Time not to play politics but get our minds together: Gaurav Gogoi

With lockdown norms getting eased and thousands of migrant workers returning home, Gaurav Gogoi, Lok Sabha MP from Koliabor shared his views
Time not to play politics but get our minds together: Gaurav Gogoi

With lockdown norms getting eased and thousands of migrant workers returning home, Gaurav Gogoi, Lok Sabha MP from Koliabor, shared his views on what the roadmap should be and the top five points that the Congress party wants the Government to do. Gogoi spoke exclusively to The Sentinelassam.com. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

Sentinel Assam: What is your take on the Government's handling of the Corona health emergency?

Gaurav Gogoi: What we are in is unprecedented. We don't have a vaccine yet and till we find one, we have to live with COVID-19. The impact has been immense. You have seen states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh badly hit. The numbers have skyrocketed in the past few weeks. I am grateful and happy that the numbers are still pretty much limited in the Northeast and my home state of Assam. We might have so far managed to avoid a situation like in Maharashtra and Gujarat but we have to be extremely cautious. We are not out of the woods yet and we have to keep up with the protocols of social distancing. I think it would be prudent on the part of the government to keep testing and keep amplifying the fact that social distancing, hand washing is imperative. With lockdown norms getting eased, factories, industries, agriculture being opened, following the social distancing norms and these rules being developed withing factories, industries and the farm space would become very necessary.

Sentinel Assam: What is the Congress's views on farm distress and the economy which is bleeding. What is Congress's revival strategy?

Gaurav Gogoi: Since the beginning the Congress has been playing a very positive and constructive role. Even before the government announced the lockdown, we were the first we ask for a lockdown. After the lockdown we were the first party to talk about a financial package for the people living below the poverty line. We saw government respond with the first financial action plan. We had also asked the return of the migrant labours and we have seen that has happened. We have been continuously telling the government that the focus has to be on micro, small and medium enterprises. Because even before COVID hit India, the micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) were not doing well. We have been telling the government to give them financial support. The owners of these enterprises are finding it difficult to pay their employees. No money in the hands of the employees and workers mean no food and this would lead to mal-nutrition and hunger which we do not want.

Sentinel Assam: Does the Congress have a 5-point agenda to reboot the economy?

Gaurav Gogoi: This year has been a unique year. What we have been saying is that whatever money has been allocated in this year's Budget can be allocated to help poor people and the MSMEs. We have advised that a fund of Rs one lakh crore for the MSMEs so that they can pay the wages and another one lakh crore so that they can continue production in their firms. Also, the Government of India might need to borrow more funds from the IMF and the World Bank. Farmers also need to be paid adequately to ensure that the rural economy is thriving. These are some of the points that we have been raising.

Sentinel Assam: In a population of three crore plus we just have about a few cases. Commendable work being done by the Assam Government?

Gaurav Gogoi: If we compare the number of cases across the world, in the US, in Germany and look at our India numbers, India has been relatively less affected by COVID-19. In India some of the states have been much more affected than others. Only a research maybe some time later would tell us why the virus affected some states more than the others. We have been constantly advising the Assam government on who all needs help like the tea garden workers and those stranded outside Assam. Right now, the time is not to play politics but to put our minds together, give positive, concrete ideas.

Sentinel Assam: The current health emergency has highlighted the gaps in health infrastructure?

Gaurav Gogoi: One of the takeaways of COVID-19 is that India needs to invest much more in healthcare. Whether at the central, state or district level. Right now, the capacities are not there to produce a vaccine against COVID-19, we are unable to manufacture enough PPE kits, we are importing those, for the testing kits we are doing it in collaboration of international firms. This crisis has exposed the vulnerabilities in the Indian healthcare system but I am confident that in the days to come this would be area where we would see much more investment.

Sentinel Assam: Lot of migrant workers coming back to the state. A huge task at hand for the government to provide livelihood?

Gaurav Gogoi: There will be some fear and apprehension after the lockdown is relaxed to go back to their normal routine, go back to their offices or factories. This fear is genuine and understandable but it has to overcome. We cannot be a thriving economy if a sentiment of fear is there. We will have to work together and I think it is a good thing at least for the services industry where so many people from the Northeast work. If we can create an atmosphere for them that no matter where they go, social distancing norms are followed, testing ramped up and healthcare facilities available so that they feel confident. Confidence of the people is necessary to have a thriving economy.

Sentinel Assam: Suggestions from your side to revive key sectors like tourism, hospitality and agriculture.

Gaurav Gogoi: People at the district level with the chambers of commerce will have to identify the people and the losses that entrepreneurs or businesses have incurred and we have to find ways, prepare a plan to help them get back on their feet. I think academicians, civil society, domain experts will have to get together to find the way out. The government alone will not be able to handle everything.

Sentinel Assam: Are you happy in the manner things have been handled so far?

Gaurav Gogoi: For me the benchmark for successfully overcoming COVID-19 would be if we can come out with a vaccine. I am cautious about being too optimistic, because it is still the early stages of the pandemic. I would rather focus on what I can do in my capacity as a Member of Parliament and the government does what is necessary instead of me evaluating the work being done too early on.

Sentinel Assam: Many stranded students and people must be getting in touch with you?

Gaurav Gogoi: I got calls from three people from my constituency (Koliabor). They are at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Cancer Institute in Delhi. They tested positive for COVID-19. I spoke to them, ny office got in touch with the Superintendent of the Institute so that they are taken proper care. I have been getting calls from people in UP, Pune, Bengaluru who are either not getting ration or facing some other problem. In most states we do not have a Congress government but our network of Congress volunteers is very strong across states. That is how we have been able to provide ration and help to the people. We have opened a centralised control room for migrant labours. We have managed to help a lot of people through our volunteers.  

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