Covid-19 crisis in India

“Even a minuscule creature can get what he wants, all that requires is determination.”

Covid-19 pandemic has shaken the entire world. The 6 (except Antarctica) out of 7 continents are severely affected by it. And, India is no lesser prone to it.

Coronavirus (Corona is a Latin word meaning ‘crown’). It entered India in early March 2020 when it has already dismantled countries like China, Iran and South Korea. The early lockdown announced by the Indian government was the wisest step taken when the cases were even less than 100.

Image source: WHO

So, why after 10 weeks of lockdown 1.0, the cases have still been increasing?

Today, India has crossed more than 3 Lac COVID-19 patients. However, there is a silver lining that almost half of the positive patients have been recovered and only around 4% died. The latest example of New Zealand declaring itself, the first corona free nation after 5 weeks of stringent lockdown is a benchmark to set. India could also achieve the same if our country didn’t have the following loopholes. These are:

1. Huge population density for a developing nation: India is still considered a struggling economy. With an average of 382 persons per sq km, it was too optimistic to abstain from the spread. However, vaccination in early childhood, maternity care programmes, attack of a weaker type of coronavirus in India and people’s struggle to fight atrocities like poverty and hunger have proven a blessing in disguise that even with such a huge population, we haven’t yet reached the threshold.
2. Testing programme: Initially, tests were not taken strictly. There was a huge delay in the reports. Because even the patient doesn’t get to know at first if he is positive of COVID-19, he transmits the disease to someone else. So random & recurring sampling could have saved us as done in the case of South Korea, New Zealand and other European countries.
3. Poor public health care: Because specialised facilities are not provided to the public health care sector, the cases have been burgeoning tremendously. Lack of medical practitioners, hospital beds, ventilators and other equipment has resulted in accumulating distress for COVID patients. This can be proved as only 1.3% of the country’s GDP is invested in the public health care system. The country should look at Germany’s.
4. Unemployment/Underemployment: According to the 2011 census, nearly 22% of India’s population was poor and the government is determined to reduce it to 10%. Even SDG #1 says ‘No poverty’ by 2030. Lacs of workers and employees have lost their jobs due to this pandemic situation. This is indeed an unprecedented shock to the companies as well. For this, the union government has introduced a Rs 20 Lac “Atma Nirbhar” package. However, it is only partly fruitful. This is necessary but not sufficient. Because providing free loans to MSMEs only aims at supply intervention. And a healthy market runs by harmony between both demand and supply. When consumers don’t have money to purchase, what will the suppliers do?

Image source: deccanherald.com

So, what are the possible steps for a country like India to protect itself from such future breakdowns?

1. Provide employment: The reverse migration of workers can be beneficial. This can help in an agricultural as well as an industrial boom to the backwards states of UP, Bihar, WB, Rajasthan, etc. Many state governments have even announced to welcome companies exiting China, to set up their base in India. This can help provide these workers with sustainable employment.
2. Boost public health care sector: Recent crisis shows that the situation could have been handled if India had had a better health care system. It is estimated that there are more than 1mn unqualified medical practitioners in the country. Increasing government spending on medical facilities, reverse brain drain to retain the skilled medical professionals in the country and adequate compensation and remuneration can be provided to keep them motivated.
3. Role of citizens: Democracy works by both ends (government and government-run citizens). The citizens must keep themselves positive and support others who face such adversity. Studies have shown that diabetes patients are more prone to this COVID-19. To fight such a disease, it is necessary to eat healthy foods. It is a trend in many European countries (famously, Netherlands) to commute by bicycle. The same can be done in India. The government can construct bicycle tracks. This will make lives and environment healthy in myriad ways.

At last, BE KIND! Because

Love and Kindness are never wasted! ~