I just read yet
another article about the lock
down being unnecessary in the Guardian and I
decided to write this post. Yes coronavirus is a middle class phenomenon, not
because it discriminates between victims but because those who caught it were
exposed to it from travelling or being in contact with foreigners. However, if
we are to contain it in India where a huge population lives in close proximity,
a lock down is important so it does not skip around indiscriminately between
the classes. Yes there should definitely have been better planning by the
government to accommodate the marginalized who are worst hit, of course there
is liability on the part of the government for massive mismanagement but this
is the time to simply and quietly do what you can or suggest practical
solutions.
I am deeply thankful
that the virus has been contained and the situation in India is not as bad as
other countries where there is no lock down.
That said, we should
use this time to reflect. Why can you see Burj Khalifa from up north; why is
there better air quality, and why have temperatures come down? We have always
put humans above nature in our agenda and this is payback. Whether it is a question
of eating animals that could have been avoided or relentlessly pushing back
forests and wetlands, there has been no containment of our greed and we have
often justified our actions by giving weightage to unemployment issues.
I think we need to
ask ourselves some hard questions about our development agenda and also the
services that need to be put in place by the government in times of disaster
and to prevent massive health problems of this nature. We might be facing the
whole cycle again in December. These questions should really be asked of
ourselves- do we need to fuel over consumption of goods and services or do we
need to practice the old principles of 'make do, mend or do without' that our
forbears were forced to embrace? Do we need to stop focusing on cities and
spread our infrastructure and public service efforts to rural areas? Should we
go local with a vengeance?
This is
a great time to push ourselves to come up with innovative ways to replace our
consumption patterns with more environment friendly ones and reduce our carbon
footprints. Knee jerk reactions will really not work anymore and be aware this
is actually a spiritual practice irrespective of our religious beliefs or
non-belief. Let us give thanks for small things, appreciate those who are
risking their lives in the service of humanity and think up ways to apply
Schumacher's principles of 'small is beautiful' and Gandhiji's idea- ' there is
enough for man's need but not his greed'🙏.
Have a nice day!
