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To survive through Coronavirus lockdown, people need basic income

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Image Courtesy: PTI

As the Coronavirus pandemic escalates, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed the nationwide lockdown resembling to the curfew and asked the propel stay at homes for 21 days. Most of the local governments have already declared an emergency and shut down schools, shops, and all public gatherings as well as imposed severe international and domestic travel restrictions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) tens of millions of people are already quarantined, with more joining them soon, in Europe – now the epicenter. Although India is not in that much critical condition but as the experts across the world are predicting, it can face serious challenges in order to cope with this deadly disease.

Since India is looking over every measure to curb from Coronavirus and shutting everything down. The logic of these measures is simple that if people limit their interaction, they can reduce the rate at which the virus is transmitted. This is the reason social distancing measures are widely accepted as good step even though they are horrible for the people particularly in a country wherein people are strongly connected with each other.

Despite the lockdown is only solution to fight against Coronavirus, it has some negative, unintended and drastic consequences over the life of common men who are living at higher risk for their survival amid this lockdown. Think of people in gig economy. Delivery drivers, taxi drivers, daily wagers, masons, and millions of people who entirely depend on their daily wages have no income security, no sick pay and often very limited saving. What happens to them if a lockdown prevents them from working for a month or longer?

India cannot be compared to other countries of the world such as China, USA and Italy where social distancing or lockdown did not affect people’s butter and dread to that mush extent as here – India so it can result into devastating consequences for the nation. These countries are much stronger than India in their economy and have much capacity to deal with financial crisis and have very adequate health infrastructure as well.

With no doubt, the government has no other option but ultimately, as this crisis unfolds, what people are going to experience may be beyond their worst nightmares, with deaths of loved ones and an economic collapse that could dwarf the great depression. One of the primary tasks of the government in this crisis must be to ensure that people have enough money in their pockets to buy their essentials not just to make them available in the markets. This is where introducing a basic income becomes an option. Since it represents a simple, humane and administratively uncomplicated way of ensuring that everybody has enough money to get by during the crisis, why would anyone be against it?

The announcement of the Prime Minister Modi for 21-day nationwide lockdown may be a disaster for a huge number of people but it is the only remedy for a bigger calamity for the India nation. So, the people should cooperate and give a helping hand to each other in this difficult time as much as possible. India has set many examples of unity in the history for a common cause. This is the time to get united and be responsible citizen to protect not only oneself but the entire nation.

Who plays a crucial role in such scenario is police who take risk for the nation thus the people must assist them in abiding by the law and order. Police also should treat people humbly, understand their problems and trials during this lockdown.

– Mohd Faheem


(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

‘Social distancing’ at Union Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi

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The large oval table was gone and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministerial colleagues sat in chairs kept at a distance from each other as they practised “social distancing” to combat coronavirus during a Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday.

Pictures showed that the ministers were facing the prime minister and small side tables were provided next to their chairs to allow them to keep their documents.

Usually, the Cabinet members sit around an oval table during meeting.

The Cabinet meeting was held at the prime minister’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg here.

The prime minister has been pitching for “social distancing” to check the spread of coronavirus.

He has announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat the deadly virus.

State has adequate stock of essential commodities, assures Uddhav Thackeray

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Amid the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of Coronavirus, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday appealed to people not to venture out of their homes and assured that the state has adequate stock of essential commodities.

Greeting people on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, Thackeray said the poor and daily wagers should understand that the government stands firmly behind them in this time of crisis.

Uddhav said, “There is enough stock of essential commodities and the essential services will continue to function.”

The Chief Minister also said that corporates were coming forward to set up hospitals and manufacture masks.

“I appeal to employers not to cut wages of their workers or stop their services. Don’t flock the markets. To purchase essential commodities, go to market alone and maintain distance (with one another),” stated Uddhav.

Four more new positive cases of Coronavirus have been reported since Tuesday midnight. With this Maharashtra tally 116 positive cases of the virus including three deaths so far.

Circles, squares drawn for social distancing outside shops in Maharashtra

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Image Courtesy: Twitter

Inspired by photos outside a mall in China where the management drew circles on the floor to maintain social distancing to curb coronavirus spread, people in parts of Maharashtra have started implementing the same.

The idea is proving a healthy option for people who come out of their homes to purchase groceries and vegetables.

Some towns such as Panhala, Ajara and a village called Pulachi Shiroli in Kolhapur district have started implementing the social distancing idea since Tuesday evening.

