Opinion : The lathi did not work. Impose heavy fines

By Telugu360

The complete lockdown declared by the two Telugu speaking states has seen widespread violations with the people of both the states disobeying the regulations imposed by the governments for their own good. The earnest appeal of heads of both the states seems to have fallen on the deaf ears of the people. Citizens seem to have taken the police ‘lathi’ blows too softly and breaking the law with impunity. On the one hand, the governments are finding it too hard to contain the contagion of the deadly virus and win the war against the enemy within, convincing people to stay indoors and maintain social distancing is proving to be even more difficult. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekahara Rao even warned of shoot at sight, 24 hour curfew with no relaxations and even deployment of the Army. Despite this, people in Telangana seem to have taken such warnings way too casually. The governments have to crack the whip again. The ‘danda’ (lathi) has not worked as we have seen.

Here’s a suggestion from Telugu 360.com: Impose heavy fines and penalties for every violation of the lockdown.

Rule 1: Only one person can travel in two-wheeler

Suggested fine: The government should impose a fine of at least Rs 500 with a simple imprisonment of 15 days or both, suspension or cancellation of licences.

Rule 2: Two people can travel in four-wheeler.

Suggested fine: A fine of at least Rs 1,000 should be imposed with a simple imprisonment of 20 days or both, suspension or cancellation of licences or community service

Rule 3: Only one person can step out to buy essentials like vegetables or groceries.

Suggested fine: A fine of at least Rs 500 should be imposed if more than one person shops for groceries or vegetables.

Rule 4: Leaving home with no important work or a genuine reason. People who loiter on the streets without a valid reason

Suggested fine: Rs 1,000 if citizens fail to provide enough proof for stepping out of their homes and community service for at least one week.

Rule 5: Crossing inter-state borders and thereby posing a threat to public safety

Suggested fine: Rs 2,000-Rs 3,000 for people who attempt to cross interstate borders thereby posing a threat to public safety and for spreading the contagion. Community service at least 2 weeks is a must. Suspension or cancellation of licences of private vehicle owners

Rule 6: Violation of home quarantine regulations

Suggested fine: Rs 3000-4000 for not complying with instructions of home quarantine

Rule 6: Violation of mandatory 14-day quarantine hospitalization

Suggested fine: Rs 5000-6000

Rule 6: Violating the regulation on organizing social gatherings, meetings and public celebrations

Suggested fine: Rs 10,000 with imprisonment of at least 2 months for organizers of such gatherings. All those who attend such large gatherings should face at least Rs 500 fine plus community service for at least one week

Rule 6: Violating the disclosure by foreign returnees or not reporting to the officials concerned

Suggested fine: Rs 20,000 for violating mandatory protocols set by the Home Ministry and Ministry of Health. In addition, 15 month imprisonment and 15 days community service

Rule 7: Visiting hospitals and other health facilities in non-emergency situations

Suggested fine: Rs 1,000 and community service for one week

Rule 8: For not wearing masks outdoors

Suggested Fine: Rs 1,000 and 1 week community service

Rule 9: Transportation of non-essentials

Suggested Fine: Rs 10,000, suspension or cancellation of licences of vehicles and businesses

Rule 10: Violating closure of public places like shopping centers, malls, cinemas, parks and restaurants dining customers

Suggested fine: Rs 20,000, suspension or cancellation of business licences

The punishment should be immediate and there should be on-the-spot fine collection. The same people who break the law in India strictly abide by the laws of foreign countries as they know it is impossible to manipulate there. Stricter penalties and higher fines have worked in Singapore, the United States, UK, Dubai and several other countries where Indians strictly follow the rules there.

Budget conscious Indians know what it means to drive a big hole in their pockets. Such fines and penalties can deter people from violating the lockdown, help the government in its efforts to contain the spread of corona contagion, help the government in raising money for the corona cause. The money thus raised can be used for improving the health care system or public sanitation works. The system should be fool-proof in that the governments should ensure there is no scope for corruption by the law enforcing agencies in taking bribes from people and let them off the hook.

