Lockdown for health safety

Lockdown in Jammu & Kashmir like other parts of the country has been imposed this time for the health safety of the people and as such people have to cooperate with the authorities for the safety of their own lives. While the police and forces personnel have to use force as a last resort for enforcing lockdown, the people also have to show wisdom in adhering to the advisories of the police and health department for their own safety. Reports of physical assaults on shopkeepers by police and paramilitaries for violating the lockdown orders are very disturbing and an immediate explanation from the accused uniformed men is the only way to address the genuine apprehension of the hapless populations in cities and towns across Jammu & Kashmir. For purchasing goods of daily use and health safety kits like masks and sanitisers the people have to visit markets but the assembly of dozens of people is not to be allowed at shops by police and paramilitaries deployed for law & order duties in the markets. Sealing borders of districts for curtailing the movement of people is though a right step in the right direction but government has to ensure smooth transportation of the goods of daily use and medicines from Srinagar and Jammu cities to districts across Jammu & Kashmir.
The Government warning a legal action against those ignoring restrictions put in place for enforcing lockdown would by all standards of understandabilities force people to mend their ways but the health facilities and law & order operations have to maintain their presence on the ground to prevent the occurrence of a major health crisis or a law & order challenge.
Deputy Commissioners saying that stocks are available in abundance in their districts is not sufficient enough to address the concerns of people on the availability of goods of daily use and medicines but a proper mechanism for the regular transportation of goods of daily use and medicines has to be put into places for addressing the genuine concerns of the people on their accessibility to basic amenities of life. Government has to keep in mind that if extension of lockdown beyond couple of weeks becomes a compulsion for the safety of the people, the availability of essentials in view of frequent blockades of Jammu-Srinagar highway could push Kashmir into a food starvation like situation. With its health infrastructure already in shambles, Jammu & Kashmir Government should utilise the lockdown period to streamline its operations and strategy to fight the virus. The people, on their part, have to show restraint in the wake of emergency situations. The Government warning a legal action against those ignoring restrictions put in place for enforcing lockdown would by all standards of understandabilities force people to mend their ways but the health facilities and law & order operations have to maintain their presence on the ground to prevent the occurrence of a major health crisis or a law & order challenge.