These are testing times for the government and the media as COVID-19 continues to spread. The government seems rather unwilling to let critical voices have their say about the way in which the crisis is being dealt with. There is an explicit expectation that the media’s coverage should be “positive” and follow the official line. While much of the media, corporate-owned as it is, has surrendered, a small section is courageously following journalistic ethics. This article examines authoritarian tendencies that undermine the autonomy of journalism as an important platform of the public sphere.
Social distancing, regular handwashing, and self-isolation are being touted as preventive measures to tackle the spread of COVID-19. But, for the majority of Indians, complying with such norms are privileges that they cannot afford.
The unprecedented crisis emerging due to the spread of COVID-19 demands immediate as well as long-term measures. To address this crisis, the government should promote social solidarity and unity as well as citizens’ networks working for the vulnerable. However, long-term measures are needed to reduce the possibility of the disastrous spread of more such diseases and to enhance the ability of communities to deal with such eventualities.
Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) demands the temporary decongestion of jails in view of the COVID-19 public health crisis. The spread of infections to places of incarceration and detention adversely affects the employees of these institutions and prolongs the duration of the disease in the community at large.
