Slimy bid to drag public into Covid mess
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 26 , 2021 -

IT'S annoying to hear top to fringe leaders of the ruling entity in the state continuing to hold the public solely responsible for spread of the pandemic rather than conceding gross failure of the government's measures to keep the people indoors, feed the poor, contain the disease, trace close contacts of the infected people or facilitate prompt testing of the suspected cases - all essential in such a challenging situation.

While it could be stated with conviction that spread of the virus could have been kept under control had the government promptly imposed lockdown or curfew when the rate of infection was low, lack of initiative to provide essential goods to the impoverished section of the society also compelled many to defy the safety protocols, which are technically in place since the first wave of the pandemic.

With distribution of rice free of cost or at nominal payment starting nearly two months after onset of the second wave and the infectious disease already spread to even the remotest parts of the state, it is but natural that containing the virus would now be a herculean task.

It is also worth mentioning that formation of government-mandated committees to introspect causes of Covid-19 deaths, hospitalisation procedures, and tracing and treatment protocols wouldn't be effective when the poor cannot be ensured two square meals a day.

That there are many struggling for survival on a daily basis could be gauged from traders and retailers of consumer goods defying the curfew in the wee hours and setting up vegetable kiosks in various localities, including in the worst-hit Imphal East and West districts.

Amid such distressful situation besieging the masses, some leaders of the ruling entity unrelenting from shifting the blame on the public is unwarranted.

As the Covid-19 cases continue to spiral, it is obvious that the government authorities are under tremendous pressure to devise the most effective strategies to best tackle the pandemic and shield the public from the infectious disease.

Nevertheless, continuous attempt to put the blame on the people for the medical crisis getting worst with each passing day is not justifiable.

It's even more unsavoury that a newly inducted minister is accusing the public of lacking resilience to follow the Covid-19 SOPs in-spite of the fact that the very individual went viral on the social media showing him showering cash on singers during a musical programme organised - amid the ban on mass gathering - to celebrate victory of candidates of the ruling party in the by-election held last year.

Accepted that public cooperation and responsible conduct would help tackle the contagion to a great extent, but it is desired that the so-called people's representatives realise that spread of the virus could have been prevented had there been effective enforcement of the government-prescribed safety and preventives protocols and ramped up basic infrastructure in the general healthcare facilities or set up temporary Covid hospital as planned during the first wave.

Moreover, the fact that the current daily test rate has been remaining static around the 3000-mark compared to 4000 tests per day during the peak of the first wave should be more than enough evidence to prod the conscience of whoever is trying to damn the public for the existing miserable situation.