Powerful lesson

COVID-19 is teaching everyone in the world, the importance of washing hands, using sanitisers, maintaining personal hygiene, even sanitising door knobs and elevator buttons, importance of carrying tissues with us all the time, coughing etiquette, etc.

Those who have the money to buy various hygiene and sanitising products, can augment their immunity against any infection. The current crisis will usher a revolution in cleanliness and sanitation amongst those classes who can afford hygiene products.However, about 30 to 40 per cent of the global population lives on low or daily wages. There are millions of migrant workers in India who are stranded in various cities, who have not been able to make it to their homes in the villages due to the lockdown. Their number is estimated at 40 million by the World Bank. They are desperate for food and shelter. I wonder how they will spare money for sanitisers and tissues, when they do not even have money to eat. According to the ILO, there are 244 million global migratory workers.

Again, about 900 people in the world live in slums. Sometimes, as many as 100 persons use a single toilet. How will we maintain hygiene and social distancing in such places? Even if the migrant labourers and slum dwellers are aware of the need for hygiene and social distancing, how will they afford it?

Thus, it is important, that as the lockdowns are eased, governments across the world, endeavour to improve the hygiene levels and living conditions in the slums of the world.

Rajendra Aneja — Mumbai, India