Economic activities continue in India even during lockdown as 55 % people still doing their jobs

Sudhir Kumar Rakesh, IAS (Retd.)

Patna : Lockdown in the wake of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic notwithstanding, the economic activities have not stopped in India as nearly 55 to 60 per cent of the population are exempted from it though only for agricultural activities (related to harvesting of Rabi crops, their transportation, storage etc.), production/transportation/distribution of essential commodities, Banking, important Financial Services, besides Defence forces, paramilitary forces, police force, health related professionals / workers and municipal / sanitary services.

The general impression being created is that India is under the most severe kind of Lockdown and that all economic activities have come to a grinding halt. Is that the correct picture ? Let us examine a few important facts!

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, has allowed exemption for agricultural activities (related to harvesting of Rabi crops, their transportation, storage etc.) from the nation wide Lockdown. As per data made available by Census of India, 2011, 54.6% of the Indian population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities.

Thus nearly 45 to 50% of India’s population (engaged in agriculture, but leaving out most of the allied activities) is out of complete Lockdown. Of course, this exemption is only for agriculture related activities and the basic principle of social distancing has to be followed while carrying out these agricultural activities also.

Moreover, production/transportation/distribution of essential commodities has also been exempted from the Lockdown. Banking, important Financial Services etc. are also exempt from the Lockdown. Defence forces, paramilitary forces, police force, health related professionals / workers and municipal / sanitary services are also exempted from the Lockdown.

In many States of India (including Bihar) Gram Panchayats have been put on duty to carry out certain important activities. Thus these institutions are also not locked down completely.

The Railway Minister of India has informed the nation that Indian Railways continue to propel the infrastructure sector and ramp up the supply chain during COVID-19 Lockdown. He has put out data in the public domain – Indian Railways have transported more than 1.9 lakh wagons of coal and over 13,000 wagons of petroleum products from April 1 to April 11, 2020.

Just because means of mass communication (Air services for passengers, Rail services for passengers, Buses, Taxis and Autos for passengers etc.) are not being seen operating and because places of mass assembly (like Schools, Colleges, Malls, Markets, Sports Stadia and places of religious congregation etc.) are wearing a deserted look at the moment, do not make the mistake of thinking that the entire nation is locked down completely.

In any case, we must remember that the voluntary social lockdown took place on March 22, 2020, in India. Subsequent Lockdown came into effect from the midnight of March 24, 2020. In effect, the country has not completed even three weeks of complete Lockdown and between 55 to 60 per cent of the population has already been exempted. However, this exemption is not for personal enjoyment. This is for meeting social and national requirements. This exemption must be used only for the purposes for which it has been granted.

So, please have faith in the capabilities of this great nation. We shall not only overcome the CORONA virus challenge, we shall emerge from it much stronger! India is on its way to becoming the economic powerhouse that it deserves to be!