Four weeks after the gradual unlocking started, a fresh lockdown was imposed on July 23 by the administration, apparently to contain the spread of covid-19 in Kashmir Valley including Srinagar.
After a gap of more than three weeks, encompassing August 5, the day marking the first anniversary of Article 370 revocation and splitting of the J&K state into two union territories and August 15, Independence Day of the country, the administration has ordered reopening of the markets again. When the previous lockdown was announced, covid-19 tally stood at 16429 in the J&K while the death count attributed to the virus was at 285. Since then, the virus case tally has mounted to around 29000, recording an addition of 12000 cases, while the number of those succumbing to the pestilence stands at around 550 with more than 500 victims belonging to the Kashmir Valley alone. The figures seem disturbing and sound contrary to the rationale behind the lockdown. However, given the speed and vitality with which the virus is spreading, dubbing it a failure might not be prudent.
Recently, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement, claiming that the indefinite lockdown of business establishments in the Valley especially Srinagar was a serious infringement on the rights of the business community to earn a livelihood. “Despite full cooperation extended by the general public and the business community, it said that the administration appeared to be running around in circles since the previous five months and seem oblivious to the fact that the business community of Kashmir was presently in the 13th month of a disruption which has wiped out enterprises and devastated the economy.”
Faced by the situation, when managing livelihood and lives are concomitant, the administration has again announced to unlock, allowing markets to open and public transport to ply. However, what remains to be important for both the government as well as people is to continue to fight against the virus.
The government needs to step up efforts and in the first instance adhere in letter and spirit to the union health ministry’s directive calling for testing the vendors. Understandably, the grocery, vegetable, milk shops, and other vending outlets are most frequented by the people and these points of buying and selling could be silent carriers of the deadly infection. People on the other hand are required to adhere to the safety and precautionary measures strictly. Both the administration and the people must remember how easily things can go wrong if caution is thrown to the wind.
Shut and Open
