TAMILNADU DURING COVID19 CRISES
The Year 2020 would be a Important landmark in History of Mankind. The disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which started in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and has since spread worldwide becoming the First Global Disaster gloally in the history of Mankind The total number of global cases has surpassed 2.9 million, including more than 206,000 fatalities and More than 860 ,000 patients are reported to have recovered .
Even the Well Developed countries are Trembling to Get out from the clutches of COVID; Especially Europe & America has Trembled Super Powers like US, UK are battling out. Almost Many countries Including India has announced Lockdown. There is No doubt India has handled COVID well than Many countries, However there are More contingencies, Flaws & Certain aspects that could have been Handled Well Right from Announcing The Lockdown, Relief Measures & Providing Financial Assistances to the State. If we narrow it to Tamilnadu & See how the Government has Handled COVID there are a Lot of Confusions, Flaws & loop-Holes Many have the Perception of Tamilnadu Handling the Crises well & Many are trying to Plant such a Image. Let's see How did Tamilnadu Act so Far
Tamilnadu has a Strong foundation in Medical Facility across the State for a Long Time possessing excellent Medical Infrastructure in India. The Government Started testing the Foreign Travellers from the Beginning Stage & Safety Precautions were carried across the State, Borders, Bus stations & Railway Stations were closely Monitored.
Assembly Session
However in March the Situation of COVID escalated & Panic started Spreading across the nation. There was a confusion among the Health Department & State government on the Exact date of First Positive case in Tamilnadu: Health Secretary Dr. Beela Rajesh Admitted the First case was on February & Then In another Press Meet She admitted differently this time saying the First case was only on Mid of March; The Confusion hasn't been Cleared Yet. However The Government Machinery was Busy in carrying assembly sessions Where EPS wasn't making any Progress to State Instead He was Trying to Intimidate MK Stalin as Part of PR activity & Busy Promoting Himself.
When Opposition requested to postpone the session He was Busy with his PR Tricks Intending It would help him emerge as CM candidate ahead of 2021 State Election.
Instead of sending Every Minister & MLA to their Respective District & Constituency to monitor the Spread & Coordinate Precautionary Measure; All the Lawmakers were Clustered in assembly.
Tamilnadu Economical Positioning:
The Role of Central Government is very Limited in such Crucial Stages; Whereas Law & order, Health Infrastructure Solely vests with Respective state governments & It is Prime duty of the State governments to Contain The spread, Make sure Lockdown is followed Strictly & Free-Flow of Essentials like Medicines, Groceries, Fruits & Vegetables.
The Central Government just has to Ensure all the Governments Financially strong to Handle the Crises; The Main role is to release Funds & make sure Import Medical Equipments like Ventilators, PPEs, Masks at Ease & Delivering it to Respective State governments in War- footing.
Central Government hasn't done both Whereas
Tamil Nadu had requested the Union government to provide personal protective equipment (PPEs), N-95 Masks, and ventilators in sufficient numbers, for which it wanted ₹ 3,000 crore & a ₹1,000 crore immediately to procure medical and protective Equipements whereas The Union government allocated Tamilnadu with Just 510 Crores Despite Tamilnadu Being a Red zone with 600+ Cases & Only Behind Maharastra. Tamilnadu Government accepted the Fund without Raising voice on the Keen Demands of Tamilnadu, However central government hasn't clarified on what criteria was 510 crores allocated e.g population, Impact of covid or Medical Infrastructure. Madras High Court expressed concern over the Centre having allocated a relatively low amount of ₹510 crore from the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) for Tamil Nadu, despite it having recorded the second highest number of patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, in the entire country. When State with Less covid cases were granted Amounts more than TN. More Importantly Central Government hasn't granted an Exemption of GST over Medical equipments that were Imported from China. Chhattisgarh too has Procured same Kit for Rs 337 Whereas TN has bought it for Rs.600(Excl 12% GST) so For Every Rapid Test Kit Tamilnadu Government has to Pay tax of Rs.72 & Finally the Total cost of Rapid test procured by Tamilnadu Ends up at Rs.672
However within Few days after the consignment of Rapid Test Kit were Delivered. Rajasthan government annouced to stop using rapid testing kits for #COVID19outbreak after delivering inappropriate results; Later ICMR too did ask State governments to stop using RT kits making things Worse Many Opposition Party Leaders like AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran questioned EPS\OPS Govt on Pricing of Rapid Test Kit & It's Impact from Day one, still No answers from concern authorities.
