In This War, Civilians Are Soldiers

There seems to be some correlation between people with positive attitude on life and those who have tested Corona positive. While one celebrated Holi indoors, the other fights the virus. Those who have tested positive of Corona are either recuperating or are quarantined. Those with positive attitude have chosen to stay home and avoid contact with the world, lest they help spread the infection. With the rapidity of the spread of infection and several mutants of virus around us, they are both doing the sensible thing!

It is also easy to understand those who are not following the discipline. It is difficult to follow the discipline by the common person. Citizens, especially children and youth are fed up of staying at home. Everyone needs recreation as a stress buster. We are all taking chances. Parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, schools, etc. Everyone. It is this all-work-and-no-play situation that is the main issue now. However hard one tries; it is getting difficult to stay at home and not touch anything while eating, exercising, sleeping, talking, bathing, brushing, etc. 

While the warriors are doing their jobs to the best of their capacities. Policy makers, Intelligentsia, administration, hospitals, doctors, nurses, other Covid warriors, etc. There is a growing fear that new cases are not properly being detected by RT PCR tests. People from all ages are getting infected now. And it is difficult to enforce the Covid 19 appropriate discipline. Unless forced by an external eventuality like some form of a lockdown, there is a little chance of things getting better.

I feel lockdowns are not being imposed, more for the same reasons as fuel prices are coming down. Either the scientists discover a permanent solution or the law making/enforcing agencies put strict laws into action, the situation of indiscipline is likely to continue. We have seen that fines have worked reasonably well against those who do not wear a mask. The authorities can take a chance with a lockdown too. Though small countries, there are examples of New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, etc. to learn from.

However, there is one danger in it: One cannot keep the cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, etc. locked for long. These are mega-cities where people work hard to build their life. Besides work, they will need their dose of recreation too.

What is left is the people with a positive attitude in life. With a positive attitude, the country needs to embark on finding the solution. The solution that is a win-win situation to all. Health must be protected. Business losses, jobs, etc. needs to be protected. The citizen’s lives need to be saved. Their livelihood needs to be safe guarded too. That is the immunity that every citizen expects.

Unless the citizens consider it as a war, situation cannot not be controlled. With the discipline is main weapon and the positive attitude the main bullet.

Sushil Bahal is Managing Director of Raka Reputation Management Services Pvt. Ltd., a 21-year old, Mumbai based PR and Advertising company offering integrated communication solutions and maximum reach across 83 top media regions across India. Raka Reputation has experience across sectors, particularly Banking, Financial Services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Education, Lifestyle, Manufacturing, Technology, etc. Raka Reputation has been associated as a communications partner to some of the most complex challenges and over 250 IPOs.

Sushil Bahal can be contacted through the email sushil@rakareputation.com