‘Lockdown will devastate poor and weak’: Rahul Gandhi on Covid-19 crisis

As thousands of daily wagers walked towards their hometowns amid the coronavirus lockdown, former Congress chief and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday sought a more “nuanced and compassionate” approach to deal with the crisis.

“The lockdown will devastate our poor and weak. It will deliver a heavy blow to the India we love. India isn’t black and white. Our decisions have to be carefully thought through. A more nuanced and compassionate approach is required to deal with this crisis. It’s still not too late,” the former Congress president said.

Mr Gandhi also asked the government to ensure that students who are stuck in residential facilities and hostels are able to keep in touch with their families.

In a letter to Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, he said that in light of the national lockdown, a significant number of students staying in hostels and other residential facilities of schools and institutions of higher education have been unable to go home.

“I have received several requests from parents to

ensure the well-being of their children staying in residential facilities. Currently, 20 students from my parliamentary constituency, Wayanad, are studying in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Nainital,, as part of the migration programme between linked JNVs in different linguistic regions. I have spoken to the principal and was reassured that all measures for their well-being are being taken”.

He asked the HRD ministry to issue instructions to educational institutions with residential facilities to facilitate regular communication between students and their families.

“I would also like to request the ministry to ensure uninterrupted supply of basic necessities, especially in residential schools like JNVs. Further, adequate precautionary measures should be adopted, and institu