India is fighting its biggest battle since Independence, and the warriors at the forefront–the district collectors–say that much more efforts are required to win it. They demanded enhanced medical facilities, adequate equipment, and suggested that if necessary, the lockdown may be extended further until COVID-19 is contained.
During the first ever survey of collectors across 410 districts in the country, the IAS officers expressed concerns over inadequate personal protection equipment and ventilators in many district hospitals. These IAS officers belong to 2014-2018 batches.
The survey, conducted by the department of administrative reforms and public grievance (DAPRG), between March 25 and 30, also received responses from 266 other district-level officers. The purpose of the survey was to get a bird's-eye view of the challenges faced by the officers, and gather first-hand information about the way the crisis is being managed.
Fifty-nine percent of the district collectors said the on-ground preparedness of local health machinery in terms of following protocols, awareness, and facilities to handle COVID-19 was adequate, but 22 per cent of them strongly disagreed.
At same time, 60 per cent of them also contended that preparedness in district and sub-district hospitals, in terms of staff and equipment, needs to be enhanced. Only 40 per cent of the officials said hospitals are adequately prepared.
Many of the IAS officers who participated in the survey pointed out to the need of increased fiscal spending on health infrastructure and essential commodities for the poor and vulnerable sections of people.
Often berated for red-tapism and for being status quoists, the civil service officers have been in forefront of managing the COVID-19 crisis in the country. While doctors and paramedical staff deal with the patients, the district collectors and subdivisional magistrates (SDMs) have a broader responsibility of managing the vast populations in their areas.
The district collectors and other officers also felt that inadequate availability of personal protection equipment (masks, gloves) in district hospitals is an area of concern.
“The availability of adequate isolation beds in district/sub-district hospitals was agreed by approximately fifty per cent (50%) officers; with 28 per cent (28%) disagreeing to its availability. The non-availability of adequate ventilator machines in hospitals is highlighted as an area of concern in this survey,” the report compiled by DAPRG said. The report was submitted on April 1.
As the next two weeks are crucial in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, the officers “agreed that a lockdown needs to be enforced, made mandatory with ninety six per cent (96%) responding positively in this category.”
“Lockdown should be continued till the COVID-19 is controlled. Furthermore, any instances of non-adherence to curfew, lockdown should be dealt with harshly particularly the gathering of more than 50 people,” was the suggestion which emerged from officers in the field. “The period post-21 days of lockdown needs to be cautiously reviewed as it may lead to wider spread of the virus.”
On lifting of lockdown, it was suggested that phased, partial approach may be taken up by the government, and they added that this could be state-wise after the states stop reporting of COVID-19 cases.
When asked to list the most serious gap in combating COVID-19 in their districts, the respondents identified the following: hospital preparedness and infrastructure, quarantine and isolation facilities, testing facilities, PPEs, foreign travel history and contact tracing, and exodus of migrant workers.
What most of the officers agreed on was about the increased awareness people had about the pandemic. “Seventy-five per cent of the respondents said that people are taking precautions to cope with COVID-9 threat, 69 per cent respondents took the view that people are handling lockdown in a peaceful manner, while 31 per cent agree that people are alarmed and panicking.”
The survey revealed that the government machinery has managed to create awareness among people about the importance of social distancing. Eighty-two per cent of the district collectors agreed that the government of India has taken sufficient steps to combat COVID-19, while 85 per cent of them said state governments have taken the required steps.
They reported sufficient availability of essential services and goods and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for janta curfew was very effective in meeting its objective of motivating people to adopt social distancing.
The officers also suggested increasing testing, checking of under-reporting of cases, manufacturing of testing kits indigenously, and economic support to the poor, migrant workers, farmers, MSMEs and the middle class.
