People First or Face Their Wrath Later

Just like after the Tsunami striking Sri Lanka, foreign aids have started arriving again this time too during this world pandemic situation.

The last to hear was the 22 million Euros grant received from the European Commission.

Eventually where the large portion it will end up is everyone’s guess but I am sure yours is not that far off from the most others.

People in some parts of the country are placed under curfew and lockdown for a couple of weeks now.

Despite miserably failed government efforts which were only good during media briefings to send essential food and other items to areas where lockdowns are in place, some entrepreneurs have stepped in to make some fast bucks by providing food and other items by visiting door to door.

Despite the government’s assurance that assistance will be given, banks, leasing agencies and other lenders have still not heeded to those promises and are going about doing their business as usual.

So far things are working out relatively good that helps to keep proper control over the crisis situation.

However, cracks have started appearing when most have realized that they have no proper income but sustaining only on their reserves now.

Imagine the plight of daily wages and small and medium businesses with not much of reserves with them but so many obligations to fulfil.

Soon, instead of food, we will be having money scarcity in the country and it could lead to so many bad things.

I do not wish it ever to happen but the looting of food from those who go door to door is a very likely possibility unless the authorities do not take any corrective measures to maintain that people will still have their old spending powers despite the crisis situation.

If the door to door services disappear, it could lead to further complications and I do not even to think of a worst-case scenario.

I am sure we will get more grants from our friendly countries and therefore the authorities should do more to restore the confidence in the people first.

Forget about how to recover later if a need arises but this is the time to pump in more cash into people’s hands.

That will not only be a morale booster but help to keep the commerce going and keep tight control of the spreading virus too.

If the money received as grants are not spent wisely for the benefit of the affected people now and allow to disappear like in the past occasions like the Tsunami, what consequence we will have to face in the days to come is my biggest worry.