Covid 19: Creating a balance between life and the economy

I guess by now most of you would have seen the “Video Blog” I published last week... titled “COVID-19 VS ECONOMY”. I am writing this to a widespread community hence the English used here is just … very simple and straight.

Dear Friends

I
guess by now most of you would have seen the “Video Blog” I
published last week… titled “COVID-19 VS ECONOMY”. I am writing
this to a widespread community hence the English used here is just …
very simple and straight.

My
last video blog explains the sufferings caused to millions of people
due to this pandemic and the on-going anxiety that persists… from
children to senior citizens. This new lifestyle has impacted the
whole fabric of our lives… causing fear… many restrictions… and
so on. Even though I do not believe in speculating on Covid-19, I am
also living in the hope that in the near future this will be behind
us. I must reiterate that the final solution will depend on the
release of the vaccine and effective therapeutics.

Now
let me try to address my views on how to contain this pandemic in the
interim. Straight off the bat I can tell you that enforcing strict
laws and creating disruption to human lives and businesses is not the
answer. We should stay away from draconian practices. History tells
us even during World War II, no borders were closed… lives were
lost every day but during this time everyone worked hard to retain
their economies. So, the answer is simple… best solution is “self-discipline”. 

Everyone
must say to one self, “I don’t want to get infected by Covid-19”. Even though Science has
proven that Covid-19 attacks mostly the vulnerable people with
preexisting conditions, the youngsters have a feeling that this
disease attacks only older people and that they could do anything
they want, including blatantly violating the guide lines issued by
the respective governments. I am not a Scientist nor a Doctor, but as
a person who has lived in the most affected area in the world, New
York, we all have learnt to handle the situation based on various
advise that were provided by the experts. Till such time we get to
the point of receiving the vaccination, the only solution is “self-discipline”. 

Here
in USA (the world epicenter) the federal government nor the states
have created any fear factor amongst people. However, there are rules
in place and most of the public complies. Businesses are open,
factories function and no word of lock down. No permission is
required from authorities to get on the road to visit their children
and parents across state lines… life is normal… at the same time
people are self-conscious of the dangers.

Contrary
to the above, today in India I see lock downs/closures of certain
regions and declaring even small areas as containment areas. I am
also getting the feeling that the actions are not being executed in a
scientific manner. One day a particular area is deemed to be safe and
the next day that same area has been brought under containment…
which means no one leaves their homes and all industries in that
location must shut. How can a business establishment handle this? one
day we muster workers… work for a week and the following week again
the same area is shut and we have to send the workers home… It is
extremely challenging!

Now
let’s examine some facts and figures about the area where I live at
this time. As of writing this blog, 32,464 people have died in New
York and 15,943 have died in New Jersey, making the total of 48407
deaths. The population of New York/New Jersey combined is
approximately 18 million. Now let me compare this to the city I am
born in and where I have commercial and non-commercial interests;
Kochi, Kerala, India. The population of Kerala is 34.8 million and
the population of Kochi is 2.1 million, and as on date the total
deaths in Kerala is 233 people and in Kochi it is 32. Kudos to the
Government, Administrators, Police personnel etc. for maintaining
these safe numbers. But why are we still under restrictions? These
restrictive actions are hurting millions of people…

If
the authorities still fear, then we should closedown the entire
affected areas for 6 months and reopen after we capture covid! These
old fashioned policies will then take us to the next threat… “An economic pandemic”. 

Now
I want to address the biggest pandemic which is the “economic
pandemic”. The world economy is in trouble, including the United
States of America. For India, inward remittances will be impacted
because of the Gulf situation. Exports have fallen and continue to
fall. I am also expecting a serious contraction to our GDP which may
even lead to recession. There is a lot of unknown factors today and
unless and until we allow businesses to function, I am afraid there
are bad days ahead. We need action and not outdated techniques.

People
who are reading this blog must understand that I am writing this
purely from a practical point of view and not based on the
predictions like an economist. I feel I can go shoulder to shoulder
with a Harvard graduate on discussing and debating about operating an
economy. The Kerala government must take a more pragmatic view in
handling the economy by permitting businesses to function or else I
suggest they let the entire businesses in Kerala to shut down for 6
months and the government to handle the situation and give these
business houses the necessary financial support. There can be separate guidelines issued to the business owners for operating the factories and establishments. 

I
also have another question? Today the practice is if an employee’s
family member contracts covid… I believe the local authorities asks
the establishment where they work for to be shut… if this is the
case what happens if an employee at the cochin refinery tests
positive? Will we shut down the refinery resulting in no fuel
supplies?? Someone in the government should take a relook at this…

The
government should also look at giving concessions to shop owners by
not collecting GST, Electricity charges, local taxes, etc. and this
will be a reprieve for the common man. This will encourage everyone
to sit at home till the pandemic is done with. The banks too must not
penalize the common man and entrepreneurs for not meeting their debt
obligations to the bank. Re-structuring of loans now offered is only
an extension of a disease like cancer. Dear readers… please make a
choice… destroy covid and kill the economy or battle it with
balance knowing that the vaccine is near? You must decide …

I
must appeal to everyone reading this blog to please circulate this
among your friends and family for the sake of our economy. To the
Administrators reading this blog, all I can say is “please help our
State”. Please balance covid-19 and the economy!

Share the Post:

Related Posts

Fear of Failing

What motivates you to get up and work in the morning? This is an important question we must all have a clear answer to.

Read More

JOSE THOMAS

Jose Thomas began his entrepreneurship at the young age of 17. Born in Cochin, India as the 10th child of O. C. Thomas, partner of Choice Canning Company, he entered the family seafood business on the demise of his father… Read More…

CONTACT INFO
 

JOAN MARY

PA To Jose Thomas

:  [email protected]

:  91-98470-87504

:  91-484-3019725

FOLLOW ME

As a young cricketer wishes he could be Sachin Tendulkar and a young economist hopes that he emulate Dr.Manmohan Singh,dear friends it’s a long way to this point….. Read More