The very sudden decision on Sunday evening of the Goa government to extend the ‘janta curfew’ by another three days with little clarity of how this will be implemented has thrown the entire State into utter confusion. Even on the eve of the ‘janta curfew’, on Saturday, the government – the Chief Minister and the Ministers – were urging people not to get into panic buying mode and stock up on essentials. A large number heeded the advice of the government only to learn 24 hours later that the ‘janta curfew’ was being extended by another three days, with no window opened for them to make their purchases.
What, can the government now explain to them, they should now do? Where are they going to get their supplies for the next few days? Shouldn’t they be given time to go out to the markets and make their purchases? The Corporation of the City of Panaji announced that the market in Panjim would be open for a few hours on Monday, but later detracted and said it would not. The citizens across Goa should have been allowed to buy what they require before the ‘janta curfew’ is extended.
Until a few days ago, the government was insistent that the Zilla Panchayat elections would be held on Sunday, March 22, and then postponed the elections by two days to Tuesday, March 24, despite the fact that there had been demands that the polls be moved forward indefinitely. If there was no medical situation at that time that warranted their postponement, has there suddenly arisen one now that the rest of Goa is unaware about? A lockdown of the kind that the government of Delhi has imposed, that allows the people some freedom to get essentials and not be completely cut off should have been announced in Goa. The government has to reconsider this sudden announcement and allow the people to at least purchase – and not stock up – their essentials.
There is complete unanimity in the fact that everything possible that needs to be done to stop the very dangerous COVID-19 from spreading across the country and entering the State of Goa should be done. On Sunday, Goenkars proved that they can stand with the rest of India in solidarity and come out on their doorsteps and stand at their windows to salute the efforts of the medical and emergency service staff that have been putting their lives at risk and caring for those affected by the novel Coronavirus. Goans will do whatever is necessary to keep the virus from spreading, including remaining quarantined at home, but the decisions when taken by the government have to be well planned, with proper instructions to the citizens.
There is a COVID-19 pandemic in the world that is spreading quickly, but we in Goa need to ask whether the prevailing situation in the State warrants the sudden three-day ‘janta curfew’ that has now been imposed. It shouldn’t happen that this has the opposite effect and leads to creating panic among the people. That has to be avoided at all costs. Even in a shutdown, where essential services remain open, there has to be a few hours of preparation given to the people. The order on this extension of the ‘janta curfew’ does not list the essential services. Had there been a little thought to this decision, it could have been better planned.
Herald reiterates that the battle against COVID-19 has to be fought and will be fought with whatever it takes, but it has to be done without letting there be even a semblance of panic and by allowing the citizens to do their bit, with any confusion. Every decision taken has to be well thought out so that it does not create any misunderstanding.
