These will be unforgettable sights. People lying on the floor of GMC waiting for treatment. Packer like sardines in the COVID ward at time with acute water shortage and no attendants, the system overwhelmed. This is when the private sector could have stepped in with greater alacrity by making their spaces to be turned in comfortable resting spaces for many who did not need critical attention. That would have in turn reduced pad on the GMC. Its not that they did not want to help. But the state could have engaged more proactively. Some corporate sin the hospitality gaming pharma and IT sectors have helped by setting up step up hospitals with treatment and meals free, delivered food lacked. Donated oxygen concentrator s and funded oxygen plants. And these effort s should be acknowledged. But there is a feeling that corporates could have done so much more, beyond their customary “CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) spends” Social activist Cecille Rodrigues said after experiencing hospital stay recently she could say hospitals could be not equipped to handle the numbers. She said “My father was one in a ward of 119 patients. There was no facility for hot water. People used to make arrangements. A Spirometer could have been given to each patient free. Masks and other basic facilities were being washed and reused. Two patients were using one screen. The corporates could have certainly helped out. They should do more.” Nolan Mascarenhas felt it was in everyone’s purview to help as per their ability. Corporates he said, had a budget for such activities. Some were donating concentrators and others food. He ended by saying corporate could only do what the government could instruct or allow them to do.
Adv Caroline Colaco a human rights lawyer said it was obvious the situation was very bad with shortage of oxygen and beds and perhaps corporate could have done more. She said “I saw Rotary clubs, NGOs doing so much and it was obvious that corporate could do so much more”
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South Goa based activist politician and a leader of fishermen Olencio Simoes said many of the industries based in the state were benefiting from huge subsidies. He said “They should have stepped up and included the hotels here. It is certainly a sad situation. They could have and should have done so much more” One can only hope more companies step forward to help the scores of people who have been left destitute due to this virus.
