While in our own interests, it becomes our commitment to respect and comply with the provisions and the protocol of lockdown, it becomes the prime duty of the Government to ensure that the people did not face any problems or difficulties in getting goods of daily requirement on account of any shortages and non availability thereof. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs , Food and Public Distribution, while assuring that godowns were full and having grains for nine months , has at the same time, expressed satisfaction for having a bumper rabi harvest this time so as to have “adequate stock” for up to two years, should allay any type of fears and apprehensions. However, despite that very comfortable position, hiccups continue to be observed in the supply chain of essential goods . It could be due to various reasons. Firstly, deficit of interstate cooperation and understanding seems to be the main reason as trucks carrying goods have to pass through many states. Secondly, overzealous officials on field duty either out of extra caution or due to absence of clear instructions detain or stop trucks . Thirdly, authorisation papers issued by competent authority from originating place for the driver and one associate or helper not being honoured in other states and asked for obtaining local permissions. Fourthly, lockdown exemptions given to services and people are either misinterpreted or not implemented properly and last but not the least, the manpower responsible for manufacturing and the movement of essential and non essential goods are either detained or are not being given passes and permission slips for their movement.
Any unnecessary restrictions on the movement of trucks and other vehicles carrying goods for public use and preventing the movement of the people concerned with the manufacturing and marketing thereof, was bound to create shortage of such goods which had far reaching ramifications in conditions as prevailing currently. Agreed, lockdown was irrevocably and irresistibly unavoidable for saving human lives but the quantum of distress and feelings of ill at ease by the people confined to remain indoors and associated side effects should not be allowed to get accentuated due to non availability of goods for daily use. That would be just unimaginably unaffordable for obvious reasons. Perhaps, having come to know about the areas where guidelines and clarifications on exemptions given to people were not followed properly and more instructions and guidelines needed to be reviewed in respect of the entire gamut of providing of goods of daily use to people , Union Home Secretary has communicated directions and guidance afresh in the matter to the Chief Secretaries of the states and the Union Territories . Now, it has been emphasised that not only the cargo in respect of essential goods but even non -essential goods should be allowed to move without any restrictions. As long as a truck driver carried a valid driving licence , intra state and interstate movement through trucks was allowed and no fresh permit or any permission was required. Similar other clarifications given in this regard should clear all mist and supply chain restored with all the pace it needed.
Prime Minister monitoring associated developments personally has given a new mantra of “Jaan Bhi – Jehan Bhi” which needs hardly any pin pointed clarifications except the intentions of the Government to save human lives but not ignore commerce and trade. Let it be unequivocally stated that there should absolutely be no problems or hassles encountered by people in getting necessary goods of daily use – medicines, vegetables, milk and milk products, fruit, LPG cylinders etc . It is heartening to note that within next 45 days , as many as 2 million “Surakhsha Stores” across the country are going to be opened. Any retail vendor can apply for getting its store converted into a ‘Surakhsha Store’ provided certain infrastructural changes were made as required and guidelines in respect of security and social distancing norms followed. More relaxations have already been announced in that now Railways, airports, sea ports and custom authorities have been authorised to issue passes for their staff and contractual labour. Giving preference and heed to hygiene and social distancing by the people as generally they do, should not face any problems in genuine movement either for works under priority or for activities authorised by the Government to keep manufacturing, transporting and selling goods and ensuring foolproof supply chain thereof, going at expected levels.
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