Hyderabad: People jittery as government mulls lockdown again

Hyderabad: As the recently concluded harsh lockdown didn't produce the desired results, the Telangana government is said to be weighing another bout of lockdown in GHMC limits where the virus spread is relentless. Cases in the city have grown at one of the fastest rates in recent weeks.

After dithering over widespread tests, the government seems to have no idea how to slow the spread of Covid. Though there is high awareness among the public about the virus threat, close social interactions continue to play havoc with public health.

As such, the possibility of another lockdown looks imminent and the people can expect the news in another three-to four days, if one were to go by the words of Health Minister Eatala Rajender.

The draconian lockdown has caused paid and misery to the society, hitting hard the marginalised sections. Small businessmen, craftsmen and labour, whose livelihoods are devastated, are at their wits' end how to survive another lockdown.

The Hans India spoke to a cross-section of people who do not deny the march of coronavirus and its impact but are wary of the economic consequences of such a decision.

It is a catch-22 situation. On the one hand, the coronavirus pandemic has stifled every one, leaving no one, big or small, affluent or pauper, the rickshawallah and the pilot. The news of a possible lockdown however is causing anxiety among people.

Businesses have been hit badly and were slowly regaining a foothold but the sudden rise of cases in the city forced several traders to in the Old City as well as in Secunderabad to voluntarily opt for a closure. The hardest hit are servants, barbers, autorickshaws drivers and daily wage labourers.

WHAT THEY SAID

The Telangana government must have continued the lockdown. Health is above everything. We are trying our best to bring students for online classes

- M Hima Bindhu, Teacher, Secunderabad Public School

Earlier this month the government has reduced pension amount. We are relying completely on whatever meager amount we are getting through pension after buying the medicines."

 - Ibrahim, a pensioner, Chanchalguda

The government should take care of autowallahs who have already been among the worest-hit. The government should provide financial aid to all of them. Rs 5000 aid is given in other states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka. Telangana too should come to the aid of auto drivers

- Md Amanullah Khan, Convenor, TS Auto drivers Association JAC

People already experienced three months of partial lockdown and again if the lockdown is implemented, the government should take all measures so that hawkers, street vendors should not suffer.

- Sanjeev, member, Human Rights Forum

We are losing hope. The prevailing situation has ravaged our lives affecting health and economic condition. I have to take care of my retired husband who is a paralytic patient and the daughter who is coping with Covid

- Aalia Begum, Hussaini Alam

I have also seen communities and colonies taking up the initiatives in their localities where they have locked their colonies for safety concerns. Similarly, if all residencies and colonies follow the same it will somehow lead to decrease in cases. No one is following social distancing norms and it seems people don't care. So, if another lockdown is imposed, at least such so-called covidiots will be confined to homes and people will be safe.

- Leslie, an employee of HCL, Alwal