The fluctuations in the no of daily covid positive does not end the fear of a third wave of covid-19 pandemic in Jammu & Kashmir like several states and union territories of the country as predicted by health specialists of repute . The issue is not of health safety but also of livelihoods hit hard by back to back two covid lockdowns in last two consecutive years in Jammu & Kashmir like other parts of the country. Since fear of arrival of third wave of the covid pandemic is keeping alive the fear of the arrival of third wave of yet another phase of covid lockdown. Never forget that a third consecutive lockdown to stop the arrival of a third wave of the pandemic would consequently once again deprive more people of the means of earning their livelihood in unorganised sector in Jammu & Kashmir. So the arrival of the third wave of the pandemic would probably mark the beginning of yet another phase of uncertainty for the people deprived of the means of earning their livelihoods during last two years of covid-19 spread. Since unlocking the businesses in Jammu & Kashmir is in it’s initial phase, the imposition of yet another lockdown to reduce the rising no of covid positive cases could stop the process of unlocking of key businesses in Jammu & Kashmir and henceforth the process of restoration of livelihoods in private sector. Amid second dose vaccination campaign undertaken by the government in Jammu & Kashmir the strict adherence to covid appropriate behaviour (CAB) including use of face masks and hand sanitisers could be the only way to stop the rise in the no of covid positive cases across Jammu & Kashmir. If people’s livelihoods in the unorganised sector like small medium scale enterprises are to be protected, the strict adherence of covid appropriate behaviour has to be maintained at all public places.
Operation of businesses for the purposes of restoration of people’s livelihoods in the unorganised sector can be allowed as long as people cooperate in both the double dose covid vaccination initiatives and as well as the implementation of covid appropriate behaviour
Though small scale enterprises withstood the pressure of covid stress and two back to back covid lockdowns in last two years but more wage cuts and layoffs would by all probabilities bring small and medium scale enterprises on a collapsing mode. While more lockdowns have to be avoided to further the causes of restoration of people’s livelihoods in the unorganised sector including medium and small scale enterprises, the people too have to strictly respond well to both the double dose covid vaccination initiatives and as well as the implementation of covid appropriate behaviour. Never forget that operation of businesses for the purposes of restoration of people’s livelihoods in the unorganised sector can be allowed as long as people cooperate in both the double dose covid vaccination initiatives and as well as the implementation of covid appropriate behaviour.
