Govt yet to devise mechanism to provide assistance to families locked at homes

Islamabad : Despite passing 10-14 days to partial lockdown, the federal government has yet to announce concrete mechanism to assist the affected families amidst prevailing COVID-19 lockdown. At a time, when deprived sections including daily wage earners and labour class looking towards the government for assistance in wake of prevailing lockdown situation, the federal government is still busy in uphill task to collect the exact figures and data of affected people in the country.

The rising alarming situation in the country in connection with mounting suspects of COVID-19 required of the government to chalk out a solid mechanism on urgent footings to provide assistance to affected people at their doorsteps but irony of the situation is that incumbent regime is pursuing the policy of ‘Look busy--do nothing.

The government has announced to constitute ‘Tiger Force’ at a time, when hundreds and thousands of government employees are locked down in homes in view of coronavirus pandemic outbreak. The toll of COVID-19 suspects is mounting with each passing day all over the country and government amidst this hell has announced to constitute a new force named, ‘Tiger Force’ with aims and objectives to provide essential commodities assistance to people.

Time is running fast for the government to rescue the possible suspects and families locked down in homes with limited commodities and daily necessities of life. Situation demands quick action but already time is being wasted on account of devising strategy and mechanism to handle to grave situation.

The government has invited applications for registration of ‘Coronavirus Relief Tiger Force’, which will be mandated to work with civil administration to provide assistance to suspects.

Prof. Tahir Malik, educationist stated that the government owns the record of thousands of well educated internee youths who got government assistance during last couple of years, and complete internship with various government departments from all over the country.

Thousands of retired trained police and military officials could be volunteered for relief assistance instead of going for experiment on a new 'Tiger Force', a retired police officer said when asked.

This youth can be employed effectively with dedication and commitment irrespective of political affiliations amidst prevailing situation without wasting any time. He also stated that first ‘Coronavirus Relief Tiger Force’ will be enlisted and later verified and then tasked along with government machinery. On other side, there are thousands of elected councillors available in each and every corner of the country, which can also be utilized for identification of affected families and to provide assistance to needful at this time without further wastage of time.

A senior police official requesting not to be named also stated that newly introduced Coronavirus Relief Tiger Force’ will add simply confusion and complexity to perform assistance work amidst prevailing alarming situation.

He added that retired police and military officials could be hired voluntarily who will be well trained to perform this task comparatively to Tiger Force youths, who could possible aggravate the prevailing challenges with raw knowledge and experience.

A senior social activist from Islamabad also narrated that PM Imran Khan ahead of going for partial and complete lock down should have collected data of possible affected people and downtrodden segments of society but despite passage of 15 days, the government has yet to collect data and information about possible affected people of lockdown. He also added that if government has to move towards complete lockdown in view of alarming COVID-19 suspects, there could be more alarming circumstances people will have to face.

A senior government official pleading not to be named stated that ‘Supply-Chain’ has not been made yet at any level in face of COVID-19 rising suspects in the country. No categories have been made to rescue public in wake of rising numbers of COVID-19 suspects.

He also added that government has yet to devise any strategy and mechanism to distribute basic commodities of life to needful adding that some NGOs and affluent people at respectively playing effective role to provide necessities of life to poor families all over the country.

A philanthropist also stated that people flocked them whenever they tried to distribute ration bags among public and there are also instances of mismanagement as mafias of professional beggars remained on roads to take advantage of the situation.

Amidst prevailing scenario, the government has to devise strategy in accordance with ground realities instead of wasting any further time in doing lip service in wake of rising suspects of COVID-19 all over the country.

Government should go for a centralised policy instead of making tall claims and without making any delay, relief assistance for people locked in homes should be started.