Get economy back on its feet, but with caution

Should we join fight against pandemic & return to normalcy ?

Continuous lockdown is no solution

Covid-19 pandemic has to become a way of life. We have to learn to live with it. The continued lockdown is taking a toll on the economic health of the country. We need to educate citizens on the behavioral changes they need to adopt in their lifestyles to reduce the risks at home, outdoors or at workplaces. Coronavirus should not blind us to the long-term consequences of the shutdown, especially on the economic front.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain

Be aware of gravity of situation

Today, we are sandwiched between fighting coronavirus and reviving the economy. It is extremely important to be aware of the gravity of the situation keeping in view own responsibility to safeguard ourselves. We also cannot ignore reviving work and industry. Otherwise, this may turn out to be more dangerous to us than fighting virus. Therefore, a sensible balance is required between fight against Covid-19 and opening businesses.

Anil Nanda, Patiala

Any negligence can be disastrous

There is no doubt that economic activities are necessary to sustain society, but not at the cost of lives of the public. Opening up businesses has to be carefully executed exercise keeping in view the inter-state movement of migrants and other persons. Any negligence may lead to disastrous circumstances and washout all the hard work done by various agencies to contain the spread of pandemic. Although Administrations in the tricity are putting in their best efforts to contain the pandemic, the number of corona positive patients is increasing in UT. It’s duty of all to take ample precautions to keep ourselves and others safe from this deadly disease and break its chain when the lockdown is lifted.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Lockdown should become habit

The lockdown is appropriate as it helped in production of precautionary devices to contain the pandemic. Treat Covid-19 on par with other diseases and take precautions to avoid infection. The immunity of humans has reduced due to excessive industrialisation, use of electronic technology and bad eating habits. Present mode of economy is not sustainable as one virus can bring it down. Hence, economy should be given a new direction. The lockdown should become a habit to boost immunity and revitalise environment.

Dr Shailja Beniwal, Chandigarh

Take U-turn to save economy

Keeping in view the present lockdown, which is in name only, presumably we are advancing towards normalcy. It is but natural that we have to take a U-turn to save our economy. Yet, we should not remain in a state of perplexity that the virus has lost its potential. Rather, we have to be more countable towards our basic responsibilities until the effective invention to eliminate the virus is forseen. Therefore, for the time being, each section of our society has to play their respective role towards humanity. One of our primary duties is to sincerely obey and follow the safety advisories and guidelines. Fighting pandemic is indeed a joint venture.

Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali

Joint efforts needed to revive economy

The public has to put in joint efforts to revive the economy by following proper social distancing and taking precautions. The government has already doing its best to contain coronavirus. It should also increase the confidence level of people so that they follow all guidelines.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

Is this a myth or reality?

One really wonders whether the Centre mandated countrywide lockdown post-Covid-19 invasion is a reality or a myth? What else could explain the lackadaisical manner in which people at large are responding to governments repeated appeal to follow guidelines to prevent its further spread? Sadly yet strangely, most of them erroneously presume that the coronavirus will do no harm and are showing scant regard to personal distancing at public places and bypassing other medical advisories too. Who knows, the entire nation may pay a huge price for such negligent attitude? Why crave for some short-term gains at the expanse of inviting health-related troubles? Truly speaking, the recent competitive relaxations by state governments may also prove counter-productive.

SK Gupta, Panchkula

Relaxations can wait a little longer

Now, that everyone has got used to staying indoors, it is safer to remain self-disciplined for a month or so. As the peak summer does not let us roam around, it will be in every one’s self interest to play safe. Luxury to enjoy the city life in the evenings will have to wait till Covid cases in the country start receding and recovered cases exceed new cases. Experts have predicted Covid-19 peaking out in June/July in the country. Wisdom therefore lies in taking the life as it comes. Relaxations in the extended lockdown period may, however, be increased to 9 pm with all the existing restrictions intact.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

Shun selfishness to work selflessly

We may be getting out of the lockdown soon, but not truly as its effects will haunt almost all of us for long. So, it is the time for testing our patience. During pandemic, it was loss of life, but in its aftermath, it will be monetary loss. Besides personal precautions we must return to normalcy with social precautions in order to contribute, may be a little, for the revival of the economy. It is duty of every responsible citizen to join the collective fight against the pandemic. Let us all shun selfishness and work selflessly so that we can make this world the best place to live in.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

Strategise for ‘jaan bhi, jahaan bhi’

Like it or not, we are not getting out of the lockdown too soon. Volte-face to pre-Covid hustle and bustle is a distant dream. Though any slowdown in GDP growth adversely impacts economy and people, complacency must not fritter away gains of 70-day sacrifices. Let face mask et cetera be a part of our clothing. With pre-screening, optimal safeguards and precautions and allowing only asymptomatic individuals, leaving middle seats vacant in buses, trains and aeroplanes, would be shear wastage of resources making travel costlier. With full safeguards, the show must go on unabated. All our strategy has to aim at ‘jaan bhi, jahaan bhi’.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Such situation cannot go on forever

It is not that the government is lifting the lockdown early. It has already done what it could do for its people. Now, it’s time for people to cooperate with the authorities and practice social distancing. One or the other day lockdown has to be lifted. If it is not lifted, many people will die due to unemployment and hunger.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

Determination and resolve is required

Getting out of the lockdown is not only too soon, but it has come at a time when the pandemic is yet to see its peak. However, in the present circumstances, the sensible thing to do is to join the collective fight against the pandemic and return to normalcy with all personal/social precautions for reviving the economy. Such an initiative would require dogged determination and unswerving resolve, which is far from easy to expect from people born in and brought up on laissez-faire.

