IMPACT OF COVID-19

OVERVIEW

Coronavirus has caused severe and deep decimation of human lives and
livelihood. It had been almost a century since humankind last suffered from
such a pandemic. Spanish flu that occurred way back in 1918 infected almost a
third of global population at that time. Even then it’s economic impact was not
as severe and widely-felt as that due to COVID-19. It was largely because the
world was not as interconnected back then as it is now. Chinese virus-induced
shutdowns across the globe has rendered people jobless with record high
unemployment. Production in factories have come to a sudden halt, income
levels have plunged sharply, schools and colleges have closed. Overall what
humans proudly referred to as their growth of civilization has been completely
upended by the wrath of virus.

Although the impact of the virus is unlikely to ebb out in the coming few years,
but normal life has started to resume in several pockets across the globe. This
project will focus on some of the enduring changes that post-COVID world is
likely to witness, if not permanently then at least for a decade.
WHAT IS COVID-19:

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause disease in mammals and birds.
In humans, these viruses cause respiratory tract infections that can range from
mild to lethal. This can result in common cold or can be fatal in case it is severe
in nature. The virus causes diseases such as SARS, MERS and COVID-19
(Chinese virus Disease). COVID-19 is also referred to as SARS COV-2.

From past few decades there has been an exponential increase in the number
of disasters like cyclones, floods, droughts etc. Many of these are because of
changes in climatic conditions which subsequently lead to abrupt weather
patterns. These can be indirectly attributed to anthropogenic factors, while
many disasters like pandemics, nuclear disasters, desertification, etc. can be
directly attributed to anthropogenic factors. Diseases like COVID are believed
to have been caused due to increased interference and nudging by humans
with the wildlife. There have been several allegations over the origin of the
virus. Some people believe it to have emerged from a wildlife market in Wuhan
province of China while some reports claim it was an act of negligence by
Wuhan Institute of Virology, which was setup in the aftermath of SARS
epidemic that hit China in 2003. There have further been many
uncorroborated theories that point to Communist Party of China(CPC) being
complicit in the spread of virus. It is alleged that they are using it as a biological
weapon. One of the famous proponents of this idea is U.S. President Donald
Trump, who has been vociferous critic of China.

Spread of the contagion:

The virus started appearing in Hubei in central Chinese province of Wuhan late
last year. Initial rate of infection was slow, but it picked up too quickly. By
February, it traversed to parts of Europe, North America and Latin America.
WHO has also been blamed for it’s callous attitude towards containing the
spread of virus. It stopped short of declaring it as a pandemic till 6 th of Feb
2020. This delayed in catching the eyes of governments round the world which
allowed the contagion to spread insidiously. Spain and Italy emerged as
hotspots in Europe, followed by France and U.K. At this time, countries across
the world started announcing lockdowns with varying degree of severity. But
all this proved to be too late. Within a month USA emerged as the largest
hotspot in the world with unprecedented rate of infection. Slowly Russia and
Brazil joined the ranks with the list of countries with highest infection. By mid
of May, the rate of infection and deaths started falling. Governments in Europe
started easing down on restrictions in gradual and phased manner.

Impact on India:

Meanwhile India emerged as the hotspot in Asia. Government’s proactive

containment measures did not fructify. Though the extended lockdown period
bought time for India to step up its medical facilities required to tackle an
outburst like setting up of quarantine facilities, infrastructure build up, beds
and ventilators setup, etc. and to shore up the medical facilities for effective
and rampant testing to truncate the spread.

Containment measures adopted by Indian government proved to be a doom

for the economy. Jobs were lost across the sectors, employees were
furloughed, and companies fell to the brink of shutdowns. People in the
unorganised sector were mostly affected and it triggered a wave of reverse
migration. Economy braced itself for a depression, even greater than The Great
Depression of 1930s.

Opinions differed as to how the government should have handled the

contagion. Whatever it may be, it is undeniable that the repercussions of the
Chinese virus are going to be felt for a long time to come. Currently India is
battling a huge task ahead and it remains to be seen as to how the country will
live up to the challenges.

