Many suggest WFH, early night curfew as stopgap measures Complete lockdown only way out, say people
LUCKNOW: Though complete lockdown is being seen as the only hope in the fight against the killer pandemic, many people suggest that as a stopgap arrangement, the government must order work from home as much as possible in government and private offices, apart from further preponing the night curfew timing till a call is taken on complete shutdown.
“We strongly believe that nothing but a complete lockdown can save people from dying. But we also feel that the government may not exercise this option till the panchayat elections are over with counting on May 2,” Uttar Pradesh Adarsh Vyapar Mandal president Sanjay Gupta said.
“So, the least the government can do till then is to order work from home for government and private staff,” he suggested, adding “Government can also think of preponing the timing of closure of markets by an hour or two, though we have urged the trading community to keep their shops and establishments closed—lockdown or not lockdown.”
Suresh Chablani, convener, Akhil Bharatiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal, Lucknow, said that the situation in the state capital was turning from bad to worse. “In this tough situation, we are with the district administration in its fight against Covid-19. I strongly believe that night curfew should start a bit early in the evening as it will act as a deterrent and will keep people indoors. However, shops should be allowed to open a little early in the morning,” suggested Chablani.
The state government recently ordered night curfew from 9 pm to 6 am in cities with more than 500 active Covid-19 cases and also said that only 50% government staff would come to office, with the rest working from home in four cities: Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Kanpur Nagar. The curfew timing was later preponed by an hour.
Many believe there is need for further restrictions till the complete lockdown is in place. “Considering the horrible situation coupled with helplessness of the system, the government must think of more restrictions on markets, mandis etc, besides allowing at least 75 per cent staff to work from home in government offices,” Uttar Pradesh Power Officers’ Association working president Awadhesh Kumar Verma suggested.
BL Kushwaha, government employees and teachers’ association leader and spokesman, supported the work- fromhome idea with some reservations but also suggested the office timings should be staggered to thin out crowds in offices and on roads.
He said he was in favour of all the government staff and not just 50 per cent working from home, provided government provided necessary facilities to them for it.
“The first and foremost requirement for any employee to work from home is that he must have a laptop with highspeed broadband connection,” Kushwaha pointed out.
“I think not even 10% of our staff have a laptop and a broadband connection at home,” he added.
Another government employee leader SK Pandey said the situation was very bad, especially in Lucknow and the government must impose all possible restrictions with regard to markets and offices to save people from dying. “We will work in offices or do business only when we get to survive,” said Pandey who himself is battling Covid.
Dr PK Gupta, a pathologist and former president Indian Medical Association (IMA), an expert on the subject, said that it was a crisis situation and staying indoorswas the only way out of it.