Ranjit Chougule, a resident of Pulachi Shiroli village near Kolhapur city said, When I saw the photos of the China all, I was at first amused and thought those people were being crazy. After some time, I realised that it is a useful idea as social distancing will be maintained as well as people will get groceries and other essential services.

“I discussed it with friends and showed it to local shop owners, who after some deliberations decided to go for it. We used white colour to mark circles and/or squares on the road at a distance of over three feet between each marking. People were asked to stand as per the markings and soon they were also comfortable with it, he said.

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Image Courtesy: Twitter

A local police official confirmed the development. We were not sure how people would react to it, but it seems the idea is working. Now people don’t panic while buying vegetables and groceries and it has reduced our burden as well, the official said.

An official from the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office on Wednesday said the government has started pushing the concept across the state by sharing photos of such social distancing practices across the state.

“We have so far received photographs from Kolhapur, Nanded and from Talegaon Dabhade town near Pune where people have drawn circles or squares on the street in vegetable markets as well as outside the grocery shops.

“People are following the guidelines by standing in a queue and are also maintaining the required distance, the official said.

With 112 confirmed cases so far, Maharashtra tops the COVID-19 patients tally in the country.

Stay at home during lockdown, avoid panic-buying, says Arvind Kejriwal

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said e-passes will be issued to those associated with essential services, such as vegetable-vendors, grocers and milk-sellers, to ensure smooth supply of items of daily use in the national capital during the lockdown.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a nationwide lockdown of 21 days to check the spread of coronavirus.

In a joint press conference with Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday, Kejriwal said a helpline number would be issued for the e-passes.

He appealed to people to avoid panic-buying, assuring that the government would ensure that shops of daily use items like milk, vegetables, groceries and medicines remained open. The chief minister asserted that there was no scarcity of these essentials.

He urged people to stay at home during the lockdown period.

Baijal said the government would ensure strict implementation of the lockdown in Delhi.

The chief minister said the Delhi Police commissioner’s office could be contacted on helpline number 011-23469536 in case of any problems.

Domestic maids, carpenters, auto-taxi drivers flee Mumbai

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Migrant workers and their families board an overcrowded passenger train, after government imposed restrictions on public gatherings in attempts to prevent spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Mumbai, India, March 21, 2020. REUTERS/Prashant Waydande

Many maids working in Mumbai have returned to their native places in Konkan and Khandesh regions. These maids moved to Mumbai to earn a living because most of them are from distressed farming background. COVID-19 forced them to abandon work and leave the city. They have either vacated their rooms or have kept them locked. Their departure has led to a crisis with housing societies with many families finding it hard to get replacements. Most of the residents have to do without maids. Many of them have left despite having their family being here; they were living with children and husband who works on daily wages. The indefinite lockdown has crippled their finances too. The migrant labourers who work as construction workers, carpenters, tailors, vegetable vendors have also left Mumbai.

This working population also has people from UP, Bihar and Odisha and Bengal.

Drivers of auto rickshaws, taxis and app-based cab aggregators Ola and Uber are leaving the city in thousands. The step-by-step lockdown of the city since the first positive cases of COVID-19 emerged, has hit such drivers the worst.

Most drivers’ hail from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and their earnings this month have plummeted. On an average, they barely make Rs 200 per day.

AL Quadros, leader of Mumbai Taximen’s Union said, “Most of the drivers have mortgaged their cars for cash to survive in their hometowns. We appeal to the Chief Minister to direct banks to exempt them from making EMI payments this month. Most of them pay EMIs up to ₹10,000 on car loans. Many drivers left by road while some drove their cars home.” there has been an exodus of nearly 80 per cent of Kaali-Peeli drivers. “Over the past week, there has been hardly any business. Those who drove around 70 to 80 km are barely clocking 20 km a day. Many have left their cars along roadsides as parking lots have filled up. We have appealed to the traffic police to not penalise them in such difficult times,” he said.

Leader of Mumbai Rickshawmen’s Union, Thampi Kurien said, “Drivers have decided to return after a month when the situation stabilises. There were practically no autorickshaws on the roads today. Around 70 per cent of the 2.2-lakh drivers have left the city during this week”

The Transport Commissioner on Saturday also directed all share autorickshaws and taxis across the State to suspend services.

