Violation of Lockdown | 25 May, 2020

Despite repeated advisories by the government at various levels, violation of norms laid down in order to control the spread of COVID-19 has become a menace for the authorities across Assam in the past few weeks. There have been regular reports in the media about people refusing to follow social distancing norms, especially in shops, banks, ATM booths and various other public places. Similarly, the use of masks has also become a kind of mockery because a large section of people either do not want to learn how to wear a mask, or refuse to understand the dangers resulting from not using or improperly using one. Hand-washing in public places like government offices too do not appear to have been strictly followed, while spitting has continued to be a menace all over. Violation of quarantine protocols have been also reported from different places, with some media reports also saying that people lodged in quarantine centres were also moving out off and on from such facilities. Official statistics meanwhile have shown that the authorities across Assam have registered a little over 2,400 cases of against violations of lockdown rules from March 25 to May 22, 2020, with the police arresting more than 4,500 people in less than two months since the lockdown had started. Moreover, the government of Assam has also collected a hefty sum of Rs 2.84 crore so far as realization of fines from people who have violated the various lockdown norms. This amount also includes realization of Rs 25.19 lakh as fine from people for not wearing face masks, besides the seizure of as many as 28,502 vehicles – majority of them two-wheelers – for lockdown rule violations. While a section of people have indulged in spreading rumours and fake news about coronavirus, the police have so far registered 96 cases against fake news on COVID-19 in the social media, leading to the arrest of 50 people during the period. It is not that only semi-literate people with low level of awareness and low access to information have been violating the lockdown norms and other precautionary measures like not spitting in public places. A section of so-called educated and well-to-do people – who are habituated to practices like throwing garbage in drains and open spaces and smoking in public – have been also violating the norms. It is this section of people who also have a tendency of flouting all kinds of practices and norms related to public decency and discipline.