‘The danger is real, but fear is a choice’
| Date :12-May-2020 |
Principal Correspondent :
Shruti Mishra, daughter of Brigadier PKG Mishra of Nagpur (posted at Secunderabad) is pursuing her PhD in Economics from Ivy League Columbia University, New York as a Deans Scholar. Recently, she has been selected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), for the prestigious Fund Internship Programme. Even though she is at the epicenter of coronavirus, she sounded very confident and positive about the outcome of the coronavirus crisis, when ‘The Hitavada’ contacted her through email and video call. Tell us how do you see Covid-19 situation in India from New York? Being in New York, the epicenter of COVID -19, can really be a source of big worry to the parents back home in India.
I have never seen my father, a physically tough and mentally robust Army officer, a diehard optimist, more insecure (even though he holds a very brave front during our video call conversations) concerning my safety and security. In fact, today during our routine conversation, I reminded him of his own teachings to me as a child. He was posted in an active Counter Insurgency formation in valley and we had joined him for few days during my summer vacation. That was the time when the anti-militancy operations were at their peak.
To my query, as to whether he is not afraid to move out in such dangerous situations, he calmly replied, “The danger may be real, but fear is always a choice.” Twenty years down the line, a father in mid-fifties, his own teachings with reference to the situation in New York, ‘Danger is real, but fear is (not even) a choice’. That gave me also a lot of solace and confidence, and I started looking for the positives of Covid-19. What is your analysis about Covid 19 as far as India is concerned? The statistics as on date of coronavirus makes me feel proud as an Indian. Having seen the exponential rise in US in general and NY in particular, I was really worried, thinking about India, considering our vast population and not so healthy health infrastructure.
However, as things stand today, I think we have managed it well and have certainly not allowed it to worsen. The credit for this goes to each and every Indian. Leadership traits in real sense gets tested during adversities. During this crisis, India is definitely lucky to have a dedicated, decisive, determined and dependable leader like Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs. With over 2,000 people died of coronavirus in India, how can you say there is still positivism? Losing about 2,206 precious lives to this pandemic is certainly deplorable. But even in this, there is a silver lining, not proverbial but actual, in real sense. The annual death rate in India is about 7.3 per thousand of population. Thus, for a population of 1.35 billion, it comes to about 9.8 millions. Out of this, the share of deaths due to air pollution, communicable diseases and road/rail accidents is more than 2 million in a year, or about 5,400 per day. Thus a lockdown has already saved a few lakhs precious lives in India.
What changes Indian health infrastructure is experiencing? The most important positive is the likely impact it will have on the fragile Indian health infrastructure. In fact, in the recently announced budget for the Financial Year 2020-21, only Rs 69,000 crore were allotted for the health sector, which is about 9% more than the previous year's allotment. In fact, way back in 2010-11 it was proposed to dedicate about 2.5% of GDP to the health sector. But till date, we have never allocated more than 1.3 to 1.4%. Coronavirus crisis has already compelled Governments to reprioritise the sectors for the reallocation of the budgetary provisions. I am sure that the health sector will continue to get its due share, at least for a foreseeable near future. In fact, the focus should be to strengthen the fragile primary health sector especially in rural India.
Do you think Indian industries have something positive post-lockdown? One of the most significant positives is going to be a major reduction in our expenditure on import of crude oil and petroleum products. India imports about 80% of its oil requirements. Last year we had spent about 119 billion USD for the same. With oil price per barrel hitting all time low and with the reduction in requirement due to lockdown, we are likely to have a saving of about 45 billion USD as per the latest report from the Confederation of Indian Industries.
The positives of Covid -19 will be seen in the industrial sector as well. Indian MSME industries are likely to get a major boost post Coronavirus crisis. Similarly, a few days back I read a very interesting and encouraging article in the Daily Guardian, by the Chairman of KVIC, (Khadi and Village Industries Commission) as to how Khadi can revolutionise the textile industrial sector post Covid-19. I am sure similar positive courses of actions in other sectors and fields must be getting contemplated for subsequent implementation.