On account of the Covid-19 pandemic our Goa along with the whole nation and the entire world is facing an unprecedented state of crisis as uncertainty on the future looms large.
The Pramod Sawant-led government has woken up so late to this global threat. The government should have risen above party and politics especially at such a crucial juncture. That the Chief Minister was so keen to hold the Zilla Panchayat elections on March 24 despite this crisis and risking people’s lives says it all. But nothing better could have been expected from a CM who over the last year in office has failed even in ensuring the proper administration of the State. On his failure over the two vital issues of Mhadei and mining nothing more remains to be said.
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At such a crucial juncture there is a need for our proactive Governor Satya Pal Malik to step in and swiftly constitute a Task force of experts possibly headed by Chief Secretary Parimal Rai to devise and strategise Goa’s road map to fight Covid-19. There is need of appointing nodal officers whom Senior Citizens and other vulnerable people in distress could contact round the clock for assistance.
We need to move head on and very fast with every decision well thought out. What we have seen over the last few weeks is only utter confusion and contradictions in dealing with this state of emergency. We were told there should be no mass gatherings and that the focus must be on social distancing, but after that Janata Curfew on March 22 we saw people gathered for clapping of hands and clanking of metal. These political theatrics is the last thing we need at this crucial juncture. Our fight against Covid-19 has to be a people’s battle with every Indian aboard.
Governor Malik should get the Task force in place at the earliest as Goa is running out of time as Covid-19 is galloping ahead. Once the task force is in place Pramod Sawant and his ministers should step back and watch Goa combating the deadly virus. He and his ministers could possibly self quarantine themselves to make sure they are safe as some of them in recent months have made frequent trips overseas to countries now plagued with that deadly virus.
In a situation as the current one there is bound to be a lot of inconvenience to the public but the thrust of the authorities should be to plan well the course of action and ensure that the inconvenience is minimal. During this battle the lockdown may be long drawn so we have to ensure that there is no rise in crime on account of the joblessness that will be evident. In these troubled times let our thoughts and prayers be for the daily wage labourers and the homeless who would be the worst affected in this catastrophe.
These are extremely difficult days for the whole world. Let us stay very calm, united and more importantly very positive that we shall together as one community overcome these darkest days.
