By Syed Amreen
The dreadful disease is an ongoing pandemic. The outbreak started in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It took no time to spread other parts of the world as today’s world is a global village. As of May 2020, 187 countries reported the cases. The world Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on 30th January and a pandemic on 11th March 2020.And for common man the instant reasons that he considered responsible for the dreadful situations are our sins, the whole world is trying to strive against it. As it was experienced that showed prevention and containment are the only hope.
As the pandemic ardors on, we are told, the virus does not distinguish between rich and poor, we all are united. However the reality seems something different. The rich players acted as a puppeteers, it is because such players have the full wakefulness, and are cognizant about the precautionary measures of self isolation, face mask, sanitizer’s etc, such people have sufficient storage they can even buy or shop from on-line. Some wealthy people can even buy mechanical system(ventilators) and set up their personal intensive care unit.
As insist has been made to clap for country’s healthcare system and to show collectivity. The rich cheers from his tower and poor remained unprotected on the streets.
The low-income people often don’t know what sanitizer is? How to use it? 40 percent of the world population didn’t have running water or soap at home. The poor street vendors, day labourers, peddlers, homeless shelters are suffering and for them situation is overflowing. For poor there can be no such thing as self-isolation, they are squeezed into small dwelling places , it is impossible for them to maintain 1 meter distance. These perceptions are beyond their wisdom. They sleep with empty stomach; it seems they are fighting against starvation rather than this pandemic. Risk factors such as malnutrition, high population densities, lack of access of washing facilities the rates of mortality could runt what has been seen so far in the world. Non-government organizations and governmental organizations have played and are playing their roles to their extent, but still could not reach out the places where under privileged people are yelling out of hunger. A terrible and distressed nature of our system where such vicious disparity is seen between rich and poor.
Syed Amreen is M. Ed student (Kashmir University)
