The Corona Migration Crisis (Day 4) - 28th March 2020
28th March 2020 - Day 4 - The Corona Migration Crisis
FAMILY TIME
What is it with me and weekends & holidays that I wake up so early. Today it was really really early, may be around 04:30 AM. May be it was a bit too early from my standards as well. But I did not regret. Here is what I woke up to. Use earphones, this was a rookie attempt.
Covid-19 pandemic was getting worse. It had claimed almost 20 lives in India and almost about 1000 were infected. Infections have crossed 100,000 in US while global death count was ~25000. While going through the routine of morning updates on twitter, face book and corona contagion, I made tea today. Nothing for the first time, but yes for the first time in many days. Then followed the cleaning drive. As already planed, today it was ceiling fan and a comprehensive floor washing exercise. Take a look below.
Phone started ringing early in the day. Seems like my younger sister was running out of some groceries and she discussed with our parents over call. By now, my father had freaked out. Mother on the other hand remained more concerned about her daughter-in-law. She asked me to take good care of her and ensure she does not take any stress. Compared to my wife, I think it was me who was more stressed, she has been doing just fine.
Gorged on parathas and mushroom curry in morning meal and played multiple rounds of PUBG - classic single player and Team Death Match. While most of India was coming to terms with lock down holiday, million were there out on the street - marching on foot, waiting patiently, nervously and fearful, for buses to take them near to their homes. At some places, the administration was supportive, they had arranged for food and shelter; at some other places they were ruthless - lathi charge and what not. It was really heart wrenching to see the poor, marginalized and helpless people suffer for no fault of their own. Media and Politician had taken it up their sleeves - some advocating arrangement of transport to facilitate the journey to homeland while others were demanding for food and shelter arrangement be made wherever they are.
On Day 1 & 2 of the lock down, the entire country was fixated on coming to terms with essential services supplies and learning to remain indoors. By the end of day 2, news started trickling in about people travelling on foot to their destinations. By the end of day 3, the daily wage earners and poor, who had run out of food or money or both, started coming out seeking help. Some of them were interviewed by media person. It did not become clear what prompted those in and around Delhi to make the overnight rush to bus station. It was rumored that announcements were made that Govt of Delhi would be arranging buses for migrant worker. Governments started blaming each other for the migration crisis. With the build up happening on Delhi - UP border, CM of UP, the largest and most populated state in the country, had announced that 1000 buses have been arranged for migrant worker for taking them to their destinations.
Tweet from the office of CM of UP
Gorged on parathas and mushroom curry in morning meal and played multiple rounds of PUBG - classic single player and Team Death Match. While most of India was coming to terms with lock down holiday, million were there out on the street - marching on foot, waiting patiently, nervously and fearful, for buses to take them near to their homes. At some places, the administration was supportive, they had arranged for food and shelter; at some other places they were ruthless - lathi charge and what not. It was really heart wrenching to see the poor, marginalized and helpless people suffer for no fault of their own. Media and Politician had taken it up their sleeves - some advocating arrangement of transport to facilitate the journey to homeland while others were demanding for food and shelter arrangement be made wherever they are.
On Day 1 & 2 of the lock down, the entire country was fixated on coming to terms with essential services supplies and learning to remain indoors. By the end of day 2, news started trickling in about people travelling on foot to their destinations. By the end of day 3, the daily wage earners and poor, who had run out of food or money or both, started coming out seeking help. Some of them were interviewed by media person. It did not become clear what prompted those in and around Delhi to make the overnight rush to bus station. It was rumored that announcements were made that Govt of Delhi would be arranging buses for migrant worker. Governments started blaming each other for the migration crisis. With the build up happening on Delhi - UP border, CM of UP, the largest and most populated state in the country, had announced that 1000 buses have been arranged for migrant worker for taking them to their destinations.
कोरोना वायरस के संक्रमण से निपटने हेतु लागू लॉकडाउन के कारण पलायन कर रहे कामगारों की मदद के लिए यूपी सरकार ने 1000 बसों का इंतजाम किया है जिससे लोग अपने गंतव्य स्थान तक बिना किसी परेशानी के पहुँच सकें।— Yogi Adityanath Office (@myogioffice) March 28, 2020
CM श्री @myogiadityanath जी ने पूरी रात इस व्यवस्था की स्वयं मॉनिटरिंग की है।
Look at some the scenes at bus stands of Delhi
Either there was a lack of planning or coordination or confusion, hundreds of thousand of people including kids, elderly, women has assembled at the bus station. Emotional Closeness may be mattered more than social distancing. May be social distancing is not the right term - physical distancing was it supposed to be.My reports implored government for buses for hundreds of thousands of migrant labour walking.. But surely police should been stationed every 2 kilometres allowing only limited movement in single file. This is common sense.. You can't botch execution of this & blame the poor. pic.twitter.com/qNgQaogsb7— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) March 28, 2020
“I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary
folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." said Gandalf in LOTR. It
is not just fallacies that is inherent in human behavior, some
goodness is inherent as well. In response to the migration crisis and hardships of poor and needy, people came out for help and support in every corner of the country. Individuals, social organisations, religious organisation, NGOs - all started relief operations on ground. Food, medicare, shelter was being arranged. Governments appealed and announced all people wanting to travel to stay back wherever they are and assured that all arrangements will be made for foods and safe stay of the needy. Govt. of Bihar issued a fund of Rs. 100 crore from CM Relief Fund for relief to be provided to migrants stranded in other states. There was some inter-governmental coordination seen as well - states requesting each other to help their citizen. What was reassuring and first in Indian Politics that the opposition leaders marshaled their party and personal resources to ensure that help reached out to every one in need. Commendable.
FAMILY TIME
On personal front, spoke to Grand father and Grand mother today. Grandfather seemed really pissed off with the Chinese. All his life, he was a communist supporter working and acting like one. It was only may be after 2000, in his late sixties, he had moved on from being an active supporter or the CPI. He has been following all the precautionary measures and does not venture out of house. Times do change. Grand mother seemed more concerned about safety than we could be about her, after all we are her grand children. She was wondering what is this new disease and when will it all end. Here is a pic with her clicked at the time of Holi.
Speaking of concern about family members, worries regarding safety of those working in PSU banks once again come to the fore. While some banks had resorted to the practice of alternate day office attendance for staff, others had curtailed office hours or even opened banks on alternate days - the system did not last more than 2 days. The governments at various level - center and state - had announced relief measures for those severely affected by the lock down and most of the benfits were to be transferred directly to bank accounts. The relief may had been too little when compared to what countries were doing but could make poorest of the poor hang in there for some days. Now these beneficiaries have their accounts in PSU banks because only PSU banks serve the rural and hinterland. As soon as the relief is credited, it was expected that people will rush to their branches, paying little heed to social distancing norms. It was in this regard the government asked the PSU banks to function from 10 AM till 4 PM everyday. And there was every chance that if so happened, bank branches would become high risk zones.
Stepped out of my home after full 4 days. Stocked up the depleting resources of Onion and Potatoes finally. Also had to buy some medicine. I was particularly surprised to see social distancing being followed in the queue at the pharmacy at Patna. However there were some who seemed to be running pillar to post in emergency situation. Also came to know that administration had regulated timing of medical stores and grocery stores.
7:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM for grocery stores
10:00 AM to 8:00 PM for medicine stores
Roads were nearly empty - clear evening sky - what a view.
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