It is Lockdown 4 of central government. State governments have their own lockdowns. People are caught in the middle.
Narendra Modi announced lockdown for 21 days. First extension was for 19 days, second for 14 days, third for 14 days which is Lockdown 4 and ends on 31/5/2020.
Maharashtra had its lockdown before that of central government. Some other states also had lockdowns and had extended lockdowns on their own.
There should be one lockdown; either by state or by centre. When states relax conditions of central lockdown they get letters to follow rules strictly. When states have additional restrictions there is no letter. This is wrong. If states can not relax restrictions they should not also not add restrictions.
Karnataka has 14 days government quarantine for any person who goes there. The person has to pay for quarantine. Further Karnataka has banned entry of people from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Many migrant workers from Karnataka who wanted to return from Maharashtra are stuck at Belgaum border.
Air travel within India is set to resume from 25/5/2020. It is unlikely many will go to Karnataka by air. Civil Aviation Ministry has fixed air fares.
Migrant workers are badly hit. Many walked long distances to reach their native places. Some died on the way due to hunger and exhaustion. Of them 16 slept on tracks and were run over by a train. One person ran out of money, mobile balance and battery and hanged himself. Some workers died in accidents. There is exodus from big cities to distant villages.
Lockdown 1 and extensions were justified on the ground that they were necessary to prevent spread of Corona. One chart showed zero Corona case on 16/5/2020. The opposite happened. Corona cases continue to rise every day. Before Lockdown 1 the cases were around 500. Now they are around 1,18,000.
What is an essential service or a non-essential service is a matter of subjective opinion. For people whose life depends on an income from a job it is an essential service. For barbers, gymnasium owners, restaurant owners, theatre owners and many such people, their service is an essential service. For governments they are non-essential services.
Show business is hit. Some producers could not wait for theatres to open and they released their films on Amazon Prime or Netflix.
When the situation is becoming worse our lockdown is getting more relaxed. It’s quite paradoxical. Herd immunity seems to be the only way out now.
Yes. It is a paradox. I tried to post following comment on your article about truth. Did not succeed.
“Goddesses are mostly wives of gods and equal in number. Many goddesses are beautiful with many hands, each hand holding something. I suppose you refer to Kali as goddess with big teeth.
History written by victors does not mention their crimes. Crimes by Americans, Australians, British and Russians in World War II are not mentioned much. Crimes by Germans and Japanese are mentioned.
Novels, films and TV serials have myths. Serials on historical persons have more ficition than facts. An average person does not know the difference. Films on historical persons get into trouble because someone or the other finds somethinbg or the other objectionable and some resort to violence to stop release or exhibiton of the film. CBFC certificate has no value.
The wheel turns. People in power today will be out of power tomorrow.”
This exodus of migrant workers makes me think,why are our villages so backward that they could not find any occupation in their village only.It is time we did up our villages and the related infrastructure.