Given the incidents of daily average infection in the last week at well above 90,000, and death at about 1100, the centre must rethink about its strategy in tackling COVID-19 in the light of newly acquired knowledge about the reasons of failure of its strategy during the last six months. Over emphasizing only on rate of recovery at 81.55 per cent, will bolster the confidence of people, but may lead to carelessness about the precautionary measures, and therefore government should adopt a more careful approach. Focused attention on precautionary measures and strengthening the clinical management is the only answer to the present predicament.

In the video conference, talking to the CMs of the seven worst hit states – Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Punjab – Prime Minister advised them to rethink about their strategies of tackling the disease. It is certainly well advised, since more than 63 per cent of the country’s active cases are in these states, which also account for 65.5 per cent of the total confirmed cases, and 77 per cent of deaths. However, not making provisions for sufficient finance to these fund starved states at the same time, places this advice into the category of “shedding crocodiles’ tears”. It is just like wishing a person to run a marathon with broken legs. It is well known that with a sharp fall in revenue collection, Centre has backtracked from its commitment given to states in respect of compensating any shortfall on account of GST. Timely disbursal of states’ share in the revenue has also disrupted.

All the states of the country are facing great financial crises. Centre has offered no relief to them except allowing them additional loans which opposition ruled states have objected. It is just like rubbing salt on the wounds to give assurance to the CMs that the centre would allow them more funds through State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Prime Minister Modi informed the CMs that the centre had decided to enhance the untilisation from the present level of 35 per cent to 50 per cent. “The decision will result in more funds becoming available for the states,” he said. This attitude of PM Modi is not becoming of a Prime Minister, because, there is a huge gap between the requirement of funds and its availability to the states. At best, whatever PM said, may give him a political edge, because it may make innocent people believe that Modi is doing everything possible, but others are not doing their job. However, the reality is otherwise. Having failed in his strategies in containing COVID-19, he seems to be shifting the responsibility on others.

It is true that we have more than 700 districts but the statistics that are worrying related to just 60 districts confined to these seven states. The PM while referring to this fact advised the CMs to make a 7-day programme, and every day for one hour, they should virtually question one block or tehsil in the district, which would ensure that the message goes down to the ground level and brings seriousness and sincerity. It is like self-aggrandisement at the political expense of the leaders of the other political parties. It presents the CMs in poor light as if they are not doing well.

Additionally, he did not fail to mention that his flagship Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which completed two years on September 23, benefited 1.25 crore poor patients who received free treatment under this scheme. It was a sort of cover up for the failure of Urban and Rural Health Missions due to which we have come to this level of health crisis within six months of lockdown. Both are the central schemes, under which we are yet to have sufficient number of hospitals, beds, doctors, nurses, and life saving facilities such as oxygen cylinders.

PM mentioned shortage of oxygen cylinders, and health ministry had earlier said in a statement that there was no shortage of oxygen cylinders at the national level. It is an indirect admission of clinical mismanagement. The reports coming from district level suggest that there is still a huge shortage of COVID-19 infrastructure, in both the rural and urban areas. Prime Minister mentioned progress made in clinical management, which is an overstatement. The reality is, we need much more, because India has already become the worst infected country in the world, within few months we will have largest number of deaths too.

The issues relating to the economic crisis also came to the fore. The PM wanted that states should rethink on their short term lockdown strategy and ensure that economic activities were not adversely affected by the containment measures. He seemed to have forgotten how much his own steps have been damaging the Indian economy, both before and after lockdown. His government takes every crisis as an opportunity to do the things what they love to do disregarding the interest of common people and the workforce. Relief measures are taken to upset loss of income from business, but not from labour. We must think afresh in the present scenario. (IPA Service)