As the number of deaths are mounting and the mis-administration at various levels is getting exposed on daily basis - be it shortage of oxygen, poor state of covid control centers, harassment of people- it's imperative that we look at the VARIOUS aspects sequentially, so that people responsible for this mess are held accountable and they carry out systematic REFORMS.
Our objective must always be that we learn from mistakes and reform the system, instead of claiming that everything is hunky dory and behave like an ostrich.
1. Govt says People are irresponsible.
Yes, to some extent it may be true but the people became irresponsible when the numbers were going down and the Govt allowed Test matches in full presence of audience, Kumbh mela, holi festivities and election rallies. Had the respective Govts, at state and centre, been strict and not allowed such reckless behaviour and led from the front, things would have turned out differently and in all possibility much better.
Discipline is not inherited, it is inculcated. The local administration despite all the advices on traffc control has to place traffic lights at cross roads to regulate traffic besides placing a few constables.
The Govt's indifferent and lackaidsical attitude has resulted in the deaths of many teachers who were involved in Panchayat elections held in States. Thence to palm off the responsibility to the people is grossly wrong.
Just by saying DHILAI NAHI BARATNI HAI and you go around organising public ralies where thousands are present is not leading from front.
Had the PM and his ministers refused to organise such rallies and rath yatras and instead used technology to address people of the state, the Govt could have had the moral ground to blame the people.
2. Vaccination at a leisurely pace.
The Govt although started the process of vaccination with due planning and care, but it was done at a leisurly pace as if it had plenty of time or perhaps it was keeping pace with the manufacturing capabilities of the vaccines.
However, if it knew that it's factories will not be able to churn out enough vaccines to vaccinate atleast 70-80% of population in 3-4 months, it should have given an approval to import the vaccines in Feburary which were already approved by the WHO, like it has done now, which is too late in any case.
But it did not give any approval, perhaps thinking that even if it goes slow, it would be able to handle the covid crisis.
This indifference or so to say unawareness of manufacturing capabilities is all evident now when despite the Govt's annoucnement for vaccination of all above 18 years of age has still not commenced in most of the states due to the inavailability of vaccines.
3.Disconnect with the ICMR and Scientific community.
This brings us to the point that the Govt was totally cut off from the ICMR and the Scientific community which was carrying out research work on mutations of COVID-19 virus.The Govt perhaps had no idea or else it undermined the advice of the scientific advisor that the virus undergoes mutations that could be dangerous; as the virus continues to find bodies to attack it will keep on mutating, perhaps becoming more virulent and even rendering the current vaccines useless. As a result of this disconnect, there are already various mutations now in India causing havoc. Additionally, there seems to be serious lack of data
sharing and research in this aspect.
For instance the moment UK Govt identifed a Kent variant, it ordered a Lock down, but because of the disconnect the Indian Govt could not react on time.
Conclusion.
As it appears prima facie, the Govt not only at the centre but also all the States and not only the Political parties running the Govt but also the Administrative machinery right from top to bottom is responsible for the deaths of THOUSANDS. Yesterday in Dainik Bhaskar it was reported that in last one month, as of 30th April, almost 5000 people had died just in Indore. This comes to approx 0.16% of the population. If this figure is extrapolated to the whole of India , we would find the figures to be extremely worrying.
During emergency, the Govt hid many excessess but the moment elections were declared and emergency lifted the skeletons rolled out of the cupboard. Thus, the respective Govts may try to fudge figures but come elections and everything will be exposed.
The PM therefore, must catch the Bull by its horns, get the Admnistrative reforms rolled out. Perhaps India was waiting for this crisis to happen.