Act tough against violators, shame them at public places

What should be done to make residents wear masks?

Violators should be taken to task

In this ongoing pandemic when people should act responsibly, they are showing lack of maturity. They are opting wrong ways to avoid penalty. The police should make violators get off their vehicles, ask them to stand in a line and make them do sit-ups. People who don’t wear masks should be admonished.

Meetu Tyagi, Chandigarh

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Hefty fine will lead to compliance

People are seen moving without masks in groups. The situation is similar in the tricity. With the opening-up of tourist spots, the problem has aggravated. Visitors wear masks when policemen and guards are around. The moment they cross checking points, norms are flouted openly. People must understand that masks are the only vaccine available against Covid-19 as of now. It is imperative that those venturing out without masks are penalised heavily and booked. Moreover, there is a link between high fines and compliance.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

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Distribute masks among public

The common public must be educated to wear masks. They must be apprised about benefits of wearing masks in the Covid-19 epidemic. NGO, RWAs and other public forums must be involved to educate people about taking precautions to prevent the spread of virus. Free masks should be distributed by the authorities concerned among residents in the tricity.

COL TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

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Cancel driving licence if not wearing mask

The enhanced fine has failed to deter many from flouting norms like not wearing masks. Masks considerably reduce the risk of contracting virus. In order instil the habit of wearing masks the Administration can issue directives to cancel driving licence of violators for one month. Those who do not have driving licence should be sent to lock up for a day.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Implement directive with an iron fist

Despite best efforts and imposing fine of Rs1,000 on those who don’t wear masks in Chandigarh and Mohali, the respective Administrations have failed to achieve desired results. We find many roaming without masks in public places without any fear of fine. Violators are not dealt with strictly. The only way to make people wear masks is to enhance fine to Rs5,000 and implement the directive with an iron fist.

Capt Amar Jeet Kumar, Mohali

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Admn, NGOs should help

Wearing a face mask while stepping out comes naturally to an individual’s consciousness. Raising the fine amount of has not helped. Those who have no money even to buy daily food need help. To ensure adherence to Covid-19 norms by all the Administration and NGOs should come forward and distribute masks and sanitisers at regular intervals among people from all sections of society.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Celebrities can popularise masks

One issue, which has been debated for months’ altogether, but is now more or less unanimously agreed upon, is wearing face masks. An individual’s decision to wear a mask or not is subject to many factors. Imposing fines is a policing approach, where compliance is ensured by strict enforcement by authorities. People are more likely to take a decision only if they see others around performing the same action. A message should be conveyed that people should increasingly wear masks. Eventually, wearing masks should become a social norm. An approach opposite to fines can be rewarding. Government officials should always wear masks. Local celebrities can be roped in to spread the message of wearing masks among residents.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Follow norms in letter and in spirit

It is true that people have lowered their guard against Covid-19 pandemic. Even enhanced fine for not wearing a mask has failed to deter people from flouting the norm. All must follow Covid-19 guidelines in letter and spirit. We must realise the Administration and people are equally responsible to prevent the spread of the virus. Any lapse on our part will be catastrophic. The Administration is helpless without public support. So, let us all pledge to wear masks in public places and wash hands regularly. To a large extent, these two precautions can save us from this pandemic.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

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Give free masks to public in UT, Mohali

Unlike bacteria, which are unicellular micro-organisms, coronavirus is a submicroscopic infective virus that can multiply within cells of a host organism. Hence, it’s logical to wear masks. Hiking penalties will not prevent virus transmission. The Administration has to arrange liberal and free distribution of masks at places of maximum footfall. Manufacturers of consumer goods should be instructed to include a free/ complimentary mask in their product packing so that every household has enough protective gear. The government can give incentive to the industry for expenses incurred on providing masks with products. It will be akin to free distribution of vaccine. Markets and other public places should bar entry of groups and people without masks.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

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Distribute designer masks among public

We see many people roaming around without wearing masks in Mohali and Chandigarh. At this juncture when Covid cases are rising it is important to ensure that everyone wears a mask. To ensure compliance of the norm, the government can manufacture designer masks for free distribution among masse. This might lure people to wear masks. The Administration should, however, continue to penalise people, who don’t wear masks. The amount collected as fine can be used for manufacturing designer masks.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

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Strict action against violators needed

It’s good to enhance fine for not wearing masks. But it appears that people have become complacent towards coronavirus. Awareness has to be created on preventive guidelines and orders to contain the virus have to be implemented in letter and spirit. Strict action should be taken against violators. Stringent measures need to be adopted so that people follow all safety norms.

