The Prime Minister addressed the nation recently as a true leader, friend, guide, and protector of 135 crore determined Indians. In his address, he lauded both the indomitable spirit of all Indians, our medical might, and the matchless vaccination feat. It is extremely laudable that no VIP culture was allowed in vaccination. All there was due to “Sabka Saath, Sabka Prayas”. The vaccines were made in India and made by India—totally science-driven and science born. This was a boost to the image of New India. The Prime Minister warned against lowering the Covid guard and advised against laxity. He counselled Indians that just as we always wear our shoes when we leave our house, we should always, likewise, wear our mask too. Hence, we should “not let the mask slip”.
In the face of the first phase of Covid-19, the Prime Minister, with the cooperation of all Indians, faced the unprecedented challenge with unflinching resolve and success which was unparalleled. Our medical infrastructure was strengthened manifold and all other conceivable containment, safety, relief and enforcement measures were taken most promptly to counter the onslaught of this devastating virus. These measures included safety precautions which were highlighted in all channels and ringtones, setting up of control rooms and help lines to provide information and assistance, closure of all schools and colleges, banning of all public gatherings (social, cultural, political, educational, and religious), closure of places of entertainment, declaration and implementation of Section 144, stoppage of all passenger public and private transport (air, rail and road), except for transportation of essential items, publicity and implementation of all advisories, camps to provide free medicines and awareness, supplies of essential items for the public, different stimulus packages and schemes for the lower income groups including daily wagers, free ration to various ration card holders, incentives for doctors, nurses and other health workers, setting up of relief camps and shelter homes for the poor and migrant labourers, strengthening the medical infrastructure, notification of laboratories to test samples, organising factories to manufacture PPEs and stitch masks, production of ventilators, mobile health teams to screen patients and for house to house surveys, gearing up mobile dispensaries, setting up of isolation wards and quarantine facilities, setting up of Covid testing kiosks, experimenting plasma therapy, using tele medicine and other measures, distribution of cash to construction workers, deferment of payment of fees of schools, social distance planning with monitoring committees for every district, block and village, setting up of containment zones and a slew of other measures for the benefit of all sections of society.
Simultaneously, well-crafted pre-emptive and pro-active measures were taken, coupled with a very well shepherded programme to stimulate the economy. Judicious assistance was provided to businesses and other sectors. Further, under the PM-Kisan scheme, Rs 2000 was transferred to 84 million farmers; 80 million beneficiaries of the Ujwala LPG scheme received three cylinders free of cost. India launched the largest food security programme in the world in which 800 million people were given 5 kg of wheat/rice at Rs 2 a bag. The Prime Minister announced a Rs 20 lakh crore economic package to help the poor, entrepreneurs, farmers, migrants, and industries with major incentives for the MSME sector. Alongside, the government emphatically kept stressing the need to follow Covid appropriate behaviour like social distancing, sanitising and compulsory wearing masks all the time. This herculean achievement goes to the credit of PM Modi especially the move so that while many democracies called out the military to enforce lockdown measures, PM Modi did not invoke any such emergency or authoritarian measures. His only weapon was the trust and faith of 135 crore resolute Indians who voluntarily cooperated, as equal stakeholders, by following all government measures and norms.
Nevertheless, having greatly succeeded in our initial efforts against this pandemic, it was felt that many of us did not continue to follow up on the basic covid precautions or the do’s and dont’s of the government seriously after the first wave. We lowered our guard and divorced caution. As a result, it was extremely sad that the second wave took a heavy toll. However, the Prime Minister and his dedicated team immediately rose to the occasion and converted the unachievable to the attainable, by taking immediate measures to increase the supply of oxygen, and availability of medical resources, ensure immediate testing and vaccination of the population which is known as the world’s largest vaccination drive. There was global support and solidarity with medical assistance pouring from all sides of the world due to the Prime Minister’s lofty stature. PM Modi converted a peacetime process to wartime machinery.
The fact that a billion Indians have now got vaccinated is truly a reflection of the Prime Minister’s unstinted resolve to protect and save Indians from the impending third wave. PM Modi has proved his stellar mettle as a truly inspiring leader, friend and guide to all Indians to counsel them not to lower their guard and “let the mask not slip”. Therefore, it is our duty, as responsible citizens, to abide by this sagacious advice and continue following Covid appropriate behaviour to ensure that we do not face another wave in order to finally win the battle against Covid-19.
The author is a former Chairman of the Haryana Public Service Commission. The views expressed are personal.
The Prime Minister and his dedicated team immediately rose to the occasion and converted the unachievable to the attainable, by taking immediate measures to increase the supply of oxygen, and availability of medical resources, ensure immediate testing and vaccination of the population which is known as the world’s largest vaccination drive. There was global support and solidarity with medical assistance pouring from all sides of the world due to the Prime Minister’s lofty stature. PM Modi converted a peacetime process to wartime machinery.