The slump in GDP growth by 23.9 per cent for the April-June period was more or less expected but will have huge implications on the economy. Manufacturing is down 39.3 pc, construction plummeted by 50.3 pc and trade, hotels, transport and communications lowered by 47.0 pc. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious plans of doubling economy size and the elusive 7 per cent growth targets have been derailed. The nation has undergone a massive fiscal pain, and the worst may still not be over. The States are left with an uphill task to salvage the situation. And which is why there are these unlocks to provide ventilator support to a sinking economy.
With economic activity badly hit, the Centre has moved to work through the pandemic with calculated unlocks, some defying the ground logic of the Covid fight. Going into unlock mode and opening up of vulnerable sectors like malls, gyms and now bars, more especially when the virus is on the prowl, is solely aimed to salvage a sinking economy. Against this backdrop, the PM’s call to learn to live with the virus finds meaning. And which is why, the time has come where people must understand the seriousness of the situation, exercise extreme caution and take full responsibility for each one’s acts.
In Goa, after a brief lull, the sudden spike has taken the State by surprise. Chief minister Pramod Sawant has attributed the surge to the violation of norms during Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. To a large extent, this appears to be an honest admission. Whether it is a Hindu, Catholic or Muslim festival, people of respective faiths are bound to soak themselves in religious festivities overlooking the rules of the hour. Celebrating festivals has been a long-standing tradition for every Goan, irrespective of the religion they belong. To move away from tradition and tune to a military-type discipline is not going to be easy, even during Pandemic times. In Goa, people are devout about their religion, and they relish their fish. Nothing comes in-between. And which is why people are seen crowding the markets to buy fish even when double-digit deaths are happening.
Fatalities during a particular festival have nothing to do with Gods and religion. It’s all about lifestyles of people, tradition, devotion and the indiscipline in times of crisis. The time has come where mindsets will have to change. There have been countless loose ends, mismanagement and failures of the administration. But what about violations that people have committed creating a massive scare to the larger society?
Restaurants, gyms, markets, bars have opened, and religious institutions have opened their gates to the faithful. This doesn’t mean life is going full throttle. The ground rules of this Covid fight haven’t changed. We still need to keep social distancing, wear masks, engage in sanitization and maintain hygiene at all times. The people of Goa have to introspect and act responsibly because the ball is now in their court.
