In what can only be called a shocker from the beating heart of Madhya Pradesh, as many as 661 individuals in Indore were fined for not wearing the safety masks in public. To not be wearing a face mask whilst operating in a private space is absolutely fine, but then to be treading carelessly whilst being in a public place is sheer negligence and of the highest order. Not the kind of behaviour that is expected of a person in these COVID-riddled times- what do you reckon?
There’s honestly no other way in which such an act can be described, truth be told. As a matter of fact, even if 100 odd people or, at the most 200 would have been penalised (or fined) for not wearing a face mask whilst being in a public place then it could have been understood as a careless one off occurrence. But to have in excess of 600 people penalised posits a statement of utter lack of carefulness by the general public.
And that this rather uncalled-for incident took place in Indore- one of the finest cities of India- has actually given a clear indication that we Indians are still not realising the gravity of the situation, rather crisis that the COVID 19 pandemic is. Since, had there been more proactive response to battling the ghastly virus, as many as 661 individuals would have set a better example than they did.
Moreover, let it not be forgotten that Indore is the very city where cases of black fungus and green fungus caused much furore in the recent times and much like other Indian cities, Indore too, has had its fair share of problems concerning the dearth of availability of oxygen beds.
Therefore, such utter casualness should really have been avoided by the very city that has encouraged not just the urban Indian landscape but the entirety of India to keep its environs clean, having set a remarkable example in the domain of cleanliness.
Moreover, in addition to the 661 people who were fined for not wearing face masks, there were 3 shopkeepers too, who found themselves penalised for not maintaining the safety protocols in lines with COVID 19.
What is important to note in the context of Indore is that, nowadays, there are surprise checks and sudden examinations being done on the behalf of the Indore Municipal Corporation, also known as the IMC, whose task is to visit markets and keep a check also on other crowded areas.
Each of the 661 violator was fined with a spot challan of Rs 200 (for each defaulter). Though, on the other hand, the shopkeepers were fined with a sum of Rs 1,000 each.
Thus far, thanks to the mighty sum of fines subjected of the defaulters, the civic body of Indore collected a whopping sum of Rs 81, 650 as penalty. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to note that where the last one week stands, then the IMC has intensified its surprise checks in both crowded areas around the city, as well as the bazaars (market places) basis instructions from to ensure whether compliance as per COVID 19 safety protocols is taking place or not.