The one and only topic the nation is wholly engrossed with at the moment is whether curtains will fall on the 21-day lockdown on April 14 or will it be extended. It’s not difficult to foresee that there are high chances of it being prolonged as a consensus in this regard is on the way of getting formed. And after Odisha on Thursday, Punjab too announced suo motu that in that state the lockdown is going to be extended for the whole of April. Moreover, Friday has been traumatic for the country since in preceding 24 hours, there had been an addition of nearly 900 new positive cases and 37 deaths, which is enough to  construe as a warning that more disconcerting days are just knocking at doors.This late development will no doubt shape the decision for an overwhelming favour for an extension. But the million-dollar question is how to make good the gigantic economic loss the lockdown has caused or will be causing in case of an extension and how the teeming millions, the biggest chunk of which belongs to the unorganised sector will be treated.

It took very little time for the lockdown to metamorphose into a great human tragedy in the country. The class hit hardest by this unprecedented economic immobility i.e the unorganised sector has a complete heterogeneous character and despite all focus now falling on the stranded migrant labourers, the fact is there are millions too falling within this bracket that can be classified as the self-employed class ranging  from shop owners to all those devoted to a myriad of professions. The common aspect here, in economic parlance is that the day-to-day engagements and the earnings arising thereto, are the only means of their survival. And with all snapped now, it’s beyond imagination to what extent their hardships are. Also, it must be taken into account that the services industry which normally generates almost half of India's GDP has been severely affected and if the lockdown extends, unemployment rate may climb to unmanageable levels.

Many promises, on daily basis are being churned out and the second instalment of the economic relief package may also be announced soon. Various views in this regard from economists which include several economics nobel laureates have a striking similarity. They suggest that, for the time being, it will be better to forget the protocol-based policy making  pattern and transfer money into the hands of this suffering class, by way of bank transfer or by hard cash since the population-wise banking penetration in the country is far from a desirable ratio. Views are also flowing that, if needed, printing of currency should be resorted.

Correct decisions can pull the nation from this prevailing economic mess. But the central idea should be to save these distressed people anyhow.