PM Narendra Modi announces nationwide lockdown for 15 days in fight over Coronavirus

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced nationwide three weeks lockdown starting from Tuesday midnight. All states and union territories will come under its purview.

He said this is an essential step to fight coronavirus decisively. He added that saving lives is priority as of now.

“With folded hands, I request you to stay put wherever you are,” said Prime Minister Modi. He added that he is mindful of the economic ramifications of it. However, this is a smaller concern.

PM Modi warned, if we don’t follow a complete lockdown for the coming 21 days, the nation will go back 21 years and many families will be devastated.

He also said many powerful countries in the world have become helpless, regardless of their efforts. He once again reiterated that social distancing is the only way to deal with this deadly coronavirus that has infected more than 500 in India, so far.

“Some people are under the misconception that social distancing is only for those infected with coronavirus… but they should understand that this for everyone because it is important to break the cycle,” said PM Modi in his address to the nation.

This is his second address to the nation regarding coronavirus. In his first address he urged Indians to observe ‘Janata Curfew’.

In the last week, the government has implemented a near complete lockdown of its major cities and suspended train, flight and long-distance bus services. Modi said in his address governments would take steps to ensure the supply of essential items, and asked states to prioritize saving lives.

COVID-19: A Biological War?

Biotechnology is no longer confined to the intellectual, educational and medical boundaries but evolved to bio-warfare which is a powerful invisible tool to breach the economic stronghold across boundaries.
The damage though visibly send collateral has greater impact and manipulations on global economics and power control.

Dr. Li Wenliang, China’s hero doctor who was punished for telling the truth about Corona Virus and later died due to the same disease, had documented case files for research purposes and had in the case files proposed a cure that would significantly decrease the impact of the COVID-19 on the human body. The chemical Methylxanthine, Theobromine and Theophylline stimulates compounds that can ward off these viruses in a human with at least an average immune system. Our regular Tea has all these chemicals already in it. The main Methylxanthine in tea is the stimulant caffeine. Other Methylxanthines found in tea are two chemically similar compounds, Theobromine and Theophylline. The tea plant creates these chemicals as a way to ward off insects and other animals. Who would have known that all the solutions to these viruses would be a simple cup of tea?

Li Wenliang was a Chinese ophthalmologist. A physician at Wuhan Central Hospital, Li warned his colleagues in December 2019 about a possible outbreak of an illness that resembled Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), later acknowledged as COVID-19. He became a whistleblower when his warnings were later shared publicly. On 3 January 2020, Wuhan police summoned and cautioned him for “making false comments on the Internet”. Li returned to work, later contracted the virus from an infected patient and died from the disease on 7 February 2020, at age 33. A subsequent Chinese official inquiry exonerated him and the Communist Party formally offered a “solemn apology” to his family and revoked its admonishment of him and two other police officers.

On 30 December 2019, Li saw a patient’s report which showed a positive result with a high confidence level for SARS coronavirus tests. The report had originated from Ai Fen, director of the emergency department at Wuhan Central hospital, who became alarmed after receiving laboratory results of a patient whom she had examined who exhibited symptoms akin to influenza resistant to conventional treatment methods.

The report contained the word: “Sars Coronavirus”. Ai circled the word “SARS”, and sent it to a doctor at another hospital in Wuhan. From there it spread throughout medical circles in Wuhan, where it reached Li. At 17:43, he wrote in a private WeChat group of his medical school classmates: “7 confirmed cases of SARS were reported [o the hospital from Huanan Seafood Market.” He also posted the patient’s examination report and CT scan image. At 18:42, he added, “the latest news is, it has been confirmed that they are coronavirus infections, but the exact virus strain is being subtyped.” Li asked the WeChat group members to inform their families and friends to take protective measures. He was upset when the discussion gained a wider audience than he expected. After screenshots of his WeChat messages were shared on Chinese forums and gained huge attention, the supervision department summoned him to talk, where he was blamed for leaking the information. On 3 January 2020, police from the Wuhan Public Security Bureau investigated the case and interrogated Li.

Li was in the spotlight in the Chinese media because he was thought to be one of the eight “rumormongers” warned by Wuhan police. However, according to some media, Wuhan police summoned eight “rumormongers” on 1 January, while Li and Xie Linka, another doctor from Wuhan Union Hospital, were warned on 3 January, meaning that the latter two might not be part of the group. Li later responded that he did not know whether he was one of the “rumormongers”, but that he had been admonished for telling the truth. On 4 February, the Chinese Supreme People’s Court said that the eight Wuhan citizens should not have been punished, as what they said was not entirely false. It wrote on social media: “It might have been a fortunate thing if the public had believed the ‘rumors’ then and started to wear masks and carry out sanitisation measures, and avoid the wild animal market.

