By: Sukumar/Solan
The dreaded Corona Virus has made people to confine themselves to the four-walls of their homes. The confinement and the restrictions were not voluntary, but enforced by invoking various powers vested with the executive. All actions and restrictions imposed by the executive and the elected government were accepted by the judicial institutions after visualizing of the threat from the fast spreading menace of the Corona Virus. The state government has given three help-line numbers as 104, 108 and 1100 to the people seeking administrative help during the period.
Though the state government started imposing some restrictions in the state from the second week of March, Himachal Pradesh was locked-down practically from the day of Janta Curfew on March 22. The state government imposed the restrictions of locked-down on March 23, when the chief minister announced the same in Vidhan Sabha. Also the budget session was cut-off the same day after the Finance and Appropriation Bill-2020 was passed in the Assembly. The next day on March 24, the Chief Minister announced imposition of Curfew for an indefinite period. While, the same day, Prime Minister in his message to the nation at 8 pm declared imposed complete locked-down from the first Navratri that March 25 for 21 days.
In fact, the state and the Union governments were alerted by the WHO and various agencies about the threat from the Corona Virus in February, the executive woke up very late and perhaps adopted the policy of ‘wait and watch’ on this issue. As the situation started worsening, the executive again was looking at the political bosses in power to give them the directions to act. Even during the period of ‘wait and watch’ and interval of action proposed by the political bosses in power, the executive and health authorities did not make preparations and arrangements for the actions, hence, the executive was trapped in its own ‘wait and watch’ policy unawares when the worsening of situation forced the governments to take strict restrictions immediately, which of course caused a sort of panic in the people. As the spree of buying of essential commodities, en-mass exodus of people etc began, the curfew was imposed in the state, not allowing the people to settle down. In this huff of imposed curfew, there were sharp reactions by various sections.
The district administration at first ordered the relaxation of curfew schedules that varied in the state.  For Shimla District relaxation was from 8 am to 11 am daily, in Solan District from 8 am to 12 noon, in Sirmaur district from 10 am to 1 pm, in Mandi district from 10 am to 2 pm, in Hamirpur district from 7 am to 10 am, in Bilaspur district from 10 am to 2 pm, in Chamba district from 11 am to 2 pm (on alternate days), in Kangra district from 10 am to 11 am, in Kullu district from 10 am to 3 pm, in Kinnaur district from 10 am to 1 pm, and 4 pm to 6 pm. However, after the feedback, the Chief Minister announced six-hour relaxation in curfew.
After the people started misusing six hour relaxation in curfew and defeated the purpose of social distancing during this period, the state government has decided to cut three hours relaxation in curfew daily. This was announced by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in a review of the status of relaxation during video conferencing with the top government officials and the deputy commissioners of the state from Shimla on Friday. Thakur said that deputy commissioners would be authorised to fix the relaxation timings as per their suitability and requirements of the respective district.
Though the Chief Minister has asked the deputy commissioners to ensure home delivery of essential commodities so that people don’t come out of their homes for getting daily needs items besides ensuring proper distancing between person to person.  He said that DCs must evolve some mechanism particularly in urban areas by roping in big chains like mega mart, big bazaar and other whole sellers to ensure home delivery. He said that in rural areas Panchayati Raj Institutions could be involved to provide delivery of essential commodities to the people nearer to their localities. He also urged the volunteers to come forward in providing home delivery of essential items to the people. The administration is not well prepared and it would take time to streamline the system(s).
The Chief Minister said that it should also be ensured that no one is left without food. He also directed to provide food and shelter in the urban and rural areas to the labourers.  However, no arrangement is being made for the transportation of workers to their industries or to send them to their respective homes. Administration(s) seem little keen to help them.
Thakur has said that it should be ensured that medicine shops be opened and supply of milk and vegetables to be adequate so that people do not face any inconvenience in getting these items during the period of relaxation of curfew. Thakur also asked the deputy commissioners to make such arrangements that farmers and horticulturists do not face any problem in getting fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and spray oils for their crops during relaxation of curfew.
Despite the advisory and directions of the Prime Minister’s Office regarding print media and electronic media, and the letter from the Director of the Information and Public Relations, the administration in many districts have failed to facilitate the journalists.
There are many other shortcomings and flaws in the systems, which needed to be taken care of by the Ministers who have been assigned each district in the state. However, some of the administrative officers feel offended due to the presence of the ministers and their intervention. In such a situation, many a times, the imposition of emergencies, curfews or prohibitory orders tend to turn the executive as autocracy.
Writer is senior journalist of Himachal Pradesh. Views expressed are personal
