The UT administration has done well to advance a monthspension, and wages for its daily-wage workers. Providing ration for April andMay to all ration card holders as well as mid day meals must be acknowledged.These proactive steps will mitigate the inconvenience that the Corona lockdownwill cause.
The same approach must inform other decisions of thegovernment in these exceptional times. Sadly, the Finance Department is stuckin the established routine. With the budget for 2020-21 having been approved,the Finance Department has authorized 50 percent funds under revenue componentas it always does. More than this is needed right now.
Rather than seeking to release the Capex Budget based onproposals of Administrative Secretaries as is the practice, the least theycould have done well to release money for the health department as anexception.
This would not only help the health department meet itschallenges in a speedier manner, it would also act as a morale booster to themedical fraternity who are risking their lives for the people. It would alsosignal that the government is responding to the prevailing situation on theground rather than sticking to a bureaucratic procedure.
Exceptional situations need out of the box solutions. Rightnow the focus ought to be on ensuring that cash doesn’t become a constraint insaving previous lives. The money managers of the state need to realise thegravity of the situation and should in fact increase the financial powers ofthose running the hospitals till this pandemic lasts.