EVERY Indian will benefit by PM Modi’s economic package

Utpal Chatterjee

OUR PRIME MINISTER TRIGGERS “LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA”! At a time when everyone was expecting our Prime Minister, Mr.Narendra Modi’s, Address to the Nation last night to be full of the latest lockdown details after the meeting with the CMs the day before, he surprised everyone by providing details of a stimulus size to 10% of the GDP. That amounts to a Rs 20 lakh crore package. All this to make India absolutely self-reliant. Sans doubt, every Indian citizen would be a beneficiary. The Union Finance Minister has unveiled the details. As for details of the next phase of the lockdown, that would be eased. Everything will be known by May 18. But the plans of the State Government, it seems, would stay in place. Kudos to our  PM for having taken a bold, decisive step. Somehow, down the memory lane, I was reminded of the decision of then Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao to open up the economy and step out of the Licence Raj in the early 90s. The Indian economy had changed for good since then. But, even with such great, hopeful news, fears and apprehensions of the Covid-19 persist. Unless absolutely necessary, stepping out of your home can be very, very risky. We are told that particles in the air carrying the infection can strike too. So, the best option would be to live every day as if it were the last. Be good and pleasant to everyone be it on or off the phone. Go by the DOs and DONTs.Stick to the good, old values and remain conscientious. Remain in touch with everyone who matters. Let your love for your family and friends be expressed. And, it can be expressed in so many ways. As Marquez had written his classic “LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA”, let this one be “LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORONA”! (Utpal Chatterjee is a Kolkata based senior journalist. photo courtesy to PIB)