So, onto lockdown number four. No, I am not trying to make it sound as if an exciting new season of a web series is about to begin. Perhaps, you could say the tone is one of tiredness but also one of relief.
Find a word that combines the two emotions the best and put them on the comments section below.
Maybe for the first time, we can say that there is a minuscule sense of relief as we enter another phase of trying to battle the corona virus nemesis.
The first two lockdowns emphasised on saving lives. As the world was grappling with the rising number of deaths, India’s policy of giving importance to social distancing was heralded, for its proactive nature.
But with every passing day, the need to find the right balance between saving lives and saving the economy kept increasing.
Lockdown three was the first indication to that as the government allowed the areas in orange and green zones to return to normal functioning between 7 am and 7 pm.
Lockdown four has gone a step forward by letting road transportation open on a partial scale if the concerned authority were all okay with it.
Sporting venues can open but without spectators.
The relaxations, especially the transportation one, would mean a lot more activity on the road and that could mean floundering with some significant norms.
The element which is most important to note in all of this is the transfer of responsibility to individual states to highlight areas with most to fewer cases.
This order, in turn, means that chief ministers can now look to bring their respective key areas back to its feet. However, that could vary from region to region.
Maharashtra looks the one that could limp the slowest to normalcy. And yet, the state is among the highest contributors to India’s GDP. So finding the right balance between kickstarting work and ensuring public safety will be on top of their list.
Gujarat too remains a state in crisis. The interesting case is that of Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal’s government have always been a fan of the odd-even scheme. A policy that began as a measure to curb air pollution could well be the way forward for many key ingredients which contribute to the GDP.
But why am I going so much GDP, GDP?
Earlier this year, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das revealed that as per an International Monetary Fund (IMF) projection, India was set to grow at a GDP rate of 1.9 percent for the year 2020–21.
It may not be a large number to achieve, but we are 43 days away from completing half the year. A mountain can never be climbed by jumping multiple steps with both feet.
If India does intend to meet that projection and in all honesty, it looks a monumental projection right now, then work must start now.
India can afford to limp a bit now because the world has come to a standstill, but limp it must.
Along with manufacturing, services and other sectors, they must hope some of the lesser emphasised sectors like chemical, oil and petroleum and a few others see a positive curve. The reason being the massive hit aviation, hospitality and tourism are likely to see.
The work done starting now could also lay the foundation for another IMF estimate which is of 7.4 percent for the fiscal year 2021–22.
If 1.9 percent sounded monumental, 7.4 percent could well be described colossal.
Despite no respite in sight from the corona virus pandemic, Monday will seem like a new start for India.
A new start, hopefully, that leads to great heights.
