Before Modi speaks, Didi acts Mamata had announced her 'Complete Safety Restrictions', which became effective at 5pm

Mamata Banerjee covers her mouth with a piece of cloth during a press conference on coronavirus, at Nabanna (PTI)

Pranesh Sarkar and Meghdeep Bhattacharyya, TT, 25.03.20, Calcutta: The Mamata Banerjee government on Tuesday announced the extension of the lockdown to all of Bengal till March 31, apparently on the back of reports from the ground that the desired level of social distancing was not being achieved through the partial lockdown in place since Monday evening.

Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a pan-India lockdown for three weeks, Mamata had announced her “Complete Safety Restrictions”, which became effective within two hours at 5pm.

The earlier restrictions announced by the Bengal government had covered all 23 districts, including Calcutta, but in 14 of these districts the lockdown had been restricted to only key urban centres. Besides, the earlier order, issued on Sunday, was to be effective till the midnight of Friday (March 27). According to the latest order, the lockdown will include the whole of Bengal.

“After considering reports from the ground since the restrictions came into force…. the Complete Safety Restrictions that we have in place, the law, it is being extended till March 31 to the whole of the state…. In light of the situation and the extent of its abnormality, standing at an extraordinary juncture, we are making this effective in the entire state from 5pm,” Mamata said.

Since a large part of rural Bengal had not been out of the purview of the earlier lockdown that had been in place since 5pm on Monday, the top brass of the government had been worried about effectively achieving the primary target — social distancing.

Ground reports since Tuesday morning had suggested that the effect of the lockdown had been minimum in the districts where the rural areas had been kept out of the purview of the lockdown.

Local modes of transportation like motor vans, motorcycles and tractors were being used in the rural areas.

Mamata took care to explain why the total lockdown was imperative. “Why this was done, let me explain…. We did a case study, we saw that the first one lakh people (globally) were infected by Covid-19 over 67 days, the next one lakh happened over 11 days…. The next four days, another lakh….That is why, so that everyone stays well,” she said.

“Ektu koshto korte hobe. Durjog ele, bhoy na peye — eratey toh parbo na — ektu durbhoge shamil hoye kaajta korte hobe, jate bhalo thaka jaai (A little trouble has to be taken. When a calamity comes, without fearing it — since we cannot avoid it — a little participation in adversity is necessary for getting the job done, so that staying well is possible). That is why the decision had to be taken,” she added.

A senior government official said Mamata lost no time in announcing a statewide lockdown after receiving the ground reports.

She also advised home quarantine for those who had returned from other states. “Villages, migrant workers, a lot many came from elsewhere, please stay home…. For 14 days, try to avoid your families. They have to be kept well. Same for those who came from abroad,” the chief minister said.

Mamata announced a special scheme “Procheshta” (Effort) to help unorganised sector workers financially. She said that each such worker who would apply would get a one-time financial assistance of Rs 1,000.

Earlier in the day, Mamata wrote to Modi urging him to allow Bengal to borrow more funds from the market by relaxing the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003, to contain the outbreak of Covid-19.

Her focus, however, remained on social distancing and she appealed to people — both in rural and urban areas — against taking this lightly. “I would hope you would not crowd the streets and play cricket. Please, have mercy. This will only contribute to increasing the spread of Covid-19,” she said.

“What a dangerous disease this is, you are unable to understand. One person in a large household gets it, whoever is mingling with that person, inside or outside, everybody is getting it,” Mamata added.

Mamata cautioned against crowding while buying essentials. “Those going to the markets…. We have been getting reports that many have been queuing up, long queues, crowding, to buy essentials.”

“If one person there has the coronavirus, a hundred more are getting infected then and there. That 100, in geometric progression, will become a lakh in no time. That is why, those going to markets, to them it is my request — with folded hands, I request — my mothers, brothers and sisters…. Please maintain some distance even in those queues,” she added.

Top government officials said until the markets are closed down completely, a total lockdown does not appear to be possible. “But keeping people’s daily needs in mind, we are allowing emergency shops to operate. If the situation deteriorates, we could go for tougher restrictions,” said a senior official.