Thread by @DrSumeetShah

@narendramodi
@PMOIndia
@drharshvardhan
@MoHFW_INDIA

India cannot and should not replicate the European or First World approach of complete lockdown. The consequences of lockdown will be far worse than that of Coronavirus.

Looking at the diversity of population in India & the exposure from domestic workers, daily wagers, newspapers, daily grocery, milk packets - there is never going to be a way we can be in complete isolation or a lockdown like Europe.

If Mumbai Local/ Delhi Metro & markets are brought to complete shutdown - I assure you significant population will suffer even more.

The consequences to people on the razer thin economic edge will be far graver. Many have to work daily to eat a meal daily.

We are not Europe or US. Here the marginalised live in congested clusters. Social distancing ? Can you imagine that happening in slums ? Those who live there come to apartments, houses and condominium as maids, drivers, delivery boys etc.

All precautions - Yes
Lockdown - No

We need to keep the system working for the benefit of the most marginalised people of the Society - for whom a shutdown will mean more than just an economic consequence.

A third world country like India with a large poor population cannot afford to have first world solutions.

I am surprised that govt is surprised over what happened. Predicted this before the national lockdown.

Hundreds & thousands of workers are contract labourers who work daily - earn daily & live in factories, small scale unit & construction sites. All of them are shut & no wages

This thread was written on 19th March, much before the beginning of migrant labourers crisis.

If common citizen like us who are not politician/ civil servant can anticipate - why couldn't those at the helm of affairs with all power & resources at hand ?

#MigrantLabourCrisis

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