New India-New vision-New Hope
There is a lot to talk about COVID-19 scenario. Whole world is changing, the way it used to operate, the way people lived their life. It is a major tragic event in the world where millions of people are infected and many lost their lives. It has already changed the way people think about nature, the way people can work, the way students can study, the way people think about themselves, their societies and the world.
Many new inventions, theories are emerging every day. It is a kind of event that will be remembered by generations to come, will be marked as a key event in history. The world is witnessing that even the wealthiest country is struggling to contain the virus and even the world’s second-best healthcare system is working hard to fight with this pandemic. The world has witnessed countries like South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and New Zealand made a huge success in restricting the spread of this deadly virus. India is the only country which is world’s second most population and with not so robust healthcare system considering the population density, has been doing fairly well.
Now, if someone asks you how India is managing in this pandemic situation, what your answer will be? Today, I have a few things to share. With the massive flow of information from one person to another through social media and all kinds of electronic platforms, everyone has all sorts of information in front of their eyes. I don’t have to elaborate with data, curve, facts and figures. I can just share my experience looking at the complete picture from all over the countries. I am an avid reader of news and report and also simultaneously getting regular updates from the people on the ground. I have been closely following the recent update from India and take a deep sense of pride to see how India is handling the situation in a major crisis like this.
India as an independent country has never faced any major crisis like this before. Last major global event was world war II when India was under British rule. In fact, before the British rule, India had been the major contributor to the global GDP and faced no financial or emergency crisis except for the battles with continuous invaders. As we all know, no country was prepared to combat a situation like this. Even major economies like the US and Italy with a powerful health sector base are struggling terribly.
India has always been struggling with its internal and external problems. It has been fighting with terrorism, corruption, poverty, infrastructure, regional social issues, political rifts and many such issues. Even though India is bounded by various issues and complexities, in recent years it has been doing great n terms of economy, technology, global relations, manufacturing, sports, education. A true sense of developing country marching towards a developed category. Round the year, India, the largest democracy in the world faces a lot of problem relating to internal disturbances, illegal immigrants, border infiltration, ceasefire violation, military aggression from its neighboring countries. Thanks to the oceans that cover half of the boundary of the country. It is indeed a humongous waste of Government wealth and energy in tackling these problems. Now, if you think about this whole Corona pandemic, isn’t an extra cherry on the top of the problem pyramid? Now coming to the point, with an already struggling economy and internal-external problems, the way India is handling the corona pandemic is laudable. And that is why I am presenting this article.
Now, Let’s see how India is doing. I will categorize the ongoing activities in few bullet sections and then explain my opinion. Remember, I am not going to cite any figures, curves and algorithm as all the information is readily available in the internet and news forums. I am just putting my thoughts and insight.
- Government’s policy and steps-
As soon as India experienced a few cases traced back to Italy and Dubai visiting travelers, it immediately banned inbound international flights. Prime Minister Modi then formed a group of highly intellectual teams of experienced doctors, administrative officers, strategists, state leaders and many other think tanks to discuss the way ahead because he knew that India could be a hot spot with such highly dense population. Soon, the team started its operation for making the entire country aware through advertisements, flyers, online awareness program, TV ads etc. The caller tune concept is so strong that it made a huge impact by creating an awareness which is common for all the classes. The information flows from the top to the bottom smoothly. States have started working on the readiness of healthcare facilities and quarantine centres for any worst situations, giving reports to the PM office and also working with the district administration. The timely decision on “lock-down” helped India to initially contain the number of cases. India immediately came up with an app Aarogya Setu where one can find all possible information about COVID-19. One of the major step Indian Government took was to rescue its citizens and students getting stuck in Wuhan, Iran and other countries from where they were losing hope amidst such a critical scenario. The amount of effort the health sectors, district administration, state representatives, police force and many other front line essential service providers have put into this exercise is truly commendable. I have never seen a country like India with so many diverse dynamics working together towards the safety of their countrymen. As it reached 600 confirmed cases, India decided to implement lock-down for the entire country on March 25. Two weeks later, the Govt. drew up “cluster containment” strategy for worse hit states. It meant testing suspected cases, isolating those infected and quarantining all their contacts. Some states have flattened the curve fast. Few have even become corona free states. It was not an easy decision. Everyone knew it came with a price when there is so much of poverty and hunger exist in the society. But with the leadership teams from the state level and strict punishment from police, the lockdown has been followed in the majority of the places. State borders are sealed, the police force is working day and night to make sure, the decision of their PM is correct. However, there were some chaos happened among migrant working-class people with some confusions. PM Modi knew well that the economy will have a major impact due to lockdown, but he also realizes that saving human life is the utmost priority at present. In many states, the lockdown has been extended. During the lockdown, all government meetings, communications are being smoothly carried out with the help of technology. Moreover, the steps being taken to pass on economic relief to the poor class and elderly people are commendable. Food packets, ration kits, face covers, basic necessary items are being distributed across the country. Drones are used by police to identify the affected areas and also to monitor any offender or mass gathering in public places. The chain tracking system of an infected person and probable other infected people has become a robust implementation in the country.
