The crowd, desperate to get home, in Bandra was unfortunate. Yes it was caused by rumours. Yes, it could even be a conspiracy. But let's not ignore a human angle that's equally important and is being lost in the propaganda cacophony from all sides.

Migrant labourers, who are entirely dependent on daily wages and are indeed spread across many wealthier states, want to go back to their families. If one has to die, either from disease or from hunger, they want to be with their loved ones.

No amount of assurances that they will be provided food and shelter till this crisis is over is going to be enough. Really, who can predict how long this is going to last? The states were already crumbling following the GST fiasco.

They are not going to get any additional revenue. Forget additional, their regular revenues have dried up to 30 percent. Center doesn't have enough funds to provide for the states. It is important to note that in yesterday's address...

the PM merely asked businesses to keep jobs, not pay the workers. His earlier speeches insisted on paying workers regardless of the workers coming to work or not.MSMEs are not in a position to continue paying their workers when there is no source of revenue.

The governments will have to devise a plan to systematically let people be with their families. Lockdown will have to be thought through and cannot be the only way to fight Corona.