A good amount of interest was created regarding Monday’s virtual meeting involving the Prime Minister and CMs of 9 states with the hope of getting clue of a way forward for exit from the current long haul of the lockdown. So far that transpired, a broad consensus hasn’t arrived as the participating CMs were almost diametrically divided over the issue with five in favour of the lockdown’s end and rest sounding caution for the sake of controlling Covid-19 spread. This is a situation of the most queer kind the country has hardly faced and the principal reason for the continuing state of near-indecision is the uninterrupted additions to both the number of cases and deaths even at this later period of the extended lockdown, when the expectation was that it will substantially subside as a consequence of the stringent and prolonged tenure. But even as the final decision is awaited, it will be undeniable that commencement of economic activities is equally necessary for the nation and for the zones that are and so far over last two weeks maintained the danger-free tag, there shouldn’t be further delays after May 3 and the go-ahead should be given.

By now, besides respective state-wise identities, the nation has learnt, in a hard way though due to the pandemic, of getting segregated and recognised as zones. While the red zones are those facing extreme criticalities and it’s unthinkable still for commencing any kind of economic activity, orange and green ones are comparatively free from the proven danger patterns and are thus ‘eligible’ for return to the much-needed normalcy. A decision has to be taken regarding this and quickly and even if it can’t be a total opening in one go, keeping in view the current economic compulsions, a demand is growing that the green and orange zones should at least be allowed to open up the fundamental economic activities as a first step to the much-discussed staggered exit option. This proposition should be paid heed as it has a good amount of rationality, with the condition that all pre-emptive and precautionary advisories remaining in force. A large swathe of the Northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh has fortunately come under the green and orange categories, which was disclosed by Minister, DoNER Jitendra Singh on Monday after a review meeting through a video conference involving officers from the NEC and representatives of different government bodies and PSUs of the region.

A calculated risk has to be taken for the NE inclusive of Arunachal and if the people play a well-responsible role keeping alive the spirit of the lockdown in day-to-day behavioural pattern through sticking to the vital social distancing advisory, a successful shift will not be that much an impossible task.