Dr. Devendra Kothari
Population and Development Analyst
Forum for Population Action
Since April, India has
been witnessing a surge in Covid-19 infections. This fearsome second wave of
the covid-19 pandemic has engulfed India. With around 400,000
people now testing positive every day, it accounts for almost half the recorded
global rise in covid-19 cases. India’s official death toll has crossed 200,000
score and keeps rising by more than 3,000 a day. Yet experts insist that
India’s crisis is far bigger than even those numbers suggest. The real
caseload could be ten or even 30 times higher, and the number of deaths much
more, too, as per The Economist (April 28, 2021). Could India’s official
statistics really be so drastically understating the scale of the pandemic?
What should be done? The government should step up the vaccination
process. Vaccination is a very important intervention. But an impact on
epidemiology can be had only after two doses and a sizable proportion are
vaccinated to give an impact. As of now, around 2 per cent has been given two
doses. But I do not think India can conduct mass vaccinations in order to
make an impact on epidemiology now under the present management
system. India has exported over 5.84 crore Covid-19 vaccines to 70 countries
against 3.48 crore it administered. Now, Indians are in dire need of vaccines. [1]
It appears that India’s
leadership could not visualize the magnitude of the problem. The
alarming surge in Covid-19 cases in India can be blamed largely on
the Prime Minister and Home Minister, and their reckless messaging through
overcrowded, unmasked election rallies as well as the Kumbh Mela.
Sure, elections have to be held on time. But when they are being
conducted in the middle of a life-threatening pandemic, there is absolutely no
justification for crowded rallies and massive road shows. And West Bengal Chief
Minister was no exception.
Further,
Kumbh Mela contributed its own role in spreading the virus. Kumbh Mela is a
major festival
in Hinduism. The festival is marked by a ritual dip in the waters, but it
is also a celebration of community commerce with numerous fairs, education,
religious discourses by saints, mass feedings of monks or the poor, and
entertainment spectacle.
At Kumbh Mela, held in Haridwar in April, 2021, many shun masks & distancing, say faith will save them. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said at the opening of Kumbh that the “flow and blessings of Ma Ganga will ensure coronavirus doesn’t spread”.
In short, it is about
the message that goes to the people. When the top leadership looks so much at
ease addressing a crowd of thousands, then their followers across the country
begin to think there is nothing to worry about, as noted by
ThePrint. [2]
The next post explores how to achieve Corona-free India by the end of this year.
[1] Refer India Today April 28, 2021 for: How India's second Covid wave started, what
went wrong, and what can be done: Top virologist answers. Read more at: https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/india-second-covid-wave-start-went-wrong-top-virologist-answers-details-1795743-2021-04-28