Dr SS Bhatti, Chandigarh

Protect people and economy

The lockdown is hurting economy. Experts say timing is the key to reopening. Open too soon, thousands could die. Wait for too long, the economy could go downhill. A huge wave of coronavirus will come if lockdown measures are eased quickly. Careful and cautious approach is required. Doctors are warning against a significant easing of the lockdown. People say a second peak is inevitable, but let’s make it as small as possible. Start with those sectors that had biggest economic impact while keeping in mind that safety of people comes first.

Vijay Malia, Chandigarh

Keep money cycle going

The lockdown has been in force for more than 50 days. We have realised that it is not possible for us to sit back home and bear all our expenses. For a middle-class family, it’s extremely important to keep the money cycle going. A middle-class man cannot pay for his child’s school/tuition fees, domestic help, and other such things when there is no inflow of money. We have to fight the pandemic collectively and return to normal life while taking all precautions.

Tanishka Pawar, Zirakpur

Continue lockdown with relaxation

I am of the view that the lockdown should continue during from 7 pm to 7 am with shops and markets opening from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm while allowing customers wearing masks and maintaining social distance. Even schools from Class I to V should open from 10 am to 1 pm with all norms. Parents feel that online teaching is a burden forced upon them. This way we all will stay fit and put the economy back on track.

RK Kapoor, Chandigarh

Come out in stages

Covid is highly infectious disease with no cure in sight in the near future. Human life is precious. We should come out of the lockdown in stages with all necessary precautions. Private doctors and hospitals should be allowed to work. Social distancing should be maintained strictly. Don’t permit morning and evening walks.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Self-discipline, hygiene needed

Most people support stringent lockdown at hotspots, but want relaxations in other areas. The lockdown has its impacts, which include psychological stress, financial hardships and disruption in education of children. As virus is going to stay longer, a compromise is required to live with it with self-discipline and personal hygiene. Priority should be given to revive the economy.

Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (Retd), Chandigarh

Imposed without any warning

We went for the lockdown too soon. The government should have given notice to the people with warning of likely loss of jobs. The poor could have reached their homes peacefully. Later, food and monetary support could have been provided to them at their respective places. By keeping their dignity intact, we could have extended the lockdown as long as needed. As we have identified seriously infected areas, we should try to revive the economy while taking precautions.

Dr Gurdev Singh, Mohali

Credit facilities will boost economy

In the present scenario, the issue should not be whether the lockdown was imposed early or late. Instead, all efforts should be made to fight the pandemic and revive the economy. Migrants, who stayed back and joined industry or agriculture, should be paid better wages. Cheap credit facilities by banks will certainly boost the economy.

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh

Public has to play a responsible role

Life certainly takes precedence over livelihood, but both are inseparable. The lockdown has completely paralysed life and shattered country’s economy. In the present scenario, the public has to play a responsible role by strictly adhering to personal and collective lockdown protocols to combat the spread of deadly virus, besides ensuring the revival of economy.

SS Arora, Mohali

We cannot go into hiding

By now we all know that Covid-19 is here to stay. The lockdown was the need of the hour. At the same time, we cannot go into hiding. Let’s not get complacent, but follow social distancing and sanitation norms and carry on with our lives. We need a total change in lifestyle. As long as the lockdown is opening in phases, it’s absolutely alright. Life has to go on.

Samita Kaur, Chandigarh

Many facing worst financial hardships

The lockdown and social distancing have ensured good recovery rate of Covid patients. It also led to economic slowdown. Many are facing the worst financial hardships and struggling to make both ends meet. More curbs with more relaxation are needed to revive the economy so that no one sleeps without food or job security. A collective effort will help. Together we will win the war against pandemic.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Give financial aid to start trade

Like the rest of the world, India too, is on the horns of a dilemma when it comes to opening up the economy for our livelihood and extending the lockdown to save lives. Trade and manufacturing must not only restart, but also need a financial stimulus. This involves gradual opening up of successive lockdown areas notwithstanding the concomitant risk of the spread of infection. While the Centre can issue a broad roadmap, it would be best to leave to states to evolve a suitable strategy for managing the tightrope walk of balancing the life versus livelihood. The states and the Centre must work in tandem.

Jai Singh, Chandigarh

Don’t ignore economic aspect

With all precations we must return to the normalcy. If precautions are taken strictly ignoring the economic aspect then there will be unemployment, labour problem and unrest, which may lead to violence in the country. So, reviving economy is most important. Only areas where more Covid cases are reported should be sealed. Rest of the city should be opened for all activities with necessary safeguards.

Tarlok Singh, Chandigarh

QUESTION

Many people/RWAs are still sceptical about allowing domestic helps to come back to work. Being in unorganised sector, maids are finding it difficult to survive. With many offices resuming work with 100% staff, working couples are also finding it difficult to manage in the absence of domestic workers. Do you think domestic workers/maids should be allowed to work with precautions in this Covid-19 new-normal?

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