Sunday Times 2
Punishing the miserable
View(s):The police spokesman gleefully announced that 1,633 people were arrested in October for violating quarantine and curfew orders. Did he just reflect upon their reason for transgressing the orders? Did they not breach the orders in search of livelihood for their families? What would be the plight of the families of poor daily wage earners, if they stayed indoors just moping? They have a problem, and if nothing is done, there becomes a problem for law and order.
True the Government paid Rs. 5,000 a family of the poorest level. What about the rest who did not receive it? And how much can be done with Rs. 5000 a month –even if it is repeated?
However poor a family is, the parents strive hard to educate their children. Now with the quarantines and curfews, it has become more expensive for ‘online’ studies. We must understand and appreciate the priorities of these people, poor as they are. Their indomitable enterprising spirit should not be crushed. It is not for nothing that the head of the household is called the ‘breadwinner’.
A classic case study is the punishment meted out to such people in England during the 19th century, and how they fared.
With the setting in of the Industrial Revolution, new machines were invented and people were no longer needed to do farming jobs, so they moved to the cities. The cities became overcrowded. Many people didn’t have jobs and were very poor. People stole things to survive. Minor crimes such as stealing livestock worth a shilling was punishable by transportation (exile) to Australia. Even pinching a handkerchief was deemed a transportable offence.
Many being enterprising, made good with the opportunities available in NSW Australia. An ex-convict, Samuel Terry, is considered Australia’s richest man ever. Tapping in to the urban consumer culture by importing goods and running pubs were both highly successful ways that Terry exploited for accumulating wealth.
Prince Vijaya came to Lanka in exile from India and established a dynasty. So, lawbreakers who reach out to fend for themselves when other means have failed, should not be underestimated. They risk not only arrest but also the coronavirus and are not taking such risk for the fun of it. They are doing so to meet the obligations by their dependents.
While the miserable are struggling, others high up are making good. Business is good for those in the higher bracket. In short, it is politics with business. There is nothing to hold back: “Circulars are nuisance, a waste of time.” So, tenders, evaluation and closing dates depend only on the word given. The word is not written. The experts are another force making hay, thunder lightening or rain. Religion also helps.
These massive gains, if utilised for the purpose, will be sufficient to alleviate the burdens of the miserable. But not even in our dreams will that happen. The miserable remain therefore faithfully with everyone, as best as they may.
All this affects law and order. Police have to maintain law and order despite the odds overbearing on them.
(The writer is a Retired Senior Superintendent of Police. He can be contacted at seneviratnetz@gmail.com; mobile 077 44 751 44)