Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, March 27: The third day of the nationwide lockdown today was more pleasing to the human soul as lesser people and vehicles marked the city roads. The tribe of zombie bikers was sparse that was a relief one feels in the aftermath of mongrel chases.
The morning scenario, however, was the same with people jostling in grocery stores and vegetable markets for whatever their needs were.
They might have stayed indoors to protect themselves, the folks at home and the community at large but all the precautions become meaningless in the absence of social distancing when and where the dreaded virus is at large and could cling on from one (God forbid) infected person to another otherwise healthy person in the space of one �contaminated� breath.
Again it was the agile police, especially the Tigers on mobikes who came to the rescue of chunks of over enthusiastic marketers clamoring for �excess necessities� by wielding their batons in the air and warning menacingly to scram home. At the grocers, policemen barked and the rush mongers gradually dispersed.
Did they go away without taking what they sought or were they seeking more? Either way, the khaki gods saved the day for irresponsible mortals and maybe, their families and members of their localities.
The district administration and the police have been doing their thankless jobs wonderfully and stating their sense of human responsibility acts as excellent would be an understatement.
The Suvidha Kendras, the malls dealing in grocery items at fair prices are administrative blessings. In addition, thanks for the introduction of services that are bringing fresh vegetables to doorsteps at that negligible service charge of Rs 20.
All this is being done with health concern for all and yet that avoidable scramble at the markets. How else can the denizens be tamed and sanity driven in?
For once it turned out fun to watch police chasing and caning helmetless riders riding around aimlessly to review the lockdown scenario. Leave that to the people of the administration and the press guys.
These people are risking their own lives to save those of reckless bits and pieces of guttersnipes unfortunately called humans.
As Giddu, the owner of Raj General Store in New Baradwari observed, �We are experiencing a huge rush in our store. We are trying to stock up on all essential commodities to the best of our ability and providing them at fair prices. But in spite of repeatedly telling the customers to stand in a queue with a distance of one meter between each of them, the pleas fall on deaf ears. Yes, the rush today was comparatively less and the mobile police thankfully helped in driving in some sanity.�
The rural scene is very endearing as the simpletons that a majority are, are adhering to the spirit of lockdown. They are putting on innovative masks of leaves and even in market areas are maintaining the safe one meter distance. It is now for the urbanites to emulate their rural counterparts in matters of sticking to preventive measures that the central and state governments are crying hoarse about.
But yes, the Jamshedpur-vasis are taking a turn around though a bit lethargically. Yet, better late than never is what the saying states. The fear of police baton and the corona scare have combined to ensure lesser population on the streets and more at home. One only prays that the scene gets better during this 21 day countdown.
Till then, thumbs up to the administration and the police.
