Lockdown musings 02042020

Today I went out again in the morning to buy some vegetables and grocery items. The effect of lockdown is now well permeated after the initial exuberance (or fear, however you put it). Much less crowd was there on the streets and other than grocery shops other shops were firmly under lock and key. Even the sweet shop remained closed, though it was exempted recently and was therefore expected to be doing business.

The street vendors selling vegetables, fish, etc were there too. The quantity of the items being sold has been more than halved. Though scarce, by normal standards, the price of vegetables and fish is not very high. There was a noticeable change in the body language of the shopkeepers as well as the street vendors. They seemed to be more worried about selling the goods rather than turning away the customers, particularly the small vendors. Perhaps the window of sale period (7-11 a.m) caused their anxiety as they are not keen to carry back any goods unsold. This was a dilemma for them. On the other hand, the customers, mostly middle class are now realising the value of minimalism and thrift. Everyone is now making necessary purchases only and have stocked up on the essentials.

Another thought that comes to my mind is related to the local matters. I am not aware of the rest of the country, though my wife and son are complaining about the quality, quantity, and price of vegetables in Navi Mumbai. But here, it’s different. Maybe in West Bengal, the availability of vegetables and fish won’t suffer much if local transport is allowed. The people here can live off the land for quite some time as the production of vegetables, fish, poultry, and dairy here is substantial. In fact, I have a theory that it could be cheaper in rural areas and tier-2, tier-3 towns as the produce can’t be transported easily. That’s a pity really.

Apart from that, I wonder what is happening to the other small shops and businesses? The Raddiwallah, chanachurwallah, pakodawallah, tea stall, pan shop, plastic goods seller, Chaaina maal seller, barbers, Dhobis, presswallahs, tailors( even the Ultrationwallah ). It is surprising, how many services we are used to . All these guys must be having families to look after. They have to pay for electricity, cooking gas, medicines too apart from food. How will they make both ends meet? When comparatively better-placed people are feeling the pinch, how can we expect them to survive two more weeks of inaction?

I really can’t say more and gaze into the future. But a big mess awaits us even if things become like before, after 14th April. And if the situation deteriorates, even a bigger mess awaits for us. Right now, I see medicine shops with signs - NO DETTOL / SAVLON/ SANITISER hanging outside. What happens if somebody gets wounded? Just imagine if someone runs out of the blood pressure medicines in these troubled times, or even condoms. Then most people have staggered their routine blood tests and even operations. What about those? Then probably we are ignoring other staple illnesses like dengue, malaria, etc. The more you think, a sense of panic grips. I’m not trying to be a scarecrow. I hope I am proved foolishly mistaken.