I will stay at home. And I will strictly monitor my husband and children from stepping out, even if the lockdown has been lifted. After all, I want to ensure our safety and I do not want to take any chances.
We will all be secure at home and will not allow anyone to come in. Of course the plumber or the electrician may be required for some repairs so they are unavoidable. I also want the security personnel in our colony not to stay at home but to man the gates and turn away outsiders.
I naturally expect the policemen to be out on the roads ensuring law enforcement. The electricity, water works and sewerage personnel should ensure smooth facilities round the clock. Of course the municipal staff must efficiently collect the garbage every day without fail.
I do hope the doctors and other staff are on regular duty in case any one of us falls sick, and that a taxi will be available in minutes if we need to go. Similarly, the medical shops should not only be open, but should be stocked up with all possible medicines that may be required. Ditto the grocery and general stores.
I will under no circumstances allow my children to go to school. But I do hope the teachers will continue doing their duty and preparing and telecasting the on-line classes for us. In addition the book suppliers, internet service providers and service personnel for our laptops should efficiently provide their services.
Though we are all getting together and trying out new recipes every day, my children just cannot do without their pizzas or junk food. So we should allow the Swiggy delivery boys to commute freely and come and deliver our orders within minutes.
My mother-in-law lives alone and I am concerned about her well-being. But I will keep checking on her through video calls and will avoid going over to her place or bringing her to our flat which has limited space. My maid servant who has been serving loyally for years cannot be allowed into my house because she lives in a slum, and can carry the dreaded virus from there. Once everything is clear then I will expect her to come back on duty.
My husband is carrying out his work so diligently in the WFH mode, and definitely he should be given full salary. But small shopkeepers and businesses cannot pay to their staff if they are not getting business themselves – and we obviously cannot pay our driver because we are not going out anywhere. I feel the migrant labor workers should immediately be sent home as fast as possible so that they do not pass on the virus to us local residents.
I am a very concerned and law abiding citizen. I will ensure social isolation and complete protection, and I trust the other citizens I have mentioned above also show the same attitude by providing us the basic necessities and protection that we are entitled to as citizens.
– Dr. Ali Khwaja
