Thumbs Up Modiji : Fighting Corona…..

Prime Minister Modi’s effort to reach out to international community and to its neighbours to spearhead joint efforts to combat the Wuhan Virus, initiating the humanitarian initiative of “Fund Pool worth $10 million” and offer to share expertise to combat “Wuhan virus” in South Asia during SAARC, sensitising the world at large via G 20 conference and releasing Hydroxychloroquine for world fraternity has put humanity before borders and has been appreciated by one and all as a great global leader with Brazilian president comparing the help with “Sanjivani” for Laxman by Lord Hanuman.

Col Dev Anand

Corona virus disease 2019 (CoViD-19) has spread it’s terror all across the globe with in four months of journey with. While China the real culprit declaring its victory over Corona on 8 april when opened lock down in Wuhan / Hubei (epicentre of Corona) province, as governments around the world tightened lockdowns in a desperate effort to slow the spread of the deadly disease.

Though Bharat’s first case of CoViD-19 was detected on 30 January, the stringent pre – emptive measures in right earnest by the Modi Government at National level and concurrently by state government’s like Uttar Pradesh have kept the graph under check from spiking and exploding unless “Tablighi Jamat Markaz” raised the threat with its nefarious design, who as of 15 April are responsible for 34 % of positive Corona cases and 100’s death in Bharat.

Modi’s timely address on 19 March to the Nation on nine point action plan to deal with looming threat of Wuhan Virus requesting for social participation maintaining social distance and basic hygiene was first step towards preparing the people for the long battle ahead. The success of ” 22 March Janta Curfew” set the pace for first 21 days lockdown till 14 April when there were reportedly only 19 positive cases only, later followed by second lockdown up to 3 May 20 was a decision which could have been taken by person like Modi.

There are at least 14,000 active reported cases in the country, of which 2041 have recovered and 450 succumbed. Over One lakh 54 thousand people have died of coronavirus infections across the world with over 37 thousand deaths being recorded in USA alone. Italy with 22,745, Spain with 20,002, France with 18681 have crossed far beyond China’s death toll 3,332 deaths.

Prime Minister Modi’s effort to reach out to international community and to its neighbours to spearhead joint efforts to combat the Wuhan Virus, initiating the humanitarian initiative of “Fund Pool worth $10 million” and offer to share expertise to combat “Wuhan virus” in South Asia during SAARC, sensitising the world at large via G 20 conference and releasing Hydroxychloroquine for world fraternity has put humanity before borders and has been appreciated by one and all as a great global leader with Brazilian president comparing the help with “Sanjivani” for Laxman by Lord Hanuman.

Modi government’s timely approval of much needed “World’s largest food security scheme” worth 1,70,000 Crore Rupees to benefit 80 crore poor people across the country. Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana over and above 5kg of rice/wheat that is already given, another 5 kg of wheat/rice per person being given free of cost to around 80 crore people through PDS. Besides, one kg of preferred and region specific choice of pulse also given to deal with countrywide lockdown to fight the CoViD-19 pandemic.

Steps like insurance cover worth Rs 50 lakh for sanitation workers, ASHA workers, doctors, nurses and paramedics, Increase in wage rate of 5 crore MNREGA from Rs 182 to Rs 202 amounting to increase of Rs 2,000 per worker, an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1,000 for three months for 3 crore widows and senior citizens, 20 crore Women Jan Dhan account holders will get ex gratia of Rs 500 per month for next three months, three months free cylinders for 8.3 crore BPL families is direct display of seriousness and concern for the citizen by the government.

On economic front too, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approval of Rs 1340 crore for the recapitalisation of regional rural banks to improve their capital adequacy ratio. In another major announcement, the centre and state tax subsidy will continue for apparel export. In an earlier announcement made by the government, the contractual workers of the government will be paid full salary, irrespective of the disruption caused by the corona virus scare.

Initiatives like launching of PM care fund to deal with such crisis, launching of Arogya App, Lighting of lamps on 5 Apr for nine minutes at 9 PM and converting railway coaches into isolation ward were few of large number of innovative measures instituted as per the need of hour.

As agreed and accepted by government that there are going to be problems to the country men due to restrictions imposed by lockdown but in the larger national interest and for sake of saving every single life at any cost, the sincerity & commitment displayed by Corona Warriors and Modi Government has received wide appreciation from world and WHO in particular.

If for time being we overlook activities like crowding by lakhs of migrant workers at Anand Vihar Interstate-state Bus terminus in Delhi, thousands hiding in Tablighi Jamaat Markaz Mosque in Nizamuddin, attack on Medical staff in Indore, attack on police and doctors at Muradabad and crowding by thousands of anti social elements on 14 April in Bandra, Mumbai on pretext of being workers wanting to take train may have been accidental or by design which needs to be ascertained by proper investigation later. The nation has stood united to defeat the Corona attack, the first viral attack of such “Nature and Scale” in our life time and hence every countrymen should continue united to defeat the pandemic and the anti national brigade.