The first query that confronts is whether the lockdown of all social, economic, religious and personal activities for such a long duration and confinement of 1300 million Indians in their abodes like self imprisoned inmates was the real and only solution available despite knowing its severe impact? The authorities and health experts knew little of origins of infectious corona virus and remedies against it. On January 30, 2020, India had two cases of infection though it had by the time spread like pandemic in several countries of Europe and North America. Contact between individuals is root cause for the spread of infection was the experts’ belief to worry the authorities and resort the lockdown of all human activities to scale down public contacts.

There was not output of pollution in environment as all vehicle movements were halted and factories were not pouring polluting substances. Air became clean and so also all streams including rivers as plastic garbage was not disposed off in rivers. Deaths due to road accidents came down heavily. Similar benefits accrued to all developed countries. It was unexpected gain.

But losses were also unexpected. The Bharatiya Janata Party gained strength from campaign of 25 years for a new temple but its government had to close doors of all temples for visit by all, devotees as well as curious tourists. Even religious functions were debarred as they normally result in human contacts on massive scales. The cumulative loss cannot be calculated though one example of Vrindavan can give idea of scales of loss. There are 239 Krishna Temples in Vrindavan with twenty large ones owned by Trusts in Mumbai. They auction the management rights for each three years. The successful bidder manages and retains the income for the family. But no visitors could come as doors were closed. Even the Municipal committee suffered a heavy loss in income from entry tax of Rs. five per visitor. More than a million visitors pay entry tax each year.

Most temple towns have thriving trade in their temples and for poor retailers outside each famous temple. Every temple from Amarnath to Rameshwaram and from Dwarika to Imphal had to pull their shutters down. And retailers selling variety of goods needed for performance inside temples and things that helped to carry home memories of visit had to stop as there were no visitors. They were also part of forty million individuals in India who were earning for their daily family meals.

All roadside small traders vanished except only those who had roadside mobile establishments to sell vegetables and fruits. Even eatables of other kinds, roadside dhabas and tea shops serving poor could not carry on their business. Even cobblers on roadsides had to wind up their trade with the least hope of customers appearing due to the lockdown and fears entertained by people of police actions. Similar kind of closure was seen after Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated 72 year ago. It was voluntary response and not due to the directive from or by any authority unlike now. The soul of India was put in hibernation for 75 days.

40 million small road side traders as well as 20 million vehicle drivers towing humans and carriage ways for goods were also forced to sit home and worry for the next meals for their family members. Three sectors, construction, food and auto drivers or repairs provide maximum employment in unorganized sectors in India. They are not part of organized employment generating industrial sectors. They cannot be expected to benefit from the government directives to payment of wages even though they did not work. Their owners or employers can pay only from their earnings.

It is evident that the Prime Minister felt no need to consult various agencies and wings of the government before his sudden decision to put the entire country under the lockdown for three weeks. The severe impact of his measures on lives of more than 60 per cent of Indian population, depending on daily earnings or meager wages from their uncertain employment was not part of his decision. The overlooked aspect was brought to his assistance to force him relent on his attitude of serving no free lunch to any section. He had made it clear during the 2014 election campaign and adhered steadfast to it in six years of his regime. His finance minister announced a package of free food distribution to poor for the three months. It was also indication that the government intended to continue the lockdown for three months.

Most unemployed worker did not believe that they would get the free food packets conditioned by insistence of production of Aadhar card or ration card, hence they launched on marching on feet towards their origins. Again such response was the least expected movement by poor sections. It reflected their least belief in the government. The sudden moving out by few million from homes in their previous employment localities was indication of loss of faith in the government promises.

At the time of extending the lockdown for the second stage, the Prime Minister had put emphasis in his video conferencing with chief ministers that saving livelihood for poor was as important as was saving the lives. Such wise thought had not occurred at the time of first imposition directive. Otherwise, the government would have cogitated over other methods to prevent the spread.

The performance of India in preventing wide spread of infection is commendable achievement compared to other developed nations. Though nearly six thousand deaths in 75 days were attributed to corona virus, many were due to aggravation of other fatal debilities. More than 50 per cent patients died of the diabetic debilities. In short the lockdown has not achieved what it was expected to deliver. In addition, it has halted the social transformation that begun in 1992 to make masses to realize importance of educating. Education of poor children was the worst hit sector. The government did not thought of it and others do not see it.