Frantic celebration amid virus menace
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 29, 2021 -

WHEN chief minister N Biren instinctively removed his face mask, albeit briefly, during the reception of Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu on Tuesday, it testified how uncomfortable and suffocating it is for anyone to diligently adhere to the Covid-19 safety protocols while the large gathering of people along the Airport road to welcome the champion weightlifter could be construed as the public yet to digest the fact that the virulent virus out there could strike at anybody, anywhere.

Even if Mirabai's stupendous performance in the Tokyo games merits unrestrained celebration and deserves the grandest reception, it is disheartening that many perceived it alright to breach the security cordon and Covid-19 protocols for a closer glimpse of the pride of Manipur.

It would have been more appropriate and mature had the people settling along the route cheered from their balconies and residential gates rather than converging en-mass right on the road exposing utter disregard to the prevailing grave Covid-19 situation.

From the government's side, it appeared for a moment that whisking away Mirabai from the Airport in the CM's vehicle was part of the meticulous planning to shield her from the hordes of journalists and well-wishers.

However, the precision with which the operation seemed to have been carried out got diluted as the police personnel deployed along the route were reduced to mere spectators on account of the huge turn-out of the belligerent well-wishers.

Having been mainly confined in their homes for over 17 months now in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, Mirabai's achievement is the only respite of the people from the unprecedented distress brought by the pandemic.

Nevertheless, keeping in view of the surging Covid-19 cases in the state, it is time that the government authorities come up with the best mechanism to provide relief to the masses as it is unthinkable that they would continue to remain dormant when steps taken up so far to contain the spread of the pandemic have not been fruitful.

Moreover, the scenes that unfolded during the welcome/reception of Mirabai are unlikely to amuse the Union government which has been persistently asking states and union territories with high rate of infections to prevent deepening of the health crisis at any cost.

It must be reminded here that the health ministry has been constantly reminding regions with high positivity rate that despite signs of decline in new cases at the national level the experts' recommendation for proper containment efforts, restrictions, social distancing and Covid appropriate behaviour should be adopted and followed in the right earnest to control the spread of infection.

Considering the unrelenting spread of the pandemic in the state, the government as well as the public cannot ignore the standing advisories to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel and large crowds.

Tuesday's events, however, were in total defiance of the ministry guidelines and only time will tell how severe the repercussion would be for recklessness of the public and apparent compulsion of the law enforcement agencies not to stringently enforce the total curfew in place as any harsh action might have invited the wrath of their higher authorities for the simple reason that the reception function was a government-hosted programme.