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View Comments

Àkhil says:

March 29, 2020 at 1:15 PM

Babu aslae money leka ebandi padutunam , middle class lower middle elanti pichi ***k alochanaloo evadu dayachesi e article remove chai, ne site meda respect podhi, first government ni mukyam ga ap government ni perfect ga governance evamanu tarwata automatic ga ani avey set auvtai
Raju says:

March 29, 2020 at 1:20 PM

T 360 foolish. Decission . Why 2 people cannot come. If they are passing time just through them in jail for 12 hrs and give their photoes to tv to show in Tv . Then no body will come out if they dont have work. Unnessaserly. Put fines in this situations. People who come second time outside should be kept for 1 day. . That is max punishment no cases no lathicharge .no fines
Raju says:

March 29, 2020 at 1:28 PM

Enti jagan govt lo salahadaru post ki try chestunnava ? Asalu lathi charge tappu antunte fine. Janalu niku etta kanipistunnaru evadina 4-5 guru gappalu kodutunte tisukelli oka 12-24 gantalu mutiki plaster lu vesi jail lo pedatamani cheppu evadu avasaram lekunada bayatiki radu. Ni pichhi salahalu manuko pedda medavi puttadu. Janalu jobs leka dabbulu leka edustunte kadupu nindi fine lu veyyala. Andariki pranam meeda tipi undhi. Chetanite kanika kapoor meeda case pettinattu. Guntur mla meeda , AP cm meeda case lu pettandi corna pina nirlakshyam ga unnandhuku
Madhavi says:

March 29, 2020 at 3:04 PM

Telugu 360s suggestion of fines and penalties seems to be a good idea. Fines, Penalties have definitely worked in enforcing traffic rules, public hygiene and sanitation norms in countries like Singapore, Dubai and US. This idea definitely pinches the middle class but with the contagion corona virus spreading fast and the people disobeying lockdown enforcement and coming of streets, the idea is only to make people to stay indoors and not loiter on streets as it being reported across the country. The health officials, police and the governments are working hard to contain corona virus. In the given situation, such measures should be seen in the larger interest of saving peoples life.
dinesh says:

March 29, 2020 at 3:15 PM

if people have problem in paying fines, they should stay at home and not violate the government regulations. The lockdown is enforced in the entire country and such fines should be applicable in all parts of India and not limited to either Telangana or Andhra Pradesh. think about it. Motorists don't follow rules, residents don't follow MCH regulations. People don't wear Helmets, throw garbage on streets. it is not the responsibility of the the governments alone to contain corona virus. as Indians, we have a responsibility. these fines should not be applicable to migrant workers, daily wage earners. but foreign returnees having been violating the mandatory 14 day quartainine period. IT employees are trying to cross interstate borders. if they cannot pay fines, they should at least respect the law of the land.
Àkhil says:

March 29, 2020 at 5:55 PM

Dinesh and madhavi you're intentions are right but trust me fines will not make any impact for upper class people and because of foreign returnees india got affected by this virus. So if we implement fines then middle class and below middle class people only suffer, and about IT employees those people just wanted to go home and wanted to stay with parents in this panic situation what's wrong in that and trust me the people who gathered on ugadhi doesn't have any symptoms , all are young and unmarried , and am one of those. But due to ap governments order we have gone back , there are so many reasons for us for our actions then, and an ultimate failure of coordination from both state governments on that day

Naresh says:

March 29, 2020 at 6:38 PM

Theres no denial that its mostly because of foreign returnees that india has nearly one thousand Corona positive cases. therefore they should be heavily penalised for not disclosing or reporting to the authorities concerned or refusing to be quarantined. Then there are thousands of people who are stepping out of their homes without valid reasons. The fines mostly should be on thses people. Why should any law abiding citizen worry about fines. You wear helmets and avoid facing challans from the police. Similarly stick to lockdown regulations and avoid fines. Simple. I completely agree that it was not the fault of IT employees when they tried to enter AP borders and it was failure of two state governments. But we should also understand that despite police wielding lathi people still are coming on to streets most of them without valid reasons. Ultimately it is in the best interests of people because corona will not survive for too long.