Suhail Khan
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll on thousands of people across the Kashmir. But it is daily wagers, the labourers, downtrodden and their families who are being hit hardest by the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.
The rich are getting more richer while as poor are getting poorer! The poor are suffering a lot with no visible help from any side.
A good number of people associated with transport, labourers, artisans, daily wagers and people working in private sector are left with no choice but to curse their luck as we are already in second year of this pandemic. Their families are the worst hit by the pandemic with administration thinking of imposing strict lockdown in coming days.
While on the other hand, a section of our society is enjoying their perks, running their bussiness as usual and earning their returns in a comfortable manner be it the government employees, wholesalers or the well off of the society. They are doing their best and nobody should question their efforts and ways of earning but what’s needed right now in this situation is a good care of that section which is suffering right now.
The government has taken many steps to provide relief to the poor but the question is whether the steps taken by the government to provide relief to the poor are reaching them or here too, the dirty game played by middlemen has begun.
Some people are filling their pockets with money even in this time of crisis and the poor are staring at empty roads in the wait for better days. The transporters have their vehicles stuck back in their junkyard with no returns from the vehicle but the insurance and other charges are still pending there. The daily wagers can’t come out of their homes to earn a daily bread! The poor are suffering in a silent way. Who shall take care of such people? Has government any plans for such people? Are we as a society even bothered about it?
At places where Government is not reaching, some non governmental organisations are providing these people with foodstuff, money, medicines and other services. But the question till when?
On one hand where we have to stop the spread of COVID-19 but on the other hand we have to think of the poor, downtrodden and the daily wagers of our society also.
Eid-ul-Fitr is ahead and there can be thousands who are left with no cash, no money, no salaries at their homes. The government must think about such people, we as a society must think about their situation and find out ways to help them.
Home delivery services is an option and can be utilized by government agencies, shopkeepers to reach out to people without making any sort of rush out their in the market while as self help groups, religious organization can take up the charitable activities and find out the downtrodden of the society and help them to survive this lockdown.
This too shall pass but what will make it look a bit easier is helping one another in these tough situations.
