SOPs a moo(t) point at mandi

Though the caution is justified as the country struggles to control the spread of Covid-19, those making the trip to the market appeared to consider the standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to curb the virus spread as optional.

Even as the administration repeatedly made announcements urging visitors to wear masks and maintain social distancing, few of those present in the 1,000-acre market paid heed to them.

Meanwhile, despite the Sindh government barring the entry of children and the elderly at the market, there was no implementation of this restriction, though workers with thermal guns stood at the four entry points, checking visitors' temperatures and ensuring they wore masks.

But while the majority of visitors had masks as they entered, they took them off inside the market. "The masks are irritating to wear. We can't keep them on for so long!" exclaimed one of the buyers, when asked about it.

And it wasn't just the customers - most of the cattle merchants, too, seemed to have relegated their masks to their pockets.

According to Mir Hazar, who had come from Sadiqabad to sell his sacrificial animals, the traders had been given masks by the market administration, but no sanitisers.

"There's no real strictness for us to follow the SOPs - the authorities are stricter with the customers," he explained. "I myself am maintaining social distancing by avoiding handshakes and hugs, which used to be a common sight before. But if an elderly man comes to greet me, I cannot let him down.

The challenge

With hundreds of people flocking to the cattle market, both to sell and purchase sacrificial animals, the authorities claimed it was impossible for them to ensure complete compliance with the SOPs. "We can only try our best to implement the SOPs," said Mutahir Chawla, who is in charge of the market's media cell, implying that they could not check every single person entering the market.

"We cannot force people to follow the SOPs. It's their social responsibility to comply with the requirements as well," he pointed out. "If we try to implement them by force, people will spread propaganda against us on social media, claiming we are harassing and humiliating poor citizens at the market."

Chawla added that they had 50 workers roaming around the market on motorcycles, making announcements about the SOPs and requesting people to follow them. Besides, he said, the administration had installed 80 sanitiser gates and washing facilities at different points, including the entrances.

Testing on the spot?

While the Sindh government's SOPs called for the establishment of medical centres inside the market, to allow traders or buyers with Covid-19 symptoms to be tested then and there, these were nowhere to be seen.

"What measures has the provincial government taken at the vegetable market that falls under its jurisdiction?" demanded Chawla when asked about this. "I challenge you to show me a single sanitizer gate there, or anyone checking visitors for fever or masks. Anyway, the market was set up on June 22 and the SOPs were only announced recently."

Before the market was established, its media coordinator, Zaki Abro, had told The Express Tribune that the traders would be tested for coronavirus prior to setting up shop. The cattle merchants, though, claimed no testing had been done.

Feeling the crunch

Although many of those at the market appeared unconcerned about the virus, the pandemic still made its presence felt. With its effect on the economy, leaving hundreds of thousands in financial crisis, the traders worried about selling their cattle.

"There are very few buyers this year and we have been unable to make many sales. People aren't offering us the desired rates," lamented Mohammad Siddiq, as he stood by his livestock. Hazar, who had brought 40 cows to the market, grumbled about the expense of doing business at the market, pointing to the cost of fodder, water and his own meals. "Besides, most of the visitors just ask us the rate for the animals and then move on. How will I sell my cows?"

The buyers, on the other hand, complained about the inflated prices. "The rates have increased exponentially this year," one of them told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2020.