The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis of our time. Since its emergence in Asia last year, the virus has spread over150 plus countries.The Worldis racing to slow the spread of the virus by testing and treating patients, carrying out contact tracing, limiting travel, quarantining citizens, and cancelling large gatherings such as sporting events, concerts, and schools. India declared the lockdown from 25th March throughout the country and has been extended to 3rd May 2020. India was quick to close its international borders and enforced an immediate lockdown, that WHO praised as “tough and timely”. The pandemic is moving like a wave with its cumulative socio-economic and political effect on the economy. The India has been inactive for more than 40 days by the time the lockdown ends on 3rd May 2020, the GOI further extended till 18th May 2020. During the lockdown India witnessed a big change in the socio-demography culture. The Clapping at 5.00 pm and Lighting the Diya for 9 minutes, where the whole country shown the gratitude towards the Corona Warriors such as doctors, police, health workers, etc. People accepted the lockdown as safety measures, necessity or as a challenge. Social distancing suddenly became the buzz word. The COVID-19 changed the lifestyle, people started doing ‘Namaste’ instead of Shakehand, covering nose and mouth with Mask becomes safety measures, 20 second hand wash with any soap become the habbit. During lockdown people started throwing a challenge to friends, people explored the new recipes, baking a cake and posting it on social media is the new trend in the lockdown. The millennial generation once again refreshed the childhood memories with the old serials of Doordarshan like Shaktiman, Jungle Book, Chanakya, Byomkesh Bakshi, etc. It is the India who once again witnessed the self declared curfew at 9.00 o’clock in morning and in evening, and the reason was “Ramayana” which made a world record of highest viewership and TRP.
This is one India the other India was struggling for food and livelihood. The government, local administration, police and social activities came forward to help the poor and daily wage earners by providing the necessary item and food. The community kitchen started to provide the food to the needy. The Extension in lockdown made anxious to the out of state wage earners and they were demanding permission to go to their hometown, many of started their journey by walking or illegal way moving towards the hometown. During the COVID-19 pandemic the Mother Nature started healing itself.
The pandemic has already devastated the economy in 2020 (calendar year) and 2020-21 (financial year) will be a year of recession in India, irrespective of how optimistic the International Monetary Fund or the Indian Government choose to be.
People will lose jobs, some already have lost. According to the International Labour Organization estimates, 195 million jobs could be lost; many small businesses will go under; many big businesses will default on debt; consumption demand could take months to recover, as will supply chains; global merchandise trade will suffer;with no way of knowing when normality will return.
Now the entire country needs to act immediately to prepare, respond, and recover. It is imperative; that, the lockdown ends in 10 days. But what about spikes in infection — assuming the trajectory witnessed over the past week carries on? India may hit 1,00,000 Covid-19 cases or more as the economy opens up, and the number may climb further. Use a large chunk of a big stimulus package to further upgrade emergency medical infrastructure — build makeshift but well-equipped hospitals; give doctors, nurses, paramedical staff substantial extra pay for Covid-19 work; increase procurement of safety gear manifold by generously incentivizing domestic producers.In short, build up a huge capacity for medical response by spending lots of cash, and get that cash from printing money.
We do not know when Covid-19 will peak. It may be end-May, June or even August, as some experts said. We, therefore, have to learn to manage it. India's society needs to be highly disciplined and follow guidelines strictly when the lock-down imposed to halt the spread of Coronavirus. With this aim we are organizing the national webinar to address the socio-economic life during the pandemic and after the pandemic how to boost the economy and manage the crisis. It’s a question of deciding that we won’t look at Covid-19 as an enemy to be vanquished, but as a problem to be managed.