New Delhi: Highlighting the plight of poor people due to the three weeks nationwide lockdown, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to take a different approach at the time of "immense humanitarian crisis."
While underlining the fact that India's conditions are much unique as compared to other large countries in the world, he expressed his solidarity to the PM, saying, "The number poor people in India are dependent on a daily income is simply too large for us to unilaterally shut down all economic activity. The consequences of a complete economic shutdown will disastrously amplify the death toll rising from the COVID-19 virus."
He urged the PM to consider "the potentially devastating impact a nationwide lockdown would have on our people, our society and our economy."
He said, "The sudden lockdown has created immense panic and confusion. Factories, small industries and construction sites have closed, tens of thousands migrant labourers are trying to walk home to their villages and are stranded at various state borders. They are rendered totally vulnerable without their daily wages for accept to nutrition and basic services. It is important that we help them find shelter and provide them with money directly into their bank accounts to help them tide over the next few months."
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He also mentioned that a large number of elderly population live in villages. Hence, the movement of migrant workers from cities to these villages will increase the risk of infecting the elderly people living in rural areas, which will result in a "catastrophic loss of life."
"We must immediately strengthen the social safety net and use every public resource we have to support and shelter the working poor. Large population centres will be required with dedicated hospitals with thousands of beds and it is critical that we start setting of these structures and manufacturing equipment that would be required as fast as is humanly possible," he suggested.
He also urged the Prime Minister to set up a defensive wall around the key financial and strategic Institutions to protect them from the "shock wave that is bound to come" as the true impact of the virus and economic shutdown which hits the country of a few weeks from now.
"Our informal economy and immense network of small and medium businesses and farmers are going to be vital to any rebuilding effort. It is crucial that we engage them in a conversation, build their confidence and protect their interest with correct and timely action," he asserted.
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