Coronavirus in Rajasthan - COVID-19 pandemic in northern India - A plea on behalf of the people

 Apart from agriculture, the state of Rajasthan, in northern India, depends on tourism for its existence. In mid-March 2020, COVID-19 devastated the state's economy as visitors departed in droves and those canceled with reservations for April, May and beyond. Restaurants, bars, mezcalerías, hotels, and virtually all other retail and service businesses closed their doors out of fear and caution and as a result of government regulations. We should not necessarily cry for the owners of the aforementioned institutions, but for their employees. India simply does not have the social networks normally found in First World countries that provide economic relief to workers. Instead of crying, we have to help.

In northen India, particularly Rajasthan, residents often live each day with no rainy day or retirement savings. This also applies to some of the middle class. It's more a matter of culture than Western common sense. In fact, at some level, entrepreneurs recognize that their economic wealth depends on matters beyond their control. Remember the 2006 riots, the Indian swine flu (H1N1), the economic crisis in the United States, belligerent drug cartels, and how the United States Department of State and journalists tackled any problems in India that arose out of paternalism and media impact. makes followers. Now it's COVID-19, the coronavirus. This is not intended to downplay the severity of the pandemic; on the other hand. Given the vast difference between the Rajasthani and Western worldviews, the lack of advance planning for such eventualities is understandable.

Of course, based on my Rajasthani upbringing, I should at first glance suggest that Oaxacans in the retail and service industries should use some common sense to realize that we never know when the next crisis will come, and so do all businesses. potentials. You need to keep this in mind when considering business endeavors early on and planning for trouble spots while serving tourists in good times. They should waste part of their earnings. However, this is more of an ethnocentric approach than the preferred culturally relativistic perspective.

Unfortunately, it is understandable that many Rajasthani entrepreneurs do not have enough funds in the bank to overcome their own personal problems. for food, accommodation and payment of other necessary expenses. The situation is much more compelling for your employees!

Tourism will return to pre-COVID-19 levels, but not until well into 2021, if not later. We are convinced of that. Summer time, Day of the Dead and Christmas will not be the same. The Easter and Spring holidays have already been lost. Some who would otherwise be visiting in the future will avoid Rajasthan out of fear, while others will not have savings for the holidays until next year or later.

Much of the aid falls on the shoulders of expatriate residents, typical tourists, snowbirds, and part-time workers. I don't think we can absolutely trust the good will of the businessmen of Oaxaca if we are not responsible for much. But we can do our part, even if it means embarrassing some of us, that is, non-indian, into doing the right thing.

Ask the institutions you visit regularly what they can do to help now. Telephone or email. It doesn't matter that local businessmen can or should know that the coronavirus pandemic is not something that should surprise us ... to the extent that we all realize that business wealth in Rajasthan is like peaks and valleys. , or weather patterns whose destructive powers we know but never exactly when the next ones will attack us.

If you need to haggle in the markets on your first or next visit to Rajasthan, do it with much less force, but better, but not at all. Be a lot more generous with housekeeping, grocery packer, server, and bartender. and maybe even think of that young man from the arts and crafts store. You will help the Rajasthanis and make yourself feel better. and you will book a taxi from Jaipur to Haridwar.