Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! Admiral L Ramdas, former Chief of the Indian Navy on India and the Covid-19 pandemic
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! Admiral L Ramdas, former Chief of the Indian Navy, pens this EXCLUSIVE piece expressing anguish over how India, and particularly her defence forces are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic
We have just watched
on television some excerpts from the Press Conference (without any press!) held
by our Chief of Defence Staff – General Bipin Rawat, along with the serving
Chiefs from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
Since then, we have
received several calls and messages from friends and colleagues who shared
their disappointment, surprise, even shock, at the nature of the remarks made
by our senior most military leader on national television. We are witnessing
this at a time when the nation and our people are facing one of the most
critical situations since partition. This is a matter of concern, especially
for me as one of the senior most former Naval Chiefs alive today. The situation
brought on by the Corona Virus pandemic has undoubtedly hit countries and
peoples across the globe in various ways – economic, social, psychological,
political and several dimensions too many to name. But my concern here is with
how this might impact our country and our people.
Let me first of all
commend the CDS and Chiefs of Staff for having taken the initiative of
addressing a Press Conference on the subject of COVID 19 and the role of our
Armed Forces in these circumstances. When the first notification about talking
to the press popped up on our phones and computer screens, around 4:45 to 5 pm,
we were full of anticipation. I was sure that our top Brass would announce some
additional plans by the Armed Forces to meet the current challenge. This
would include relief, rehabilitation and assistance in handling and managing
the huge exodus taking place across the country.
I had addressed two
letters to the Prime Minister, copied to the RM, as also the CDS and Heads of
the three Services. My first letter was dated March 27, and the second one on
April 14, Ambedkar Jayanthi. I had suggested in both letters that the
considerable resources of the Armed Forces might be tapped in a number of ways
to deal with the unprecedented situation, brought on by the manner in which
Lockdown was announced and executed. I had specifically mentioned the
organizing and running of Community Kitchens and food distribution in the first
letter. By the time of my second letter, the situation with respect to the farm
and migrant workers and large numbers walking home for thousands of miles had
grown much worse.
My letter had flagged
the fact that from all accounts, there was more than enough rice and wheat
available in our reserves with the FCI, and that these should be released
without further delay to feed our people. Some reports that sanction had been
given by the Cabinet to diverting grains for the manufacture of ethanol and
hand sanitizers was truly alarming! read more: https://sabrangindia.in/article/mayday-mayday-mayday
