Today, 12th May 2021, the gas person came to my door and wanted to take a picture of the reading of the gas meter. These are installed just over the kitchen in most homes. I am sure that this person got past the check posts showing his gas identity card. Yes, Gas is an essential services, but taking the reading is not. The gas company can just compute the average readings, and bill, or ask all of us to send images of our meters by MMS or whatsapp.
However I would say that the home delivery service of Amazon and other etailers have come as a special boon in these difficult times. The problem is that other household items like electrical fitting is not allowed. And the programme is such that each delivery from the pantry, and fresh, and other so called essential items comes in separate packages. I think the government can mandate them to do a maximum of one delivery a day and allow them to send other items alongwith the same delivery.
Similarly, in each locality, government could ask delivery agents to register and supply from kiranas, veggie vendors, medical stores, stationary food, using whatsapp, within a colony or sub-ward, provided the delivery agent consolidates the days delivery into one delivery. This will provide much needed relief for temp workers who are out of a job due to the lockdown! Payments can be made through BHIM, paytm, e transfers etc
Finally, I feel that policemen who are on the streets must not have to expose themselves. They should be given desks and chairs. placed on platforms two feet above, and protected using plexiglass and surveillance and fines should be imposed only using webcams and through electronic means. The self made stickers but clearly showing ward no, should be re-introduced and webcams should be taking snapshots, and repeated offenders sent notices. Similarly police should be instructed that they need not chase any particular biker or card. All they have to do is take stills.
Nero's Pride: Not Even A Pandemic Can Stop The Central Vista Project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfsVEW0WF-Y
Hospitals have run of beds, oxygen and other medical supplies. Crematoriums and graveyards in the country have been overflowing with the bodies of the dead. But in the middle of this unprecedented crisis, there is one ‘essential service’ that is still continuing. This essential service is the redevelopment of the Central Vista in Delhi, a prestige project of the BJP.