2. India and help towards humanity:
Few great development in this section:
a) PM Modi proposes emergency COVID-19 fund for SAARC nations. India pledged $10 million towards a COVID-19 emergency fund and said it was putting together a rapid response team of doctors and specialists for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations as part of an initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is a huge step and lead taken by India.
b) Recent global demand for Hydroxychloroquine is being met by India. More than 30 countries have asked for medicine and India has already sent initial lots to 13 countries including the USA. This is more than enough to establish India’s image in humanity service on a global platform. The quick and transparent response from PM Modi handling global demand, internal protection, checking India’s demand and supply is quite extraordinary.
Many countries expressed their sincere gratitude towards India and acknowledge the help in this crisis situation.
Report said PM Modi has consistently stayed above the 50 point mark, way ahead of other global leaders. By April 13th, he was nearing the global high of 75.
3. Government, Public Sector and Private Sector support:
The ongoing demand for PPE, masks, gloves, quarantined facilities, hospital beds is increasing with the increase of cases. Thanks to many public and private sector companies. Their effort, proactive actions and leading from the front attitude makes India as ready as ever.
Indian Railway is modifying passenger coaches into isolation wards to safely quarantine and provide all necessary treatment to COVID-19 patients. Apart from that, Indian Railways sets target to make 1000 PPE per day in 17 workshops. Piyush Goyal, minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry, Government of India took to Twitter to announce that Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, a coach manufacturing unit of Indian Railways, has manufactured a low-cost ventilator prototype ‘Jeevan’ for COVID-19 patients.
India has the largest postal service in the world — and now it is stepping in to help deliver lifesaving medicines during a countrywide lockdown aimed at tackling the corona virus pandemic. Red postal vans are a familiar sight in India. They make thousands of journeys every day, criss-crossing the country’s wide network of post offices in 600,000 villages.
On the other hand, private sector companies like Mahindra indigenously developed ventilator to cost less than ₹7,500. An Ambu bag is a self-inflating device that is typically used to help patients with breathing problems. The company’s engineering teams had developed the prototype in 48 hours.
There are many other corporate sectors which came forward to help the nation in crisis. List is long.
‘Aarogya Setu’ which is available for download on both the Google Play Store (Android) and App Store (Apple) helps you track the Coronavirus infection by using your smartphone’s Global Positioning System (GPS) and Bluetooth, and determining whether you have been near a COVID-19 infected person or not. This multilingual app developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) respects privacy by encrypting user data and accesses the location of the user to know if the area the user is in falls within the database of infected areas and with the help of an activated Bluetooth, it also finds out if the user has been within six feet of the infected person. A recent report says Aarogya Setu inspires Google & Apple: India’s Coronavirus tracker app will now be replicated by the world’s best.
One more robust network of India , I have to mention here. The backbone of middle class family’s shopping, the kirana shops. They have been delivering goods at people’s doorsteps whenever required. That it itself commendable.
4. Awareness building among citizens:
In a country with 1.37 Bn population, if you want to convey an emergency and important health-related message, then it takes a lot of effort and planning for implementation. But I have noticed, India has managed to convey the message of corona with dos and don’ts to its citizen in no time. There are so many effective ways the whole awareness program is created. Mobile tone, advertisement in TV, flyers, use of social media, requests from celebrities, use of social media helped sending message to the huge population of India. Even on ground level, policemen were seen creating awareness event by singing songs, showing hygiene steps on road during traffic stops. These small, innovative and effective ways created a buzz. Common people eventually got the message what to do for regular hygiene for Corona and start sharing their photos, memes and videos through social media. There are numerous videos and posts with innovative ways and a good sense of humour started floating around the world and reaching to every Indians. From the financial hub, Mumbai to the smallest village in India, people became aware of what’s going on around the world and how to fight with it.
5. Philanthropic action:
In this whole pandemic event, I have seen a big change in the responsibility towards humanity flowing from top to bottom. Govt of India released its PM CARES fund details without having any delay. people from all classes started donating money to the fund. Even state governments took similar steps. I feel so proud to see people from poor to rich class started donating for the cause of humanity and probably the funds are properly utilized this time. Even I have seen in social media that a person donating Rs.100 to his best capabilities. It proves again Indians have a big heart. Corporate giants like Tata, Birla, Mahindra, Ambani, Adani, Narayan Murthy, Dabur Group, Anil Agarwal and many more came forward to donate a hefty amount towards the relief funds. A country like India is blessed to have so many benevolent and responsible citizens in this time of crisis. I thank all of them from the bottom of my heart.
6. New innovation amidst of challenges:
I have already mentioned about the quick innovation of an app like “Aarogya Setu” which became handy with most of the mobile users in the country.
In a breakthrough, Mylab Discovery, India has developed its first Wuhan Coronavirus testing kit that delivers result in just two and a half hours as compared to the imported testing kits which take six-seven hours to deliver the results. And moreover, the made-in-India kit will cost Rs 1,200, about a quarter of the Rs 4500 that India pays to import testing kits from abroad. All this was made possible because of the relentless efforts of one virologist Minal Dakhave Bhosale, Mylab’s research and development chief, who delivered on a working test kit, just hours before delivering her baby girl.
