Recently I wrote one blog post about the corona, and It received a reasonably good response. So you can read them Corona aftershocks: Is recession imminent and How to tackle the crisis: Corona Recession.
But the question is what corona’s effect on the ground level. As the Lockdown is effective in Maharashtra even before the 21-day Lockdown, It is sure that there must be some halo effect on the Ground level. As the son of one health care employee, I can go outside of my home and see the world empty. So I am going to write about my experience, not going to use any second-hand experience. What I am writing is all that I saw and listened to.
Our Building is empty. We have seven flats. Only four are in use, but all due to corona. One family relocated elsewhere. Others are living completely LOCKED in their home. There are not many talks, like gossip, which was common before. One family owned one shop of clothing. I can’t see them going outside. The children are not playing out. Nothing.
The small shop in our lane, which was like a landmark, was not much open. Many bikes which wee so much in use, now I can’t see the outside. Other small shops near my home are also closed, we don’t know when we will see them open. The shops selling milk and other retail items are only available. But that is also very few.
In India, we have D-mart, the way US Peoples have Walmart. The last time I saw it open was maybe around 22 days ago. Another medium-sized retail shop, Navjivan, sells the retail items but with strict restrictions on entering the shop. I never saw the lines to enter such shops.
Hardly one or two cars on the highway. Few trucks with stickers saying they are on duty. Two petrol pumps are entirely closed. Those selling it are asking you to prove that you need it. That also in restrictive time. The construction work which was going on was stopped completely. The automobile shops, selling and repairing, are entirely closed. Bicycle repair shops are also closed. I went to the central market part for some time; Phule market, which was always open and crowded, was shut down. My hobby is sometimes I go to some sweets shop and eat some sweet one or two-piece. Even that is also closed.
Primary health centers should give primary-level health services, and I can see what is happening in all rural areas. Small units where bricks are made are hit severely. Yes, they are still making bricks today but not on a high level. I can’t see any big tractors and trucks going with some construction material.
As I am living very close to one railway track and traveling through another, I can tell you that hardly any big shipment is going through anywhere. I can’t see any Railway container field with coal going anywhere. Once I saw them But not that frequent. I live near where Shipment came to trucks via railway and traveled to other parts. Even that is also not much active.
When I was in BBA, I fought with one of my classmates that a skilled workforce is static and hardly traveled from its job. But today, I can see many unskilled, half-skilled, and skilled workers coming to their homes from different areas: Mumbai, Surat, and many long-distance cities. I was listening to some tragic stories of them. As Railway and State transport services are not available, people are traveling at risk. Saw that such peoples are not welcome in the town, and after the interference of police and checking in PHC, they went to their homes.
When I needed to go to the library for some reference books, I went to North Maharashtra University. That day everything was closed. Watching at least security guards is common. But that day, I couldn’t even find much. I count 2-3. The library was closed, so I was denied to enter, and in fun, They told me that I might even need a sign of the vice-chancellor to enter the library as the situation was different.
The worst-hit is agriculture. Unexpectedly. Shops selling fertilizers, seeds, and other agricultural materials are closed. As Industry is not using it, electricity is available for farmers. But workers are not public. Saw some farms at the stage where the crop was ready to harvest, but nothing was happening. In some farms where harvesting is done, the logistics are not available. Three days before, some farmers shared one harvesting machine as it was a demanding time.
I saw people breaking the restrictions but many of them covering their noses. Though people are coming out and talking, the talks are not about some happy gathering. On the contrary, happiness is wiped out from their faces. Though we are in the MARRIAGE AND festival season, I can’t see anyone preparing for it.
I am not a person who gets scared easily. This puts little pressure. Like we are under some threat. Like, undeclared war. Another thing is the use of hand sanitizer. I have been using it since I needed to explain this product to the chemist.
As a student, our life changed big. We never thought we needed to take so long on Holliday that there’s no guarantee about exams. At least I even missed all the educational work. Yes, assignments will be done, but the happiness of presenting them in front of the class is different. For that assignment, searching the study material, divided all roles, and made presentations. I missed it all.
