The new lockdown measures imposed by some state governments in India has come as a blow for small traders and young entrepreneurs who had just about begun rebuilding their livelihoods after a year-long pandemic.The state government blames the recent surge in Covid-19 cases as a rationale for imposing tighter guidelines. It further blames the people for being complacent and ignoring Covid-appropriate behaviour.Two prominent entrepreneurs --Mahindra and Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra andReliance CapitalExecutive Director Anmol Ambani -- have expressed their views about imposing Covid lockdowns.
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'There is a pandemic hidden within the pandemic.'Anand MahindraChairman, Mahindra and MahindraIn a series of posts on Twitter, Anand Mahindra said: "There is a pandemic hidden within the pandemic: Mental Health. Covid city dashboards cover the availability of hospital beds but not access to trained therapists. There was already a woeful lack of them, but they are now overwhelmed.""No one is immune to psychological stress, but the most affected are the self-employed and the small shop & business owners who were beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and now are faced with the prospect of that light receding.""The strength of micro-communities has always been an antidote to mental stress. We can all do our bit to help shops on our street and order for home delivery from them, not just giant e-comm sites. We can all lend an ear and a shoulder to our friends who run small enterprises."
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'Lockdowns have nothing to do with health.'Anmol AmbaniExecutive Director, Reliance CapitalIn a series of posts on Twitter, Anmol Ambani said:"Lockdowns were never about and have nothing to do with health. They destroy the very backbone of our society and economy, from the daily wage workers, self-employed and SMEs to the restaurants and dhabas, fashion and clothing stores.""They completely destroy and diminish our health by closing gyms, sports complexes, playgrounds, etc. - exercise, sunlight and fresh air being the strongest pillars of good health & immunity.""And don't forget the psychological damage on children who are growing up through this madness. They are being programmed to believe this is normal. This is not about health. This is about control. I think most of us are unknowingly falling into the trap of a much larger and very sinister plan.""To control every aspect of your life -- a technocracy exactly like China -- a totalitarian bio-surveillance fascist state-controlled from the outside. But I have faith in India and the Indian people. That we will resist this global coup de etat, and not let our country get colonised even more. We need to wake up to the truth. Stand for love, peace, unity and compassion."
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