Let us begin a new a life: ASUK (part III)

It stated that the lockdown being imposed in the country has been the most cruel and draconian measure ever taken in the world.

ByIFP Bureau

Updated 15 Jun 2020, 6:42 pm

IFP Representational Image

The proscribed umbrella organisation Alliance For Socialist Unity, Kangleipak (ASUK) has expressed concerns over the present condition of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Indian nation and the state of Manipur.

A statement signed by chairman Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) N Oken and president Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) Ksh Laba Meitei stated the present economy of the county has been damaged beyond measure and there are speculations that it may not recover at all.

Programme director IGC (International Growth Centre) Dr Pronab Sen who was the chief statistician of India has stated on June 10 that the annual production rate of India in 2020 will be reduced to 12.5 percent, it said.  The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has also predicted the same. Pronab Sen has expressed that about 50 million people may become unemployed.

Advertisement

As per Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), more than 122 million people in the country have lost their jobs in April.  75 percent of them are owners of small scale businesses and daily wagers, it added. A UN report published by the ILO has stated that 400 million Indians working in the informal sectors will face extreme poverty, it said.  West Bengal Finance minister Amit Mitra has reported that 50 million Indians (including their families) are in the informal sector, and the half of it i.e. 25 million will go through extreme poverty, ASUK mentioned.

In March 2020, the production rate of commodities produced in factories was reduced to 16.7 percent. The multi-million transport sector has come to complete standstill and has made zero revenue. As per Goldman Sachs, the export sector of India was reduced to 35 percent in March alone. In April, it was further reduced to 60 percent and there are no signs of getting even a slight recovery.  The value of Indian Rupees has also witnessed a sudden downfall.  The banking system of India is in a complete chaos, the release said.   

In the past 2-3 years, many banks faced crises and fell apart and there were frequent reports of loans turning NPA, ASUK said. Banks in the public sector failed initially and it was followed by infrastructure investment banks such as IL & FS. The crisis was spread further to cooperative banks such as Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative while private banks such as Yes Bank were also affected by it.  Finally, Mutual funds were even closed down, it added.

The policy followed by the Indian government has been a failure both in terms of fighting the pandemic and in terms of national economy. The number of positive cases reaching more than 3 lakh while more 8,800 having died of the pandemic even as the lockdown continues, shows that the coronavirus policy of the Indian government has been a complete failure, it said.  

Advertisement

The release further mentioned that the lockdown being imposed in the country has been the most cruel and draconian measure ever taken in the world.  The rights of the citizens have been severely violated but it was all in vain, it stated.  The lockdown only made the community spread successful, it added.

Due to the sudden lockdown, 15,00, 000 trucks had to halt at the highways, hills and distant locations, causing around 30-40 lakh drivers and handymen to spend their days in hunger and starvation. Migrant workers were forced to leave their jobs without even getting their payments; they were made to vacate their rents and accommodations. Unemployed, homeless and broke, and without any transport facilities, they had to walk thousands of kilometres to reach their homes. They were not given food, water or money but forced to bear the heat of the Indian summer. They walked under the heat without umbrellas while some were barefooted, ASUK said.

The pitiful exodus of migrant workers was live telecasted for 24 hours in TV channels but their plight did not affect the politicians and leaders of the country, the release said.  Modi remained unmoved during the tragic event, it added.

 

Advertisement

First published:

Tags:

lockdownCOVID-19 pandemicASUKAlliance For Socialist Unity Kangleipak

IFP Bureau

IFP Bureau

IMPHAL, Manipur

Advertisement

Top Stories

Loading data...
Advertisement

IFP Exclusive

Loading data...