Leading india into war against covid 19

Leading india into war against covid 19

PM’s speech sets the tone to overcome pandemic.

Through his televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a clarion call to all Indians to prepare to wage a united war against the global pandemic, Covid-19. More than a medical response, a pandemic calls for cohesive, collective resolve to adopt individual conduct that would protect themselves, the community, the nation and the world. It is precisely to muster such a response that the prime minister has deployed his personal authority and appeal. It is wholly welcome that the government is setting up an economic taskforce, headed by the finance minister, to tackle the impact of the pandemic and of the precautionary social isolation measures it calls for on the economy.

The prime minister has called for resolve and discipline from the entire populace. In preparation for adopting the mass social isolation that might need to be adopted in India, if the experience of some nations that are combating the pandemic at a virulent stage of its lethal spread is any indication, the prime minister has called for adopting a People’s Curfew this coming Sunday. He has asked the people of the country to carry out a war drill, staying indoors for 14 hours, from 7 am to 9 pm, and called upon all community organisations and local governments to help enforce this curfew. The PM made three sensitive and sensible appeals. One, businesses should not lay off employees who might have been rendered redundant, owning to reduced economic activity. Two, people should avoid panic buying and hoarding, as supplies would be maintained. And, three, families should take care to keep the elderly, the group most vulnerable to the virus, at home.

To drive home the value of the work done by those at the frontline of the battle against the virus — healthcare providers, sanitation workers, airport staff monitoring passengers for signs of infection, policemen, journalists, deliverers of essential supplies, people’s representatives, the PM has suggested five minutes of applause at every home. These are all sensible steps to mobilise the nation against the pandemic.