensuring adequate social distancing practices, according to SOPs set by the government besides urged visitors as well as employees working at stores to wear face masks at all times. Former Minister however expressed serious concern over decline in recovery rate of Covid patients in J&K, as during the past 15 days, it has dropped from nearly 50 to 33 per cent.The trend of drop in the recovery rate is a matter of concern for those at the helm of affairs.On May 18, out of the total 1,289 positive cases across J&K, 609 patients recovered, with 665 active cases and 15 deaths. But within 15 days, the recovery rate has come down drastically and the number of positive cases has increased manifold. Till Sunday, after there were 3,674 positive cases in J&K, 1,226 were cured and recovered. It means the recovery rate has come down to nearly 33 per cent. On May 8, there were a total of 823 positive cases in J&K. Out of these positive cases, only 450 were active as 364 cases were cured and discharged from hospitals.
In wake of unlock 1.0 , Bhalla today visited Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar & Bhour Camp Ward No-73 to listen to public grievances. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Block president Jatinder Singh Chib, Block President Amrit Bali, GS Sodhi, Jasbir Singh Bitti, Raj Kumar, Abdul Quoom, DCC General Secretary Urban Aman Bawa DCC General Secretary Urban Jatin Vashisht, Iqbal Singh, Gurbachan Kour, Pawan Bhagat, Jagmohan, Gagan Bral, Rohit Choudhary Jasbir Jassi beside others.
Former Minister has expressed fear that COVID-19 cases may rise in J&K if residents do not take adequate precautions during the relaxation of lockdown from Monday and appealed to people to maintain social distancing and follow all safety guidelines.He said additional facilities for testing, ventilators and oxygen supply should be provided and the government should take all steps to ensure lives of people are saved. He asked local doctors not to treat people having fever and COVID-19 symptoms and instead, refer them to testing centres as specified by the government and the civic body. He also urged people to adhere to quarantine and isolation guidelines and not violate them. Public health experts said the responsibility lies with individuals and communities to ensure social distancing and hygiene at public places and at work. Adequate safeguards required, especially in religious worship places. Hotels, restaurants and malls will need to take extra precautions allowing adequate distancing between tables. He stressed that as the disease generates and creates a foothold in communities, it can accelerate at any time as has been seen in a number of settings. In many urban areas in India, it’s impossible to maintain physical distancing, he said adding that it then becomes very important for people to wear appropriate face coverings when they are out, in office settings, in public transport and educational institutions.
Bhalla asked both Centre and J&K Administration to be “more serious” amid concerns over rising number of novel coronavirus cases.As the entire country is hit by corona, it is needed that the Centre and state governments should become more serious,” he said.Former Minister observed that urban poor in Jammu are bearing the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic due to loss of income coupled with dismal living conditions. The effect of this lockdown and of the spread of the virus is devastating for slum dwellers. From no jobs and lack of food to no social distancing due to the dire living conditions, the urban poor of J&K are facing it all. Bhalla asking Govt to work for the rights of the daily wage workers and urban poor, emphasized the lack of accessibility to proper food. Being on the ground every day, raising awareness and distributing food to hundreds of homeless people and slum dwellers, Bhalla revealed that people are struggling to survive the lockdown are panicked about their future, their next meal, health and future of their children and keeping themselves safe from the virus, he said. Providing food like this is a huge help right now but in the coming days, the focus needs to be given on distributing dry ration to people at their door-step. By ration, let’s not just be limited to providing rice and wheat, there is a need to add pulses, cooking oil, salt and sugar also in the monthly quota.
Former Minister urged Administration to put in place advance arrangements for proper availability of power, drinking water, essential supplies, sanitation and other arrangements to effectively face Covid-19 lockdown.
He demanded Govt to ensure complete synergy between the civil administrations, Police so that people do not face any inconvenience. He also urged district administrations across J&K to remain alert and cautious and do not allow any anti-social element to create any law and order issue. He also demanded uninterrupted supply of drinking water, power, essential commodities be made available to consumers without any difficulty. Govt must take care of completion of languishing projects, expeditious completion of works under ongoing centrally sponsored schemes, augmentation of central workshop/ creation of new workshops, distribution network, overloaded and inadequate power distribution.
Bhalla demanded Government of India and J&K Government to quickly make a concrete plans and allocate funds and distribution mechanism for underprivileged section of our society who will suffer the most during this period without any discrimination. We as citizens of this country who will survive through these times will never be able to forgive ourselves if we let large sections of our population die of hunger, lack of access to healthcare and other basic needs. Privileged or economically well off in our country will survive through this period by locking ourselves in our houses / apartments but their sufferings could be beyond imagination of the privileged of our country.
Bhalla said that we can’t afford to neglect needy during relaxation period, asking Govt to help out those affected the most by the pandemic.He said it was the government’s responsibility to ensure that not a single citizen goes hungry. Government should go to each and every needy person’s house and provide them with ration,” he said. Bhalla demanded central government to announce a relief package for the “poorest of the poor” hit hard by the loss of jobs and income as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, a lump sum amount as cash transfer into the accounts of the needy. For the time being, the government’s first priority should be to help the weakest sections of society when businesses, large and small, and the middle class are clamouring for mega relief measures, suited to their needs, due to the significant economic impact of Covid-19 pandemic.Keeping the poor and vulnerable safe is a matter of responsibility for the Govt and the private sector, not an act of charity. In this regard, a clear distinction in the provision of aid for the urban and the rural poor must be made so that resources are better allocated amongst the poor. The time has come for the government to revive vital functions of the welfare state. And, it needs to minimise the concentration of power at the Centre in the name of maximum governance and maximise aid to the poor and vulnerable, instead of minimising government, Bhalla added.
Bhalla observed that until a vaccine is found to cure the deadly pandemic, relaxations should not be misused. The virus has brought the world to a standstill as people are confined to their homes.Nations which are contemplating the gradual relaxation of the lockdown have been warned that doing so would increase the risk of a resurgence of coronavirus.Thus proactively striking a balance between resuming economic activities and keeping a control on the infection is likely to be the optimal strategy until effective vaccines become widely available, despite the fact that control policies, including social distancing, behavioural change, and public awareness, will probably be maintained for some time.
Bhalla highlighted colossal and chronic financial problems of J&K’s businesses and households. Former minister blamed Government for depriving the Jammu people of basic amenities. Bhalla claimed that the unprecedented power and water crisis in Jammu highlights the apathy of the LG Administration which had failed to address the issues of the people. He said the situation in Jammu province had virtually turned out of control due to the severe shortage of drinking water and worst-ever power crisis during summer.“Despite persistent appeals to the Government to ensure supply of basic amenities, no action has been taken. People are suffering, but there is no consolation from the Government,” Bhalla added.He said lack of direction and political will have compounded the perception of political uncertainty in J&K whereas the Government should have tried to provide a hope of inclusive development, reconciliation and peace. The former minister said Government rather than engaging with aggrieved people with an aim to address their issues, had chosen to tread a path of isolation, arrogance and confrontation contradicting the promises made to people of J&K.
