Time has come for the state chieftains to show their leadership qualities to fight the Coronavirus after the lockdown exit. The coming days are crucial but there is a kind of healthy competition among the chief ministers to excel in dealing with the pandemic. It is a heartening to note that most states have risen to the challenge as each chief minister is trying to show off his or her individuality in tackling the pandemic. Their response was quick and positive and they are leading from the front. For instance, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has set up a committee of experts including some Nobel Laureates to advise on the relief measures in her state. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has shown that his Bhilwara model could be emulated by other states to contain the pandemic. Kerala model has won praise from all around. There are others like B.S. Yediyurappa, K. Chandrashekhar Rao, Captain Amarinder Singh, and Naveen Patnaik who have done a good job. Interestingly most of the non-NDA chief ministers have done quite well.
The Centre has realized the importance of partial lockdown relaxation in some sectors like agriculture and construction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also left it to the states to decide about further relaxation as most of the states had told him during his meeting with them that there was need for a staggered lockdown exit as the economy was suffering.
The chief ministers face huge challenges in their respective states after the lockdown exit. For them it is a double whammy. On the one front they have to contain the pandemic and on the other to find resources to deal with the situation. At the recent videoconference with the Prime Minister, most chief ministers of Opposition-ruled states expressed grave concern over lack of resources and depleting revenues as well as the huge slide in the economy.
A calibrated exit from the total lockdown is needed because the revenues of the Centre and states have collapsed largely during the lockdown period. In fact, most states claim that they will not be able to meet their salary bills beyond April. They sought special assistance from the Centre to sustain the battle against the coronavirus. Some like West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has demanded a national package of around 6 per cent of the GDP to counter the pandemic impact. Punjab chief minister captain Amarinder Singh has demanded a three- month crop loan waiver. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has demanded a Central relief package for the state’s tourism and hospitality industry, MSMEs and all the weaker sections of the society. Tamil Nadu has sought Rs 4000 crore for augmenting health services. Others have demanded their GST share immediately.
Pending the Central assistance, some chief ministers have gone ahead and started to lift their states with their own resources. Kerala took the lead by announcing an Rs 20000 crores to kick start economy. Uttar Pradesh led by Yogi Adityanath (BJP) was one of the first to assure a guaranteed income to daily-wage labourers while in Odisha, Naveen Patnaik (Bjiu Janata Dal) has set up three fully equipped Covid-19 hospitals. In Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel (Congress) has ensured extra rations for all. The list goes on.
On its part, the Centre has the big problem of finding resources to deal with the unprecedented crisis. The slide in the economy is a big worry as almost all the sectors including the civil aviation, manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure and travel and tourism have been impacted and it will need a huge stimulus to uplift the economy. The Centre has to pump in at least four to five billion US dollars urgently. The Centre has so far provided only 0.8% of GDP as stimulus and part of this is appropriated from existing state funds linked to construction labour and mineral development.
Thirdly, the Coronavirus has shown how unprepared India was to tackle a pandemic like this one. Many states do not have adequate hospitals, health personnel, medical equipment and testing kits etc. States are depending on the Centre for the supply of the testing kits and they can perform only when they get the equipment. Lifting the health sector is very important.
The fourth is about the agricultural operations. The Centre has relaxed the lockdown for the agricultural labour to work. But the states that are depending on the migrant labour from Bihar and other states will have to ensure that they could retain the migrant labour for the harvesting season. Punjab does not have gunny bags and chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh has written to his West Bengal counterpart to send them speedily.
On the whole, while the chief ministers function as generals the prime ministers remains the supreme commander. The bottom line is that unless they show their leadership qualities, they will not be able to win the next elections. Jury is out on their performance rating.
(IPA Service)
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