Even if on Saturday evening India’s corona count figures suggest it’s touching the 25000 mark in terms of positive and racing towards 800 deaths, talks on preparing the country comprehensively to embrace the post lockdown phase have already commenced. Exit from the stringent and full-restrictive phase has to be taken for the sake of the national economy in general and for the millions of daily livelihood earners in specific and the pertinent question doing the rounds is how to keep intact the hard-earned gains gathered from this unprecedented lockdown. Here also, much will depend on continuance of the current streamlined central and individual state machineries engaged in the process and above all, the citizens themselves, upon whom, the onus to a good extent will now shift.

Arunachal Pradesh, thankfully, has remained unscathed from the onslaught vis-à-vis national scenario and after detection of a single positive case, is again back to ‘zero-corona’ status. To maintain this, challenge has now arrived since a large part of the state’s people stranded outside will return home and to make sure there are adequate facilities to put them under the SOPs, the state’s administrative apparatus must stay well-equipped. By now, a rough estimate must have been made as to what percentage of the exodus can presumably make entry and for them all laid down health-centric procedures need to be put into effect so that not a single infected case, if any at all, sneaks undetected and an extra dose of caution will be necessary. Quarantine facilities must not be lacking and the medical support response must be made well-armed technically to meet the post lockdown phase. Even if the state’s first Covid-19 test lab will be functional soon, the need for a lot more such can be felt shortly and preparations must also go on for having them in least possible time.

So far as the check gates are concerned, it’s no doubt the vigil is intact. But, the porous inter-state borders still continue remaining a headache and lack of manpower and screening facilities have added to difficulties which must be addressed and uninterrupted vigil must be continued. The recent incident in Wakro where a person concealed himself and reportedly died which later turned out to be non-Covid case, caused confusion and panic, highlighting the alarming trend of playing the hide and seek game which must end now and suo motu responsibilities on part of citizens will be the only conditional aspect in coming weeks that will have direct consequences on the state as a whole.

It’s a collective responsibility now, to be shared proportionately by state administration and the citizens in the coming post lockdown times. Arunachal must not compromise over this.