LOCKDOWN ENOUGH?

Indian has been locked down enough.

State wants different path.

After four successive centrally imposed lockdowns that punctured the economy, Tamil Nadu has announced a lockdown of Chennai and its suburbs in three neighbouring districts. With the country's second-highest COVID count and Chennai accounting for three-fourth of active cases in TN, the EPS government is under pressure.

 At a seven-day rolling average growth rate of 5% and test positivity rate verging on 10%, TN is on the higher side of cases. But many other states aren't too better off. And on the positive side, TN's mortality rate is just 1%. The lockdown's economic costs make the exercise a nuclear option. A CMIE study showed that TN recorded the steepest surge in the unemployment rate during the lockdown. The same survey reveals a sharp national pickup in employment this month, with India emerging from lockdown. 

TN government has announced a Rs 1,000 cash transfer for ration cardholders. Government cash handouts, however, pale before business and wages lost. In sharp contrast to TN, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal struck the right note in ruling out further lockdown. Another prolonged closure will be a bigger economic shock for businesses and workers. The TN move could trigger a labour exodus. Lockdowns are particularly egregious for another reason. Curbs on transportation prevent essential services like medical personnel and patients needing medical attention from reaching hospitals. With government staff itself getting immobilized, a lockdown is a poor model for capacity expansion efforts. 

Delhi is now ramping up hospital beds, raising a volunteer corps, and slapping fines on those not wearing masks, all without requiring a lockdown. 

Lockdowns are tempting because they convey the impression that governments are taking hard decisions without really shaking up governance. However, Kejriwal's wisening up is a lesson for other CMs.

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Nikhil Singh

Hi, I am author of this blog. I’m really thankful to blogger for writing my views and thoughts for such people who are in need of that.I am also writer, photographer, student, media writer. Inspired to make things looks better.

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