Bigger challenges await India in post Covid era due to prolonged lockdown
Caste census in Bihar: will it aid developmental work or fuel social divide?
Caste is a deeply rooted factor in Bihar politics. The survey for the much-talked-about caste census began in the state on January 7 and it is likely to be completed by May 31, 2023. How will it affect the state? Will it aid in developmental work as claimed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, or fuel further social divide in the state?
‘Kala Azar’ now confined in only 4 districts of Bihar and Jharkhand; people’s awareness key to eliminate it: Modi
Till recently, the scourge of ‘Kala Azar’ was spread in more than 50 districts across 4 states. But now this disease is confined to only 4 districts of Bihar and Jharkhand. Awareness of the people of Bihar-Jharkhand will help the government’s efforts to eliminate ‘Kala Azar’ from these four districts as well, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.
When will India become a developed nation? It will take at least 20 years, says Ex-RBI Governor
There have been several targets and projections for India to become a developed nation. But, when exactly, can India become a developed nation? According to the former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor C Rangarajan, it will take at least two decades of sustained 8 to 9 per cent of annual GDP growth to take India into a developed nation league.
Mudra Yojana: Rs 20.43 lakh crore loan disbursed since inception in 2015
More than 37.76 crore collateral-free loans amounting to over Rs 20.43 lakh crore have been disbursed to small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) scheme since its inception in April 2015, the government data shows.
Giriraj Singh calls for need-based skill mapping for employment and training in rural India
Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Giriraj Singh has called for need-based skill mapping for employment and training to India’s youth, mainly in the rural areas. The Minister urged to explore means to see how best the traditional trades can be integrated with electronic, education and training, IT & BPO and tourism and hospitality sectors to create more employment opportunities for the youth in the country.
While the world continues to battle the novel corona virus, which has claimed more than 150,000 lives to date globally, some people have started romanticising about how our lives would be like in the post Covid-19 era. Confined to their houses with limited movement, they are seeing a positive change in their lifestyles and their musings about the future clearly reflect this. They feel that the family life that they are enjoying after lockdown, and which they had been missing out on all these years
due to a hectic daily work schedule, is there probably to stay for ever.
Furthermore, stories of people upholding human values in this time of crisis flooding mainstream and social media platforms seem to have relegated filthy communal discourses to the background and people are becoming religious in the true sense of the term. They are celebrating human values on a daily basis. Lockdown is also helping some people in quitting bad habits like smoking and drinking due to the non-availability of these items in the open market, bringing peace and happiness to their families.
Lockdown is also helping some people in quitting bad habits like smoking and drinking due to the non-availability of these items in the open market, bringing peace and happiness to their families.
So, there is no denying the fact that a lot of positive things are happening due to Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown. But, will it last beyond Covid-19? I don’t think so.
To see Covid-19 as a temporary social reformer is alright but to consider it as a harbinger of lasting positive change in society is a little to romantic to accept it. There is also another side to the story. There are people who are getting depressed due to the lockdown as they don’t have a clue as to how they will overcome the financial crisis that will follow the lockdown. There are families witnessing growing domestic violence. People’s sense of insecurity due to the uncertainty of their jobs and businesses in post Covid-19 era is giving them long sleepless nights. And yet, the lockdown seems unending as cases continue to rise across the country. Another reason why this romanticism about life after Covid-19 is not tenable is that people will go back to their old routines with same mundane daily concerns.
My fear, however, is not that things will be back to the square one after Covid-19. Rather, it is about the economic paralysis and financial mess that loom large over the country in the post Covid-19 era. The lower middle class as always will be the most affected in the absence of government support. People might lose jobs and smaller businesses might shut down owing to the prolonged lockdown. The number of chronic patients, who are lying low due to the virus, may also multiply for lack of screening facilities for them in the current scenario. So, things will be far more difficult than what we are visualising now. Lockdown was necessary no doubt, but stretching it too far was not and it might have far reaching impact on people.
(Rajesh Mishra is a senior journalist)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of BiharConnect and BiharConnect does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
