“Roti hai to Jaan bhi hai, jahaan bhi” : Badal
Badal on problems of the poor during lockdown
Former CM calls for “spirit of Freedom movement to fight Corona”
Suggests three pronged strategy to fight side effects
“ Give safe transit to Migrants to reach homes”
Chandigarh April 15( Wishavwarta)- Five time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said here today that the nationwide lockdown was “the right medicine at the right time but with painful side effects which need to be attended to immediately before they become more dangerous than the disease itself.” The poor, especially the daily wage earners are the worst affected by these side effects and need immediate care. “However, the other low income groups are not far behind.” He said adding that the middle classes were now beginning to find these side effects hard to cope with.
Mr Badal said that the war on Coronvirus needs to be fought with the same spirit as was seen during India’s Struggle for Freedom and “ as the challenge has the same gravity for every citizen.”
Mr Badal lauded “the sense of national responsibility shown by the people who responded whole heartedly every single time Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked them to. “ People have done their duty. Now, it is time for governments to ensure that their hardships are fully attended to.”
The former CM hoped that that people’s ordinary healthcare needs, especially of patients suffering from chronic ailments , do not suffer from neglect in the focus on fighting the pandemic.Describing hunger and poverty, plus unemployment and economic slowdown as the three immediate, mid-term and long-term side effects of the pandemic , Mr Badal called for a “graded strategy to fight all three.”
The former CM welcomed ‘the gradual exit strategies’ announced today but appealed to the people , especially the farmers, farm labour and workers in other fields to be extra-careful and “fully respect and obey the guidelines issued by the govt.”Your own and your families lives are at stake.”
Mr Badal said he “salutes the warriors, especially doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and police and civil administration officials who are risking their own lives on the war front while we are confined to our homes. They deserve our highest respect and gratitude.”
The former CM said that though the lockdown was the only option available to the government, “ yet six weeks was a long time for the poor to survive without income, and more particularly, without regular supply of food at their door.
“ Most of us are not even familiar with the hardships faced by the poor even under normal circumstances. But now, their plight is desperate and needs to be the nation’s immediate and number one priority. Everything else can wait,” said the senior statesman in a statement here this afternoon, adding that he government machinery must be more effective and more efficientin delivery of services, especially food supplies to the poor. Referring to the PM’s slogan, Jaan bhi jahan bhi”, Mr Badal said, “Roti hai to Jaan bhi hai, jahaan bhi.”
In the mid-term urgency, the former CM said that the governments must understand and respect the “the strong natural and human urge of the beleaguered millions to be in their ancestral homes with their families during this tough period. Governments must provide safe modes of travel to the migrants and others to go back to their homes, especially if the lockdown is to be extended further.” Mr Badal described “containing and fighting unemployment” as the urgent long-term necessity. He said that he was sure that the Prime Minister would be in touch with top economists and stake holders to revive the economy.
The Akali stalwart said that agriculture and allied activity continue to be the backbone of our economy. As such, no revival is possible without giving preference to the beleaguered farmers and farm labourin any measures, such as relief packages to be announced by the govt.
Mr Badal emphasized the need for ensuring hassle free harvesting and procurement of the wheat crop and said that the govts must ensure that no one connected with these operations is harassed. “It is more urgent than ever before to ensure hassle free procurement and immediate payment to farmers.”
He urged the Govt of India to give a “significant bonus on wheat. In addition, the govt must think of subsiding agricultural inputs in a major way.” The benefits of govt relief in the farming and the allied sectors must be passed directly to the farmers. He expressed concern over the falling prices of milk and dairy and poultry products, and called for immediate governmental intervention in consultation with the stake holders to save this key sector. “While business, trade and industry definitely need our focus, the real path to economic recovery of the country lies through the country’s farms and farmers,