Wg Cdr Jasbir singh Minhas (retd) Mohali

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Alter people’s psyche

Wearing a mask safeguards not only us, but others too in our vicinity. Residents need to understand this reality. Health protection messages can alter the psyche of people. Residents must take it as their responsibility and remind all of the severity and fatality of the virus. Advertisement of guidelines by the authorities concerned and social workers can act as a catalyst for taking more and more precautions. In the nutshell, its human psychology that has be targeted to make all wear masks.

Shobhna Kalra, Panchkula

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Hefty fine no solution

Everyone knows that Covid is dangerous virus. Hefty fine cannot coerce people to wear masks. People should be educated about following safety guidelines. They should be motivated to wear face masks and maintain social distancing. Covid-19 can be defeated if the Administration and the public understand their responsibility and behave in a matured manner.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

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Arrest those not wearing masks

At present, people are taking Covid-19 lightly. They do not wear masks and are not afraid of fines too. The respective Administrations of UT and Mohali should follow the HP police and arrest those, who step out of homes without masks or imprison them for eight days or impose Rs5,000 fine for the violation. Masses should act responsibly and wear face masks to keep themselves safe from the Covid.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Verbally encourage people to wear masks

Majority of residents in Chandigarh and Mohali do not wear masks while venturing out of homes. They put theirs and others lives at risk. Increasing fine is right, but still the Administration has to put in more efforts to make residents aware about Covid-19 safety guidelines. The Administration should display posters in markets and on roundabouts to explain benefits of wearing masks. Officials concerned can verbally communicate with residents to exhort them to wear masks.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

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Desperate times, desperate measures

Enhanced fine failed to achieve the desired result in this alarming situation. With the passing of time perhaps people have accepted Covid-19 as a part of their life. Fine alone cannot make people realise to wear masks. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Door to door contact for explaining benefits of taking precautions and stopping entry at public places and functions of those not wearing masks can reduce violation to some extent.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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Provide masks at lower rates

Careless attitude of people towards wearing masks has lead to surge in coronavirus cases in Chandigarh and Mohali. People are not doing their moral duty. The respective Administrations should ensure that masks are available at lower rate in both the cities. Fines should be imposed on those who don’t wear masks. Also, masks should be distributed among residents.

Akshar Kumar Singla, Sangrur

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Social boycott of people without masks

We should admonish people, who do not wear masks in public places. Social boycott is another tool to make violators realise the necessity of wearing masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Anita tandon, Kharar

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Provide masks, don’t impose fine

Hike in fine has failed to make people wear masks in UT and Mohali. The Administration in both cities should rather provide free masks and sanitisers at public places. People not wearing masks should be made to donate for the needy. This can be done by placing donation boxes at spots with maximum footfall. Mask is mandatory, but imposing fine is no solution to prevent violation of the norm.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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Shame violators at public places

Although enhanced fine managed to get positive results, yet many residents do not wear masks in Chandigarh and Mohali. The authorities concerned should make people aware of guidelines and instil discipline among them. Only monetary fine is not enough to make people adhere to safety norms. Shaming violators at public places like making them stand with traffic cops for some hours at roundabouts may result in better compliance of the norm.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Detain violators for two hours

It is discouraging to see residents not being cautious about the Covid-19 cases spike in Mohali and Chandigarh and putting themselves at risk by ignoring precautionary measures like wearing masks. They are not concerned about paying enhanced fine. The only way out is to detain every violator for at least two hours. This will definitely yield positive results as no one can afford to waste two hours in police custody. The respective Administration of the two cities has to be strict to deal with the issue.

Balbir Singh, Chandigarh

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Name and shame violators

The act of not wearing masks by many persons in public places needs to be condemned by one and all. Although the Administrations in UT and Mohali enhanced the fine for not wearing masks, yet there is no perceptible change in residents’ behaviour. Those violating guidelines can be penalised under Section 188, IPC, which deals with disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant. The punishment prescribed under this law is six months imprisonment or a fine up to Rs1,000. The problem is lack of strict enforcement of the guidelines by the authorities concerned. People know that they can go scot free even if they violate Covid guidelines. One deterrent could be displaying names and photographs of violators at public places. May be naming and shaming of violators gives positive result.

Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Sensitise residents about moral duty

During unlock one everyone used to wear masks. Now, masks are on chins. Even hefty fine isn’t deterring people from adopting complacent attitude. There can be no justification for not wearing a mask. No one enjoys wearing a mask, but we have to in this pandemic. The authorities must sensitise residents about their moral duty towards society. People must understand that wearing masks will save them and others too. We should tell each other politely to wear masks.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

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Create awareness through media

The government should make people aware through advertisements in newspapers, TV, radio, social media and wall hoardings at public places about adverse consequences of not wearing masks during the pandemic. Nowadays, most youngsters blindly follow celebrities. The authorities concerned can take help of such people to create awareness among the public about wearing masks in order to check the spread of the virus.

Nakhpreet Kaur, Sanghol

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Give incentive for wearing masks

People don’t wear masks even after hike in the fine by the authorities concerned. Incentives should be given to people, who wear masks. Free masks can be distributed especially among the needy. Street plays can organised to highlight the benefits of wearing masks during the pandemic. Memes can also show the use of masks in a funny manner.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

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It’s responsibility of residents

Despite increasing the amount of fine for not wearing masks, expected results cannot be achieved until and unless residents understand that they themselves bear responsibility of protecting themselves and society from the coronavirus. Instead of being complacent about Covid-19 residents of Chandigarh and Mohali should following safety norms, including wearing masks. Residents should make masks part of their daily dress. In this way, they will not only save themselves, but others too and prevent the spread of the virus.

Hardeep Singh Slaich, Mohali

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Take hard stance towards violators

The unstoppable surge in Covid-19 cases across the tricity, especially in Chandigarh and Mohali, has sounded a clarion call for those, who throw safety protocols to the winds. There is no denying that the piecemeal measures taken by the ruling dispensation to contain the spread of virus didn’t give desired results. The enhancement of fine for not wearing a mask also failed to instil a sense of fear psychosis among tricity residents, Chandigarh in particular, where surge in Covid-19 cases is visible. Residents must develop a habit of wearing masks and follow other protocols with utmost caution. The Administration needs to adopt a hard stance towards habitual violators. Doubling fine and detention will go a long way in keeping the menace in check. Sector associations and NGOs can make residents aware of far-reaching impacts of the deadly virus and press them to wear masks to pre-empt chances of contracting killer Covid-19.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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violators should be detained for 8 hours

The law enforcement agencies must collect fine on the spot from people, who are not wearing masks. It will deter residents of Chandigarh and Mohali from flouting safety norms. Besides, cops should not be asked to let a person go without paying fine for not wearing mask. The order has to be implemented without any mercy. Detention centres can be established for those, who are caught without masks. Violators should be detained at least for eight hours. Defence veterans can be roped in for implementing safety measures, including wearing masks.

Col KJ Singh (retd), Chandigarh

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Strict checking, awareness needed

In the absence of any vaccine, wearing masks and observing social distance is the need of the hour. Unfortunately, these measures are not being followed meticulously due to slackness on the part of the Administration and the people. The negligence on the part of the police authorities was visible during recent festivals when large number of people were seen without face masks at public places. The fine amount of Rs500 or Rs1,000 for not wearing masks does not matter as every violation cannot be checked with penalty. Those who break rules habitually must be penalised heavily. Besides, there is a need to make residents aware through media and NGOs/RWAs about benefits of wearing masks during the pandemic. Regular checking at public places, including markets, parks, clubs and roads to ensure that residents wear masks is needed desperately.

Satish Khosla, Chandigarh

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Admn, public can help each other

Only police cannot force people to wear masks by issuing challans to them. The public and the Administration simultaneously can help each other by following safety norms. If shopkeepers specify “No entry without mask” outside their shops people will wear masks. The people on other hand should avoid purchasing goods from vendors or shopkeepers, who don’t wear masks. Few precautions can prevent the spread of virus and bring economy on the track.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

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QUESTION

There have been two recent incidents in which robbers targeted traders at their workplaces in broad daylight. This has exposed the deteriorating law and order situation in Chandigarh. What steps should the police take to ensure safety of traders in the City Beautiful?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]