Feed the poor for fruitful fight against pandemic
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 24, 2021 -

THE state recording over 60,000 cases and 1000-plus deaths so far during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in addition to the daily test positivity rate remaining well above both the national and regional average should make the public realise by now that it would be preposterous to continue believing in the government machinery for extricating them out of the miserable condition.

On its part, the Union government had recently deputed a team of experts to survey the pandemic situation and it is unlikely that more technical support would be forthcoming as the onus of bringing the situation under control lies in the hands of the state government.

If at all the country sees no significant rise in the daily cases then there is the possibility of the Centre refocusing on Manipur but with the Parliament session underway it is obvious that the plan and priority of the Union government would be towards neutralising scorn of the opposition parties.

Till the Parliament session ends or the state's pandemic situation aggravates and grabs the attention of the national media it could be safely stated that the people of Manipur will have to bear the brunt of the contagion themselves.

Similarly, in the state's context, organisational instability besieging the Congress party would be more entertaining and of great interest to the BJP-led government and not the mental distress and material inadequacies gripping the commoners.

With the much-awaited decree of the Supreme Court on the petition for disqualification of 12 BJP MLAs only days away the government wouldn't be much concerned with mitigating the grievances of the people as its immediate objective would naturally be towards consolidating its position by all means.

Thus, the people will have no alternative other than fending for themselves from the virulent Delta variant of the SARS-CoV2 that has been spreading uncontrollably in different parts of the state.

Though it is understandable that the protracted derailment of normal livelihood activities has been emboldening many to take the risk of flouting the government-imposed curfew and contracting the infectious disease rather than suppressing emotion of seeing their loved ones live life with bare minimum they must be encouraged to join hands in the collective fight against the contagion.

As the Delta variant continues to be the dominant lineage for new Covid-19 cases in the state, the public must be reminded that the mutated virus is responsible for multiple outbreaks across the world and tiny Manipur's tenuous healthcare infrastructure wouldn't be able to save them if the situation deteriorates.

If the public remain complacent and ignore the words of caution of the experts, then the discourse in the coming days wouldn't be of how soon the state will see the end of the contagion but the frequency of creating new records of daily infections and deaths.

In view of the government simply clamping curfew but not following up on its promise of delivering food-grains at the doorsteps of the people in distress till date, it seems that time has come for both state level and local organisations to galvanise resources and manpower for ameliorating suffering of the masses before their level of tolerance snaps.

As increasing number of people taking the jab against Covid-19 underscores the masses' readiness to join the battle against the pandemic, CSOs along with benevolent citizens should endeavour to keep high the spirit of the distressed section of the society through material support instead of hoping that the government will always deliver what has been promised.