Equally in pandemic

Free Thinker *

Covid must be a firm believer of egalitarianism, strongly promoting equality . It doesn't discriminate people on the basis of class, hierarchy , race or sex.

Globally it affects one an all. The Princes and paupers are on the same pedestal. Ministers suffer just like the maids. Presidents and pions are getting the same medication and there is no special medicine for the privileged.

Covid is making us more equal than communism or socialism did & does. Money power withers; the enjoyment industry is truly blunted . You can't fly here and there. All luxury hotels are closed (including tiny ones). The popular tourist spots are closed. Parties and pubs are gone.

Beauty industry in coma and tourism is almost dead. Sea beaches are empty. Public dining and dancing is not visible. Wandering and wine-ning have become rare. Covid has a proletariat bias. At the initial stage of the pandemic the economic pull of the cities and towns turned reversed.

Workers , labourers and helpers earning livelihood in the Metros and Cosmopolis have come back to their villages . We thought that their economic life would be devastated. To our surprise they have started running the rural economy within four five months. Gardening, pastoral, fishing and poultry economy is booming in many parts.

It is ponderable why elites are looking for a special accommodation in the hospital when hundreds of positive people are still desperately struggling to get admission for treatment ?

Many patients are living together in dormitory; at this critical juncture do we need a special ward for the VIP Covid patients? In fact I was also desperately looking for a special ward in Covid hospitals or Covid Centres for my friend who was declared positive a few days back.

While interacting with the top Health care providers I came to know that they don't have special wards or single rooms for Covid patients. Even the top police was kept in a makeshift room in a Premier Hospital.

The only Private Hospital in the State has somehow managed to maintain a few rooms for Covid patients; but they were always occupied. Even the general ward is full. The situation is really bad.

This Pandemic has taught the world many lessons. We see the entire humanity suffer irrespective of caste, class, creed, colour or community. Even the kings suffer just like ordinary citizens. Finally it seems we are getting vaccines.

Some of the positive people around the world include Prince Charles (British Royalty), Kiran Majumdar Shaw (CEO), Madonna (singer), Jair Boisonaro(Brazilian President), Boris Johnson ( British Prime Minister), Usain Bolt (athlete), Amitab Bachan (actor), Novak Djokovic (player), Shivraj Singh (Chief Minister), Manu Singhvi (lawyer).

Surprisingly among the positives, our CM is also included. Perhaps because of the election campaigns and celebration.

Business blows-away, commerce collapses, trade tumbles , tourism trifles , Airlines arrested, construction crumbles, employment eroded, entertainment ends. But human beings are cooperating with one another for collective survival. 200 vaccines are on the way.

Now 3/4 vaccines have already crossed the final trial and are ready to be administered. Mr Guleria, AIIMS Director opines, "first quarter of next year, we should have vaccines available in India. You will have many vaccines to choose from, it is a very interesting time". It is certainly good news.

Another happiest news is that a few days back one of our Health officials made it clear that vaccination will start in Manipur early next year.

"But for vaccination you need to remain alive".