A 20-yr-old student, Udit Kakar has manufactured face shields at his home through 3D printers for health care workers.
Union science and technology ministry approved setting up of an exclusive body — Centre for Augmenting War with COVID-19 Health Crisis’ (CAWACH) — at a total cost of Rs 56 crore to scout, evaluate and support innovations and start-ups that address COVID-19 challenges. Focus of the body would be to come out with deployable innovations within six months.
Govt invites tech companies to build a secure Zoom-alternative, winner to get Rs 1 crore
DRDO innovates automatic sanitizer and ultraviolet devices to fight coronavirus
Hack the Crisis is a kind of hackathon to discover non-medical solutions to stop the spread of COVID 19. It saw huge participation with over 2,300 registrations and close to 15,000 participants from across India and those living overseas. Over 300 top teams presented their innovative ideas with a pre-recorded video pitch via webinar. Out of the 300 submissions, 30 of them topped the Mentor Board and the Top 10 Leader Jury Board.
IIT Guwahati develops low-cost UVC LED-based disinfection system. The team is also addressing the critical need of the material required for the PPR
Moreover, many professionals are doing extra work to support the whole ecosystem. For example, police are working on making food for poor, knitting face covers and masks. These are small steps but make a huge impact socially.
A recent report says More than 1 lakh PPEs and N-95 masks being manufactured everyday in country.
Many such progressive innovations are happening across India which will not only boost the momentum in the country to fight with Corona but also will open up a huge space for such innovative activities for the upcoming future. We have resource, skill and talent available all the time. But we just need the attitude and I see we are on the right track.
7. Spiritual connect to achieve mental peace:
On March 22, When a country’s Prime Minister requested with an honest intention to applaud and appreciate the health care professionals and essential service providers, then the entire country responded by clapping, applauding, ringing bells and blowing conch shells and showing gratitude towards those who are on the front line. The whole exercise united the country with a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude. All the people who did the exercise with the feeling of thankfulness felt humble and peace in their minds and heart.
Again when PM Modi urged people to turned off their lights and lit up balconies and doorsteps with lamps, candles and flashlights on April 5, the world has witnessed the kindness and unity of people. People from across the classes in India are seen doing the exercise which brings harmony and peace.
From times immemorial, the Indian subcontinent has been a spiritually strong land where mental strength and peacefulness have always been the priority of healthy living. Hence was the productivity and innovation of the people in the past. Love, Gratitude, Pray, Sympathy, Empathy and many more aspects of life are always there in our society. But with the fast-paced mechanical life, we might have forgotten to express these beautiful thoughts and create a positive vibration in the environment. Good to see these ideas coming from the country’s top-level which made an impact recently.
We have seen many other countries in the world adopted the similar steps to show solidarity towards this pandemic and depressing situation.
8. New opportunity ahead:
As there is an unproven fact floating across the world that China is the initiator of this whole pandemic situation, many news reports are coming from across the world that few countries have taken some steps to move their manufacturing plants out of China considering their ethical way of business. Japan and South Korea are the countries which made some announcement in recent times. So, with the maximum ‘young’ population and comparatively cheap labor cost, India is in a better position in the world to meet the global demand for manufacturing. India can be a new hot spot for global manufacturing hub if it eases the government policies to attract companies to set up their plants and also encourage Indian companies to sell their products in the global market. It will not happen overnight but the future looks promising. If anti china movement persists in India and Indians develop a real sense of starting up their establishment to counter the Chinese dominance on manufacturing empire, then it will be a real deal for the Indian economy. Government’s steps towards reformation on business policies and making it easier for external and internal companies will lead the way for its economic advancement. However, India has to compete with many other manufacturing friendly small countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, Vietnam and other few. Recent IMF (International Monetary Fund) prediction indicates GDP growth rate of India to be 7.4 in 2021 from 1.9 in 2020. However, in the same year, the US will see GDP growth at 4.7. Let’s see how we stand now as a global contributor.
> India has the fastest growing young population in the world.
> India has many Geo-political and demographic advantages.
> India is the global outsourcing capital in the world.
> India is the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world.
> India is second largest casting, steel and cement producer in the world.
> Indian real estate will grow and will be the 3rd largest by 2030.
> India is the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer.
> India bags 3rd in coal production.
> India tops in cutting and polishing a diamond.
> India is the fourth largest car manufacturer in the world.
All these positive points constitute the good fortune for India which is also one of the oldest civilization in the world.
At the moment of preparing this article, India has 33,610 confirmed cases and 1,075 death cases which is considerably less than many countries but still, there is no reason for us to be happy at this time. Coming times, when the lock-down opens and movement of people starts, we will have to keep an eye on the development. We as a citizen have much more responsibility towards the country equally as Government has. I would like to appreciate India for fighting with this pandemic so far with full efficiency and true leadership.
(Information is extracted from various media sources)