What Could have been Done Better in Lockdown
Every Ration Card Holders were Paid 1000rs to Tackle COVID, How long can 1000rs Keep a Family Running. I appreciate the Intention to Pay the Needy But there was a Implementation Failure where EPS said Ration card Employees will directly come home & verify the Card Details then Issue Token where People can get 1000rs in Respective Ration shops; Whereas while verifying every card Money could have been Easily Issued Avoiding forming crowds & Easing the Process for employees in ration shops. Importantly the Amount was issued for Every ration Card holder, I Know a Couple who both work in Government job earn 1.5 Lakh Per Month yet they eligible for 1000rs & Got the Money. If the government could have differentiated(Sorted) People based on their economic status & Profession. We could have excluded many For E.g Government Employee or IT assessee with Income over 10Lakhs Per Annum we could have saved something & Increased the Amount from 1000rs & provided every needy with Rs.2000 or some other relief measures like Free groceries,vegetables etc
Doctors, Medical Assistants(i.e Nurses, Lab Technicians,ambulance Drivers etc), Police Department, Officers from Local Body authorities & sanitation Workers Who are Working Hardly across the Clock in the Battle against COVID are Real Unsung Heros However Tamilnadu Government didn't look up them well; EPS by some PR advice Just announced the Name change for Sanitation workers which doesn't make Any Sense or Change Anything. However only on 23rd of April He announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh announced earlier for the family of frontline personnel who die of infection will be increased to Rs 50 lakh. The State Government must have cashed an Insurance Policy worth 1 crore for All Workers who battle with COVID in the Frontline which Includes Doctors, Nurses, Other staffs in Health Department, Revenue Department, Police Department, Local Body authorities & Workers in the Low Level who are pledging their Lives sanitation workers who deserve nothing less than all the Above. It would have lifted the morale within the employees putting their life on the line.
When Lockdown was Announced the Very next Moment People Started Rushing to Supermarkets, Fruit & Vegetable Market to Pile up stocks the were Huge crowds & Panic Buying across the State, The Story Continued in the coming Days as well.
Tamilnadu Government Restricted Timings for Shops whereas Indirectly pushing towards another Panic Buying; I personally had a Idea of Mobile Vegetable shops, Home delivery Options whereas Every Retail Grocery shop, Medical are Close by; But Vegetables are only available in Market & that's where People gather in large Numbers. If We can Make sure Vegetables, groceries come to every Street in every Neighbourhood by Vans, Auto's people can easily get an access to Essentials & avoid Roaming Out. I myself said the Same in a Tweet Tagging concern Authorities But It was Delayed until april 2nd there was panic Buying only after it we had Mobile carts Delivering Vegetables & home Delivery.
De-centralising Powers One of My Relative was Recovering & She had her regular Medical coming ahead in coimbatore. When we enquired We were asked to seek Permission from respective collectorates. We had to Travel for 20+ Kms to reach Collectorate & Then seek permission to goto Hospital In coimbatore, While In hospital We heard an Incident where a Patient's Son from Kodaikanal had to come all the way to Dindigul collectorate Hardly 75 kms get permission & Then they moved on to the hospital.If powers were entitled to Respective Tashildars we need not travel far & Get access from Taluk Offices showing records. There are Many aspects which could have dealt better & Handled Well I Just wanted to Mention Few of it from My experience.
Edappadi Palaniswami & COVID
Right from the Beginning TN CM never had a Proper Idea or Perception about COVID. He wasn't well Informed or He didn't have competence to Understand it. Dr.Beela Rajesh HS of Tamilnadu Admitted the First Positive case was reported in February & Once again admitted it was March when First case was discovered is a Different Story.
However EPS in March 14 in Dindigul was addressing Public said "We are People who work Hard & We won't be effected by Corona". We can Assume He is Lifting Moral But for a CM who has to Take precautionary Measures, Treat the Effected & Make sure the State is in all Measures to Tackle a Pandemic spoke weird Unlike a Leader;
Meanwhile Vijayabhaskar the Health Minister of Tamilnadu was his Job well: Carrying meetings with Health department Officials, Doctors, Visiting Hospital, medical Facilities, Addressing Media & Coordinating with ICMR & other National Health authorities. He was getting a Full coverage & was the Face of Not Just TN Health But Face of TN Government.
