Mid-Day Opinion: Authorities must step up in times of crisis

A Virar road on July 8. Pic/Manjeet Thakur

Power has been restored to the residents of Vasai-Virar. Yet, this should not make us forget that Vasai, Virar, and Nalasopara locals suffered horrendously in the past three days of monsoon fury.

Power outages cut these residents from all their devices and, effectively, communication. Then, auto drivers were charging extremely high fares to transport the stranded. Prices skyrocketed, vegetables and fruits were hard to get, and eggs and bread went out of stock. This happens during a crisis but unfortunately has also come to be part of the package of difficult days in the city and on its outskirts. People are held to ransom when there are challenges. The police should have been on alert and stopped this to provide some relief to the locals. It may be small relief, but its impact is bigger.

Through the report in our paper that highlighted the woes of Vasai-Virar residents, what came through was a sense of abandonment and helplessness among citizens. Leadership has to show its citizens that they have their back, at least making life easier in some aspects, and that is significant. Provisions to ensure drinking water should have been in place from Day 1. One part of the population cannot simply be left to suffer.

We need accountability and responsibility from local leadership. More so in these times. They need to step up when people want and need them the most. Be visible. Make statements but more importantly, back that up with action. Show up for your people instead of choosing convenient, comfortable options such as
invisibility and silence.