With the onset of Covid-19 followed by lockdowns, the business sectors including tourism , public transport , artisans , weavers etc.resulted in job losses and financial losses to Kashmir thereby leaving the economy in shambles.
Today, it is hard for one to say whether it is more challenging to opt for “unlocking” the economy as compared to “locking” the country. In a way, the former option looks more difficult because when the country opted for the lockdown, there seemed to be little choice. It was based on the assumption that lives were more important than livelihoods. But as the decision sank in, and its impact played out, it was realised that the lockdown led to the impoverishment of enterprise and that the epidemic was spreading. The decision to unlock the economy in phases poses a major conundrum for the government. Unlocking also means getting back to a state of normalcy at some time, which will be problematic.
First, the steps involved in unlocking the economy. Opening up of non-essential production has been allowed, though it’s fraught with ambivalence at the state level. But, this will be ironed out in the typical “jugaad” manner over time. But what about services? This is probably the most crucial element of unlocking the economy at a time when the number of infected cases are crossing hundreds a day and is surging high. How does the government agree to allow public transport to function? And when will the railways and airlines’ operations be restored to normalcy? The truncated services have complex “standard operating procedures”, which deter travel.
Although the lockdown imposed by the administration is the need of the hour as it curtails the transmission of this deadly virus. Indeed it will flatten the curve. Nevertheless, the flip side of the lockdown has been the trauma and agony bearing the distressed class such as public transporters and street vendors etc. These people survive on hand to mouth existence and have no saving to sustain this period of the pandemic. This lockdown has given birth to hunger and starvation among these classes. In my perspective, the worst-hit class amid curfews, lockdowns and natural calamities remain the transport industry. Stranded Public buses and the people associated with this industry are bearing the brunt of this lockdown. Their sullen, disappointing and frustrating faces describe their tale the mental trauma and agony that they are going through. This is the most affected class which has been suffering from the past one year when the special status of Jammu & Kashmir was abrogated. They are going to bear the brunt. The so-called administration is deaf and dumb to their plight. Majority of them are laden with hefty bank loans as they are pressurized to pay monthly instalments. Amidst these unavoidable circumstances, they are not able to fulfil the basic need of their family how come they will pay monthly instalment indebted to the bank. The magnitude of hardship they are facing is immense and unimaginable. The other underprivileged classes are feeling the same. The inevitable circumstances have wholly shaken the socio-economically disadvantaged people disproportionately.
This is the time to come forward to alleviate the suffering of such people. The so-called Government here is just delivering the lip service as far as we are experienced in this pandemic. So we should come out at the individual level to help the deserved that is humanity. The NGO’s and the philanthropists this is the time for them to come forward and streamline the Charitable initiative to help the destitute and more impoverished in this lockdown so that nobody needs to come out and become a prey of this deadly virus.
Loss of jobs
According to a survey conducted by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the two factors have resulted in the loss of lakhs of jobs and the borrowers of financial institutions have lost capacity to fulfil their commitments.
“The tourism sector is in a shambles. Artisans and weavers are jobless. The losses are more than 1,056 crore. It was multiplied further by the pandemic,” a KCCI spokesman said.
On account of the pandemic, borrowers are not in a position to pay the due instalments. They are seeking a relief in the nature of not charging interest on all term loans for the period affected due to natural calamity in 2014, disturbances of 2016 and 2019 and that of the pandemic. None of the business houses are even eligible for the Centre’s schemes announced in the wake of COVID-19. Any scheme granting more loans can only deepen their debt cycle.
Lets still hope to have good times in near future and all that has been lost will get back with more novel opportunities.
