Mokokchung on Wednesday witnessed a rush in traffic and in the markets as people came out to shop for essentials after three days of shops closure from May 30 till June 1. (Morung Photo)
Mokokchung, June 2 (MExN): The Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) today stated that prolonged lockdown was not the solution to end the pandemic.
MCCI in a press release issued suggested to “rejig the chain of command” of the District Task Force on COVID-19 Mokokchung while also suggesting that “collateral damage” in the fight against the pandemic be avoided. Setting up an “Education, Information and Communication cell” under the District Task Force was also suggested by MCCI.
Stating that MCCI had been working together with and supporting the DTF Mokokchung since day one, and claiming that MCCI was the “most competent entity in Mokokchung in matters of exigencies of the local economy and economic principles,” the business body offered its suggestions “in cognizance of the precarious socio-economic scenario prevailing in Mokokchung” and the “existential local economic situation vis-à-vis COVID-19”
‘Economically crippling’
MCCI observed that a prolonged lockdown was counter-productive and advocated for a phased and gradual exit from the “economically crippling” lockdown. “This should not be misconstrued as wanting to keep our businesses open at the cost of public health but rather as a pragmatic approach towards living our lives with the virus in the new normal,” MCCI said.
It said that too many households will fall into the debt trap and that financial distress will take its toll on the economically weaker sections of society and that many will fall victim to physical and mental health problems due to lack of physical activity because of the prolonged lockdown.
On the economic front, MCCI observed that a prolonged lockdown would cause an economic downturn wherefrom it will take years for Mokokchung’s fragile economy to bounce back from.
“It is also to be noted that there are villages and neighbouring districts dependent on Mokokchung for their economic sustenance and the repercussions of any economic disruption in our town spreads far and wide,” MCCI said.
It also said that Mokokchung imports almost every commodity from the neighbouring state and that abrupt lockdown disruptions causes immense strain on the supply chain. “Lockdowns, if at all necessary, should be imposed only as a last resort after ascertaining the market dynamics. Pressing the panic button and imposing total lockdowns without conducting any empirical analysis is a demonstration of immaturity that does more harm than good,” MCCI cautioned.
‘Rejig chain of command’
MCCI observed that public notifications, orders and information should solely be relayed from the office of the DC and Chairman of the DTF and should not be lacking in clarity so that there is no room for dilution of information and mass confusion. MCCI suggested that the “weak link in the chain of command” be identified and fixed immediately so that the DTF is strengthened to achieve the desired goals, stating that disruptive orders from various “offices” other than the DC is not only causing much confusion, disinformation and commotion among the masses but also economically depressing.
Collateral Damage- Economic Disruption and Social Impact
MCCI stated that all professions and businesses that earn a livelihood was essential and that the economic disruption caused by a prolonged lockdown where economically weaker sections of the society are deprived of their livelihood earnings was tantamount to violation of basic human rights. Stating that avoiding collateral damage in the fight against the pandemic was “commonsense policy,” MCCI observed that the “price of flattening the curve should not be costlier than the pandemic itself, or the cure worse than the problem itself.” MCCI also added that apart from the physical and mental health problems directly associated with prolonged lockdowns, there were other worrisome factors caused by lockdowns as they contravene conventional economic principles which inevitably lead to inflation, scarcity and instability in the market.
MCCI also expressed apprehension that without smooth trade and commerce because of the lockdown, the local socio-economic situation would deteriorate and create fertile grounds for anti-social activities propelled by poverty, unemployment and financial distress. MCCI also regretted that the state government was not likely to provide any financial stimulus to the business owners or alternative source of income to the daily wage earners.
Information, Education and Communication
Information, Education and Communication (IEC), MCCI suggested, was a proven strategy to spread awareness through communication channels to a target audience to achieve a desired positive result and appealed that the DTF may consider setting up an IEC cell to wage an extensive, sustained and effective campaign against the pandemic.
MCCI said that continued sensitization campaign to encourage COVID-19 appropriate behavioral change as opposed to an economically crippling prolonged lockdown was the way forward to live in the “new normal.”
Apart from managing the sensitization campaign, MCCI also suggested that the proposed IEC cell may also take up the task of dispelling fake news and disinformation, fact checking, and dissemination inspiring stories thereby exposing the masses to positive stories and factual accounts which will aid in better equipping the society in the collective fight against the pandemic. “Tabulating the number of new COVID-19 positive tests indicating mild and severe cases, number of recoveries, number of active cases, mortality rate and other relevant data on a daily basis would keep the people informed and not be swayed by rumors,” MCCI said, while adding that efforts may also be made to fight against stigmatization.
MCCI also noted that the virus was “here to stay with us” and that the public must not panic when the number of COVID-19 positive cases were high, nor should they be complacent when the numbers were low. MCCI also said that it was heartening to note that Mokokchung’s collective fight against COVID-19 have been yielding encouraging results.