I will be deliberating upon the socio-cultural changes brought by the virus in

different parts of the country. For the purpose, I have divided regions into
three broad categories/sections.

Section 1 – Villages or rural areas

Section 2 – Towns and cities

Section 3 – Metropolitan regions

SECTION 1:

Around 53% of India’s population lives in villages. Most of them are either
employed in agriculture sector or have moved out to towns, cities and
metropolis in search jobs in unorganised sector, like construction workers,
unskilled and semi-skilled workers in factories, sweepers, auto drivers,
domestic helpers, etc.

In rural areas, there is a peculiar social, cultural and economic live pervasive
throughout india. There is a strong family linkage. People live in joint families.
There are frequent events such as religious or cultural gatherings. People to
people interaction is very high in these regions. There are a range of day-to-
day activities and social practices that people are ought to adhere to. There is a
hierarchal order, linked to age in a family. There is a caste based order in rural
society. People belonging to lower castes are often obliged to stay in an
altogether different location in that particular village. They work as part-time
labourers in the fields for rich land owners. People from different families
support each other in farm based minor jobs. Children from all over the village
gather in fields to play games such as cricket in the evening. This peculiar way
of life is bound to be disrupted in years to come due to certain practices rolled
out by the government for containment

Rural India has borne the most severe brunt of the coronavirus pandemic.
Though the count of people infected with virus is disproportionately low in
villages, the lifestyle has been completely ravaged. The months of April and
May are particularly important in agri-sector, for it is the time to harvest Rabi
(winter) crops. Sudden imposition of lockdown rendered large landowners and
farmers desperately looking for workers to do their harvests. Also, there has
been a huge exodus of migrant labourers back to their villages. This has
created further dent in the demand-supply disparity for agriculture labourers.
Earlier there was a short supply of it for almost a month while suddenly there
is an oversupply being witnessed.

Recently government has come up with a series of stimulus packages aimed at

different sectors, MSMEs, farm sector, NBFCs, etc. There were some very
important structural changes introduced in the package for agriculture sector
in addition to direct financial benefits amounting to 1.67 lac crore under
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY). Under the scheme 1500 was to
be given to all women PMJDY account holders in three tranches of 500 a
month. Elderly citizens were to be given 1000 per month for three months.
These direct financial support is expected to increase the purchasing power in
rural areas for perishable goods. The long-awaited structural changes
introduced through amendments in ECA act, changes in mandi system,
procurement system, elimination of middlemen, etc. are expected to give a
boost to farm income in coming decades and will subsequently lead to
improved lifestyle in villages.

Further, there was additional allocation of funds worth 42000 crores over and
above the budgeted allocation for MNREGS. This will help the poor people who
have been rendered unemployed and have returned to their villages following
the lockdown, get temporary work and income as support.

Social life in rural areas is going to be hugely impacted. With increased

penetration of mobile phones, people can now access what is going around the
world. They are becoming digitally active and can no more be said to have
been cut-off from the rest of India. Emphasis on social distancing practices is
being laid out by government proactively. People have presence on social
media which sometimes make them aware of the developments in a very short
span of time.
They know the gravity associated with the pandemic and how contagious it is.
So, they too have brought changes to their lifestyle. But most of these changes
are going to be short-lived. Within few months, when economic activities will
fall back on track, these changes will mostly ebb out.
Impact of COVID 19 on indian socio-cultural environment:

- large population living in villages. Agriculture based economy.

- plight of migrant labourers. Returning home. Traumatized. Wont return back. Increase village pop. Role of
MNREGS .

- short term impact, medium term impact, long term impact.

- reluctance to buy Chinese goods. Inimical towards china.

- inclusion of social distancing norms in day to day life. Less crowded places like cinema halls, marriage
ceremonies etc. no longer participate in gathering events

- Transportation sector me changes honge. The way people commute. Private transport will rise.

- in big cities…when guests will cove then maintaining of distancing. But not so in villages