Impact of COVID 19 pandemic on a large, diverse, populated and democratic country like India cannot be ascertained by any single study or proclamation, neither by the think tanks nor by individual Government departments or agencies. It has affected all -- rich and poor, rural and urban areas, elderly and young population, trained professionals and unprepared fatalists. Since February-March 2020, the tentacles of Corona virus has destabilized all the growth indices of Indian economy. GDP has shrank by almost 15%, employment by 27%, exports by 40% and overall global international transactional strength by 21 positions in the global economic order. These indicators take their toll over our economy completely on short term and is being tackled with sincerity by the Modi Government backed by a recovery package of 5 lakh crores plus added support from World Bank, IMF, ADB, WHO and other multilateral agencies.
For people working to combat the effects of the pandemic in the non-governmental sector and related social sectors and agencies growing problematic issues over short term are alarming. While the vaccine is yet to be developed and is expected to be ready for mass inoculation only by March/April 2021, COVID-19 has affected Indian social, familial and related economic fabrics by:
Increasing the labour problems for industries (especially for the MSMEs which almost accounts for 50% of our exports and employs 116 million people) and needy urban households as the migrant labour and household services personnel have left for their provinces on the panic wave. Their returning is and will be slow as different conditions for accommodating their return must be created.
Increasing cases of domestic violence (gone up by a whopping 26%), rape, negligence in provision of care for young and elderly, suicide (by about 9%), mental health deterioration and increase in cyber and general crimes all over (by about 11%).
Increasing pressure on women which has economic, psychological and long term effects on familial stability and social coherence (besides the economic contribution to the GDP).
Increasing pressure on education system and process (for students studying both in India and abroad), examination criteria, learning process (replacement online system has taken root, but in many cases has its limitations in outreach, monitoring and point delivering of goals).
Increasing pressure on personal savings of middle class (especially lower middle class) and poor.
The numbers of death and dying are on the increase. In states like West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, where people avoid testing out of fear and stigma (besides governmental efforts being minimal due to slow political and bureaucratic decision making) and hospital facilities are not adequate, death rates are going to go up substantially in the near future. Such fear and predictions are valid for ten to eleven states. Availability of readied hospitals and trained medical personnel is another issue.
In this circumstance governing such a national crisis, roles and responsibilities of NGOS, CSR and ISR bodies and altruistic citizenry must be utilized by the country on availability and voluntary basis to maximum extent. Governments, both at center and states, must avail the services of these bodies to educate, prepare, assist and increase the gamut of available support system universally. We all must serve our country at this crisis period to counter the growing spread of the pandemic and prepare ourselves over medium and long term also for national recovery process. This is a must.
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