COVID-19: End lockdown, plan a long-term strategy, people say

PULWAMA — People in the Valley of Kashmir have expressed resentment against the ‘lockdown strategy’ of the government to combat the spread of Coronavirus.

People from all walks of life including labourers, farmers, businessmen, teachers, factory owners and workers et cetera are unhappy about the persistent lockdowns being imposed in the Valley.

“Few kilograms of rice and dal, which is given at ration depots, won’t do anything for poor labourers who have a family to feed,” Hakeem Nazir, a labourer from Pulwama, lamented.

Dr Muzamil, working as Assistant Professor at Central University of Kashmir, said, “People from all age-groups are going through trauma. Mental stress has taken a heavy toll on our people due to the lockdown.”

“Online teaching didn’t work in the Valley as the Internet, which is already slowed to 2G, is being snapped consistently due to frequent gunfights, especially in south Kashmir,” said Sakeena Jabeen, a private school teacher.

Musaib Nisar, a factory owner at IGC Lassipora, appealed, “4G Internet should now be restored without any delay as our businesses depend on it. Also, private sector employees need to be given a monetary package.”

“A financial package for small businesses is the need of the hour as most of them have been closed down due to months-long lockdown which has also increased unemployment here,” demanded Mukhtar Ahmad, a local businessman from Pulwama.

People, while talking to The Kashmir Pulse, expressed dissatisfaction and said that lockdown should be relaxed. They said that a long-term strategy should be planned so that they can earn livelihood to feed their families.