While the doctors, nurses and support staff at the hospitals and quarantine units are having a Herculean task dealing with COVID-19, the police and its traffic wing are having a horrendous chore across the State maintaining sanity on the streets while dealing with the lawlessness created due to lack of planning by the authorities to ensure that the public is not denied supply of the much required essential commodities. The Central forces having stepped in to assist maintain law and order it should come as a solace to our overworked and exhausted cops.
Our Chief Secretary Parimal Rai and the IGP Jaspal Singh have to ensure that our cops and their lathis too get the enough required rest. Needless to say proper food and refreshments should be provided to them in terms of what has been reiterated by the Goa Human Rights Commission in its orders over the years. More importantly the cops must be given personal protection equipment to be safe from contracting the fatal virus. The government should also consider giving a special allowance for the cops discharging their duties during this deadly epidemic. To lessen the burden, staff from other units of the Goa Police like Security, FRRO, Accounts, Administration and those from the Crime Branch who are not quarantined could be drafted in to assist. The government should also contemplate asking other government servants to assist the cops in maintaining social distancing at the groceries and other stores which are open for the public. As it is anticipated that the current lock-down may be extended through the summer, an action plan for the long haul must be in place with the focus being the least possible inconvenience to the public and greatest support to our frontline staff. There needs to be a very robust, meticulously planned and well thought mechanism in place to deal with the current grave crisis. There can be no room for tardiness or complacency at this crucial juncture. It has to be a vigorous do or die battle. Government and everyone must realise and accept that we are in this together and we must all do whatever it takes to be well equipped to battle and be victorious over this virus. The burden of responsibility must not fall just on a selected few. In a global pandemic crisis of such magnitude, it is only strong spirited leadership and great compassion to prevent human suffering through strong determination, cooperation, self- discipline, courage, kindness and investment in equipment and human resources but with a sense of urgency like never before will see us through it. Now is all we have so do all you can! Vision alone is not enough. It must be combined with urgent action. This is a crisis! Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
