Ayan JainAIR 16 · CSE 2023 · 257 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening
In any kind of disaster - natural or social, it is always the poor and vulnerable who are the worst hit. COVID-19 has not only impacted these people disproportionately but also has many long-term consequences:
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Exacerbated Structural Inequalities
- Increased gender violence (shadow pandemic) and gender discrimination
- Migrant labourers faced severe discrimination.
- Online education affected the poor children adversely.
- Elderly people became even more dependent on their children.
- Small and marginal farmers became worse-off.
- While big companies benefitted, many small industries completely shut down.
Increased vulnerabilities of Marginalized sections
- The poor who live in slums/ crowded settlements were more vulnerable to infection.
- Job losses adversely affected the weaker sections.
- Due to health-budget, government had to cut down on social expenditure.
- Out-of-pocket expenditure (health) is significant portion of income for the weaker sections.
- Illiterate tribals are more prone to long-term adverse effects, due to lower levels of vaccination etc.
Strained Social Institutions
- Health infrastructure proved to be insufficient and many could not receive treatment.
- Education took a major hit due to closing of schools and lack of student-teacher interaction.
- Marriage as an institution weakened due to increased domestic violence.
- Poverty alleviation schemes had to be sidelined (less focus) due to the emergency.
- Many industries, shops etc shut down and led to huge unemployment.
Close · a way forward
Thus, the pandemic was much more than a medical crisis, but has presented an opportunity to fix lacunae in society, in order to create a SARVA SHRESTHA BHARAT by 2047.
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