Serving in the time of corona lockdown
Serving in the time of Corona lockdown
By
Debkumar Bhadra
Today
morning when I woke up, I was amazed to see two employees from Electricity
Department attached to Bambooflat Site office perched on the RCC structure
supporting ABS in front of my house. Obviously, they were doing their duty, in
the scorching sun to ensure uninterrupted electric supply, so that those unable
to come out of their home due to corona lockdown are not inconvenienced.
Both
of them are residing about 4-5 km away from work place, yet not only did they
turned up to the call of duty, they did so without public transport or fuel in
their vehicle. Do not know if they had anything for breakfast because the shops
supplying essential commodities and supplies including pharmacy has been
totally shut down since last three days in these islands. Situation has become
such that even to quench their thirst while they work tirelessly to provide
un-interrupted power supply, they have to depend on the mercy of others.
Yesterday
I rang up one of the private security guard (corona lockdown exempted service) to
know if everything is fine at the other end. He said yes everything is OK, then
in a feeble voice added, if some arrangement of petrol could be made it would
be a great help. Whatever fuel left in the vehicle before closure of petrol
pumps for general public a week ago, has since been exhausted. He and his
colleagues residing 6-7 km away from work place are therefore left with no
choice but to walk long distances on a daily basis. Specifically those in the
night shift are facing tremendous hardship commuting to work, he said. I had to
cut a sorry face in front of those warriors rendering service round the clock
in this hour of crisis.
One
would be tempted to ask, why such personnel are not using state run public
transport to commute to their work place? I did ask this question, the answer was,
which public transport?
It
is no secret that when everything is perfectly normal, public transport in
rural areas are a rarity and operates as long as the sun shines in the sky.
Thus Jeep’s had been the preferred mode of transport, which unfortunately has
been ordered shut since last more than a week. At this hour of crisis, when jeep,
auto, taxi service and every other form of private transport have been shut and
state run busses allow only 15 passengers on board, which mostly get occupied
within the first few stops, therefore those waiting on the roadside beyond
those first few stops do not stand a chance to get accommodated in those busses.
Another
group working tirelessly is the sanitary workers engaged in door-to-door
collection of garbage. Despite the lockdown they are still on the job,
whistling and taking the trash away from individual home. It is more than a
week that the lone fuelling station at Bambooflat has been closed still the cargo
auto engaged in ferrying garbage is operating shows how dedicated those workers
are towards the task entrusted to them.
Yesterday
I spoke to one of my neighbour, an emergency staff employed in the state run
hospital. His is another sorry tale. He is having charge of manning an important
diagnostic facility at two far away hospitals. One is situated at a distance of
about 10 km whereas the other one is about 25 km. Seeing him regularly going to
work, asked him if he got fuel issued for his vehicle. He smiled and said his
name was forwarded from both the hospitals in which he is working, but at the higher
level his name was struck-off.
In
contrast, crippling the entire supply chain, petrol pumps along with auto, taxi
and all other forms of private transport has been totally shut across the
length and breadth of the A&N islands. That was days ahead of the nation-wide
lockdown. Adding to the misery, shops selling essential goods, vegetables and
pharmacy have now also been closed creating severe panic among the mass. From as
basic as baby food to sanitary pads to life saving drugs, everything has been taken
away from the reach of general public without giving any time, notice or
recording even the first positive case.
As
of now, rest of the country is on its third day of lock down, but for the
residents of these islands they have already endured a week struggling for
basic necessities and services.
Had
the lock down been graded ie from lenient to strict, one would have got time to
prepare for the days ahead. To get an idea of how the decision making has been,
one need to read the letter dated March 26, 2020 by Ex Hon’ble Member of Parliament Shri
Bishnu Pada Ray addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and other
officials including Hon’ble Lt Governor of these islands. The letter is
comprehensive and summarise a range of problems the islands had to face. Since the letter has been widely circulated and already available in social media platforms, I am not repeating them. Those who wish to
read the letter may click here.
Of
late, it is understood from social media posts that orders has been issued for
door delivery of limited essential items to the residents of 24 wards within
the Port Blair Municipal Area, which accounts for just 40% of islands
population. By restricting supply of essential commodities only to municipal
area, eventually 60% of population of Andaman and Nicobar islands residing out
of the municipal limits has been cut dead. There is no word as to how the
residents of rural areas are supposed to tide over the artificial crisis
created due to shut down of essential goods and services. Fanatic calls and
messages made to concerned officials through social media not only remain un-answered,
those persistent in their quest are being blocked.
Keeping
aside those little inconveniences and official apathy, countless ordinary
citizens, responding to the call of duty are still rendering service at the
ground. How long they will be able to endure the apathy is a question. So next
time when you decide to praise someone’s work, do spare a thought for the #FrontlineHeroes.
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