Central will have to print extra currency notes as economy is in shambles: Ashok Gehlot

“Imposing a lockdown is easy but unlocking a complete lockdown is very difficult,” Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Saturday, April 18, in Jaipur.

Rajasthan, one of the first states to impose a complete lockdown from March 21, much before the nationwide lockdown was announced from March 24, is now inching towards a modified lockdown from April 20, exactly a month after it all began.

Although the state would be opening up the industrial areas both in the rural and urban areas, Gehlot was apprehensive about getting the state back on track economically.

He opined that only when the Centre and the state co-ordinate among themselves regarding the economic situation of each state individually, taking into account the local circumstances and grievances of each state, will the states be able to implement the modified lockdown and also open up other activities slowly and steadily.

Gehlot, while taking a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rushed announcement of the lockdown, said, “It is very easy to say ‘Lockdown’ but ending the lockdown is not an easy task. Now it seems very difficult to bring the rail back on track. At 8 pm, one can easily announce ‘lockdown’ from 12 am at night but to end the lockdown is tough. To get the state back on a smooth economic track, it will take months. The industries must get their raw material, their labourers back and for this, there is a need for transportation. It is a huge cycle of activities and major work is needed.”

He added, “Moreover, the economy is in shambles and the states have no revenue earnings. Even the Centre is facing a huge revenue crunch. So, the Central government has to take the help of the RBI and even print extra notes if there is need. Only then, we can fight out this lockdown.”

He said arranging for ‘food to all’, whether people come under the Food Security Act or not, whether they have ration cards or not, is difficult and needs to be streamlined. He also said government warehouses have huge stocks of grains and can ensure that no one goes hungry.

On a lighter note, Gehlot also said one has to stop spitting and stop the habit of taking zarda and gutka. And that there should be penalties on spitting like in Europe.

He also talked about ruthless containment and more aggressive testing as Rajasthan became the first state on Friday to start rapid testing, meant for mass testing to detect undiagnosed infection.

Rajasthan, one of the worst Coronavirus-effected states, On Saturday, April 18, witnessed two deaths and 53 new positive cases. Jaipur now has a total of 497 cases, Nagaur district saw a spurt with 11 cases. Rajasthan, till April 18, has recorded a total of 1282 positive cases. About 47,197 samples have been tested so far.

Meanwhile, while Gehlot said that Rajasthan will open up the industrial areas, he mentioned a few caveats too. "If we see a spurt in positive cases, we may have to reimpose the lockdown," he said.

In the modified lockdown, both the factory owners and labourers must have e-passes with them. These will be self-generated e-passes and the owners must ensure that lockdown guidelines should not be violated at any cost. And all onus or liability of any kind of violation would be on the factory owners. And government officials will keep a close watch on the activities to prevent any spurt in the nunber of cases.