On 7 January, Li contracted the coronavirus when he saw an infected patient at his hospital. The patient suffered from acute angle-closure glaucoma and developed a fever the next day. Li then began to suspect that the patient might have a coronavirus infection. Li developed a fever and cough on 10 January, which soon became severe. On 12 January, Li was admitted to intensive care at Houhu Hospital District, Wuhan Central Hospital, where he was quarantined, treated, and tested for the virus several times until he tested positive for the infection on 30 January. He was diagnosed with the virus infection on 1 February 2020.

Li’s condition became critical on 5 February. On 6 February, while Li was on the phone with a friend, he told the friend that he was having trouble breathing and that his oxygen saturation had dropped to 85%. At around 19:00, he was sent to the emergency room. According to China Newsweek, his heartbeat stopped at 21:30. In social media posts, the Chinese state media reported that Li had died, but the posts were soon deleted. Later, Wuhan Central Hospital released a statement contradicting reports of his death. The death of Li provoked considerable grief and anger on social media. With his death, Wuhan suddenly came under a deadly virus that later on shook many countries.

At the peak of the virus epidemic, China’s President Xi Jinxing just wore a simple RM1 facemask to visit those affected areas. As President ideally, he should be covered from head to toe, but it was not the case. He was probably already injected to resist any harm from the virus??? Does that mean a cure was already in place before the virus was released? Now China is also telling that the virus was predicted well in advance. what more to say?


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Maharashtra Min Awhad proposes the Centre to bear all the bills of COVID-19 patients

Jitendra Awhad, Awhad, Jitendra, Maharashtra, Coronavirus, COVID19, COVID-19, Amid the COVID-19, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister, Jitendra Awhad proposes the union government to bear all the expenses (Medication and treatment) of positive patients across the country; as the patient could not bear the huge expenses, “I request central government to bear all the expenses of positive patients including his/her Medication to treatment fees, across the country,” Awhad tweeted.

Awhad also mentioned the risk attached with the huge expenses. He said that the people will probably hide their symptoms to avoid huge billing while treatment. The bill of Rs 4,500 will come at huge cost if government does not act. “The total bill cost around 4,500 rupees; it’s a huge cost for an ordinary person who’s income low, he will surely not disclose his symptoms to a doctor just to avoid the huge hospital bills. If not intervene, this will come at huge price and will surely add on to the Corona pandemic,” Awhad said in a video released on tweeted.

The lockdown was imposed by the state government Under Section 144 to curb the dissemination of pandemic Coronavirus which apparently took 10 lives in India. Following to this, Awhad said, “The lockdown is the perfect time to identify the potential cases across the country, as it will help the authority to the reach and intervene to curb the infections across the country.”

Meanwhile, Awhad expressed his gratitude towards Ambani-led Reliance Industries. “Thanx @ril_foundation and #MukeshAmbani for coming out with open heart and funding the treatment of #COVID-19 patients, U have set a example and we salute u for this show of humanity hoping others will follow,” he twitted.

N-95 masks worth Rs 15 crore seized in Andheri; four arrested

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In a time of shortage of mask and sanitiser due to Coronavirus pandemic the Bandra crime branch unit 9 late on Monday night raided a godown near Air Cargo near international airport at Andheri and seized 25 lakh N-95 masks worth over Rs 15 crore and arrested four people in connection with this.

According to police report, the masks were seized in a police operation to check on black marketing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh along with Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, address to the media and said that the police had received a tip- off about that the masks being supplied for sale in the black market.

Beside this early on Tuesday the police officers has also raided three godowns in Bhiwandi and seized more mask from there.

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All the four accused are the residents of Mumbai and they have been identified as Mihir Darshan Patel (36), Shahrukh Shaikh (23), Balaji Nadar (36) and Gulam Ali (30). The four arrested accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act, the hunt is on for two more, Deshmukh added.

Reportedly, the authorities have initiated the process of supplying the seized masks to government and civic-run hospitals in Mumbai in case of shortage, an officer said.

The raid comes at a time when masks are in heavy demand in the country since novel coronavirus cases started emerging in the country.