The destitute have been left out of any thoughts behind ‘lockdown’

The Road Transport and Bridges Minister gave an announcement about an imminent lockdown on April 3. The government-announced restrictions on April 4 avoided the word lockdown, instead, it specified some directives. Although it is a bit late, the fact that the government has taken the Coronavirus infection issue seriously is reflected in the restrictions that have been imposed. Public transport, movement on roads and waterways, as well as domestic flights will mostly be halted.

Government and private offices have been instructed to stay open at a limited capacity. The employees will have to be transported by company-owned vehicles. Specific points like people cannot get out of their homes at night, shopping malls have to stay closed and buying and selling can only be done online, kitchen items can be sold in open space during pre-fixed hours, and the notion of setting up of field hospitals near the garments factories have also been mentioned in the directives.  However, it has not been specified how the garments workers will commute to and from the factories. Soon after the announcement, we came to know that the book fair will go on. It seems the decisions are  in conflict with each other.