On 30th January, 2020 World Health Organisation declared Corona virus COVID 19 as PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY and on 11th March, 2020 as PANDEMIC . The Union Budget session commenced on 31st January 2020 and the General Budget proposals presented on 1st February, 2020 . A recess was in place from 12th February, 2020 to 1st March 2020. Second session commenced on 2nd March, 2020 and was to continue until 3rd April 2020 for discussion and passing :the same; but both Houses of Parliament adjourned sine die and prorogued on 23rd March, 2020. in view of rise of the corona virus cases internationally and in the country.
In Goa the State Assembly Budget session commenced on 3rd February, 2020 and ended on 7th February, 2020 the Budget proposals as is the practice will be discussed and passed later during the monsoon session As the COVID19 cases began slowly but steadily rising in the country the PM of India gave a clarion call for a self-imposed 14 hr - JANTA - (peoples) curfew on Sunday, 22nd March 2020 ( remain indoors ) . The Govt of Goa after several postponements cancelled the Zilla Panchayat elections slated for 24th March, 2020 and locally extended the JANTA curfew until Gudi Padva the Hindu New Year 25th March, 2020 (public holiday) . The unabated rise of +ve cases in the country nearly 500;odd and rising the PM announced a further 21 day complete lockdown from 24th March 2020 upto 14th April, 2020. Immediately thereafter economic packages were announced by the Finance Ministry Govt of India on 26th March, 2020 and later by the Reserve Bank of India on 27th March, 2020 by and large offering economic largesse as well as reprieve for all taxation matters upto 30th of June, 2020. It will thus be seen that despite the hectic calendar of financial activities both Govt of India and Govt of Goa initiated measures to check the super-spreader. A visit to websites of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Govt of India www.mohfw.gov.in, Directorate of Health services Govt of Goa www.dhsgoa.gov.in and Goa Legislative Assembly and the Executive Govt of Goa on www.goa.gov.in/covid-19 or Directorate of Information and Publicity Govt of Goa www.dip.goa.gov.in the Union Finance Ministry Govt of India www.finmin.nic.in and the RBI www.rbi.org.in stands a mute testimony, It must be noted that even the first two World Wars had not affected as many countries as this new corona virus COVID-19 super spreader does. For a country with a population of 130 crores including population of over 15 lacs in Goa there is obviously bound to be initial chaos. Yet the series of measures taken are indeed notable and exemplary Rember the old adage from CHAOS comes ORDER. Notwithstanding the fake news loose gossip spread on the print and visual media also social media what sapp face book twitter at state national and international level one needs to separate the chaff from the grain . GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, cyber journo social activist BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) gonsalvesgodfre...@yahoo.co.in