Covid-19 lockdown affects daily wage-earners the most
We, and indeed the rest of the world, are going through unprecedented times pulverised by the onslaught of Covid-19. The only way open to our government to thwart the spread of the virus is to clamp a country-wide shutdown. Admittedly, such a measure has many attendant and unintended consequences. With the economy virtually at a standstill, the worst sufferers are the daily wage-earners and those involved in the informal economy. And there is a large number of them, who are without work and without food, and most of them are slum-dwellers living in various pockets in the capital city. Such a situation that we face today in the capital has never been experienced before—the capital at a virtual standstill.
It was very heartening to hear the PM assure the nation that these people would not be left unattended, and we have also noticed efforts by the administration to distribute food stuff to these people. But that has been sporadic at best and the aid has not reached a great majority in this category of people. Efforts by individuals, various social and cultural organisations and business houses are commendable but not adequate. And for many of the needy—especially women, the elderly and the infirm—it is difficult to contest with the others for his or her share of the dole. A report in this paper yesterday depicts the sad plight of these daily wage-earners living in Dhaka city. And the picture is not much different in other parts of the country.
We believe that the situation is very akin to what we have faced during any natural disaster, and would have to be tackled as such in respect of relief distribution. Private and government efforts should be coordinated through a comprehensive and sustainable plan. A list of the needy people including the floating population should be drawn, starting at the ward level in the capital, and the distribution should be managed by the ward commissioners and "members" under the supervision of the military. This should also be replicated in other parts of the country. Now is the time for the people's representatives to prove their mettle and their worth.
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