New Norm After Lockdown 

Can the average citizen weather a lockdown reasonably well if food, medicines and other essentials are available. The question however arises whether government is in a position to supply it. Also what about poor as the longer shutdowns will create more stresses for them? There are only days left before the second phase of lockdown comes to end. Ending the lockdown, however, seems a difficult task for the centre as well as states or union territories. They are in a bind about the future course.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed to chief ministers that the country will have to give importance to the economy as well as to continue the fight against coronavirus.
In a video conference with the chief ministers, fourth such interaction since March 22 when he first spoke to them on the pandemic, Modi also highlighted the importance for the local governments to enforce prescribed guidelines strictly in the coronavirus hotspots zones.
The prime minister underlined that the lockdown has “yielded positive results as the country has managed to save thousands of lives in the past one and a half months”.
While the statement hints at easing of the lockdown, it is a tough situation to be in to balance both economy and compress the Covid-19 curve. The exigency to reopen the economy is becoming greater by the day across the world. But in a country like India where a significant population ekes out a hand to mouth existence, it seems improbable to continue with an indefinite lockdown especially when the government in not in a position to extend a financial help to the poor and needy beyond a certain point. So, the centre faces a difficult choice while it is running out of the time as second phase of the lockdown ends on May 3.On the other hand, the number of Covid-19 positive cases has surpassed 27000 and the number has been doubled in around last eight days. While economic concerns are on the one side, the challenges posted by the virus makes easing the lockdown a fraught proposition, rather a dangerous proposition. There are chances the gains made in reducing the cases could go back to square once the markets open and people start gathering again things. The fallout of easing lockdown will be known only in the days to come. Even if there are crowding episode, they could pass off as an aberration if the focus returns to raising administrative efficiency. This should not be difficult, since the governments have a list of permitted activity. There could be a new norm and There could be a new norm and the administration needs refined tools and a consultative process with all sectors for it.

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