CM Edappadi palanisami Couldn't Digest the Focus & Coverage Vijayabhaskar was getting He sidelined Him & Vijayabhaskar wasn't seen for while & It was rumoured He was sidelined for Commissions on COVID Medical Equipments etc. It was Just a Mere Ego clash Between Chief Minister & Health Minister & Such a Clash at Time of Pandemic shows the Regard of EPS on COVID.
However Lately Vijayabhaskar was once Again seen Thanks to PR Consultants who have advised to Bring him Back to Lime- light & Let's not Forget It was '37' times Vijayabhaskar Used Honorable Chief Minister in his Pressmeet.
We all Know EPS is Not like Jayalaithaa or MK; But definitely to Rule a State like Tamilnadu He must have having certain Traits. But it looks Like He has None to Handle Tamil Nadu; when Medias asked If Tamilnadu will take a decision on lockdown extension??? The Chief Secretary answered 'We Would Decide based on Centre's move on the matter'. a Powefer Era has been over there is No Doubt Edappadi Palanisami cannot Battle Central Government for Excess Funds or Prioritising Delivery of Medical equipments to Tamilnadu. But the Reality is EPS cannot even decide for the State on Lockdown extension Even a 18 Yr Old Kid would Decide Based on The Facts of COVID cases in Tamilnadu & decide Tamilnadu Needs an Extension.
Moreover When MKStalin asked 1 Crore for COVID Casualties Edappadi answered saying Corona is a Rich Man's disease; Only Rich spread it across the Country from travelling Abroad. If it's a Rich man's Disease Why Does the So called Farmer who wears Green towel all around, Riding Bullock Carts fear it & wear Mask & Someone Please Remind him He's CM of Tamilnadu Not CM of rich or Poor. He has to take care of Every citizen; If he Intends to humiliate MK Stalin He could do But in time of Emergency such Hasty Comments were only making things worse
After All Suddenly EPS announces "A LOCKDOWN within a Lockdown" from 26th April to 29th April without any Precautions for Certain Areas. The Announcement triggered People to Rush to Markets, super Markets. Many of us are not against the Announcement & We believe there must be some Facts & a strong Reason. But without making Proper arrangements sudden annountcement has only made things worse.
the announcement came when no one could buy on the day it is announced since The shops were closed Leaving Just One more day to buy Everything you need. It's a collosal failure People turned up in large numbers in areas where Serious red alert was Issued.
Likewise EPS Government granted Permission foe Certain Industries to Run & Within short Notice the Government Nullified the announcement. Then EPS Government announced the NGOs & Volunteers shouldn't distribute it directly to the People Instead Give it to concern Authorities; we do Understand it might be Easy for COVID to spread if a Volunteer is Effected. Whereas Government's Intention is really to ease Hunger & Poverty It could easily bring in all Volunteers Registered under one Roof & then ask them to equip them with PPEs, Mask & Other safety Precautions & Move ahead. Instead blockading volunteers completely will only leave in Chaos.
After Reading the Essay Completely Many Might Feel; I'm only here to Complain & Politicise during such Hard times. I'm not here to say EPS or his government did nothing there are Many Pros at the same time there are Many Cons that has to be Noted & rectified.
COVID pandemic is a Very Big hazard carried out by Mother Nature; Noone has ever Faced such a Pandemic experiencing such difficulty
" Uncertainty is the refuge of hope."
- Henri Frederic Amiel
No-One would have Ever Thought Our Generation with Most Advanced Technology would see One of World's Deadliest Virus & We'd all be shut within our Homes for weeks. I accept no one had the experience to Face such worse situation; It would be Vague If We blamed, Criticised or Complained anyone at the Start. But It's been almost a Month & things should only Get better as Days Progress; Governments are Individuals the Progress should be beyond I can't see such Progress in Tamilnadu.
I can't Predict or Assume when COVID, Lockdowns might End But All I can Predict is We are going to have even a worse Time Post COVID Jobs, Factories, Companies, SSI's & agriculture On the Whole Indian economy is going to take a very Big Hit & We are already there. We need a strong character & a Very Strong leader who has to Manage the State effectively to Put things back to Normal.
It's the time for all of us to Re-think & Revive our Future
Let's all stand Tall against COVID by Staying in Home, Helping others & Make Humanity Prevail.
Jai Hind!!!
