Injustice to Udaipur? Small businesses, retailers and restaurants are soft targets?

Why has Udaipur been given an additional 2 hour lockdown as compared to the other districts where the state government has imposed lockdown? Will the effect be as substantial as the loss that the traders and shopkeepers as well as eateries have to bear with this decision?

Chief Minister Saheb – markets and shops do not open for business at 6am. The markets effectively begin operations towards mid-morning. When the momentum increases around late afternoon, the police vehicles begin their rounds - asking for the shops to close. Effective business stops at 4pm.

Even in Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Sirohi, Banswara, Baran, Kota, Hanumangarh and Bhilwara, the growth rate has been ranging between 13% - 23% in the last 15 days. While Chittorgarh, Kota and  Bhilwara are still under the 8pm curfew, Rajsamand has been given full leverage – due to elections. This is nothing short of hypocrisy.  Elections zones are the biggest norm breakers and our leaders and your colleagues are busy with their propaganda turning an arrogant blind eye to the COVID safety protocol. 

Small Businesses are not responsible for the damage – they are simply soft targets

Chief Minister sahib, it is not the markets or schools that are responsible for the increase in the COVID cases. It is the failure of the government and administrative machinery in ensuring that rules are strictly followed. It is the hypocrisy of the government which is openly flouting social distancing and COVID safety norms in its election rallies.  Why must only the markets be made to bear the burden. Why must only educational institutions be asked to shut down? Why must only shops and coaching centers be asked to shut down.

The administration and government showed its strength in managing the pandemic ONLY WHEN THERE WAS COMPLETE LOCKDOWN.  The administration and government has FAILED to do the same when normal markets are in operation.  This is because the administration does not have necessary will power or intention to administer strict control. Food courts in the public areas can function even when social distancing norms are being followed. But there is no one to oversee them, hence people are taking leverage of the situation. Blame us and shut down our businesses. Only then we will learn.  Why not take the political leaders to task when election rallies are being held and the leaders at the helm are flouting their own established protocols openly. Who will bell them?

Selective Crackdown

The police is cracking down on people who are driving unmasked in their own cars or on their two wheelers. The police is cracking down on some shops or restaurants – this is selective behavior.

Where is the police when people are openly bathing in the lakes? No one is stopping them. The District Collector at Udaipur ordered that people who are on their morning walks or run be forced to wear masks – this is dangerous as O2 supply is constricted, while those swimming in the lakes are doing so freely.  On being asked, a police constable replied – “Sahab prashaasan ki daadgiri hai… rasookhdaar ko swimming ki permission de dete hain jiska sab fayda utha lete hain…hum to sirf hukm maan sakte hain”. Only when the government ordered shutting down of the swimming pools earlier this week, did the administration step up and regulate swimming in the open lakes. It is too late by now. The cases have risen and you have no idea what to do.

Unregulated public management system in the Vaccine centers and Camps

Your government has done a tremendous job in the vaccination drive. No doubt. Rajasthan is among the best states in the country in implementing the vaccination drive. However, social distancing norms went for a toss in these very vaccination centers, where people were standing at 6mm distance waiting for their turn. Though the process is smooth and streamlined, a lot of cases could have emanated from these vaccination centers itself.

Finally, small businesses, traders and retails stores should not be made scapegoats in this kneejerk reaction.