India Marches Forward In The Battle Against COVID19 

-
India is battling the covid19 pandemic in a steadfast and resolute manner. New Delhi's mature handling of the crisis has been appreciated by the international community. Since the first case of coronavirus emerged in India, from a student returning from Wuhan, China; India put together protocols for managing the pandemic. 


India started thermal screening of air and sea passengers arriving into the country from all over the world. India stopped entry of foreigners except diplomats from March 15. It also halted International air services from the same date.

To have a common strategy for fighting the covid19, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conference with leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). India announced a fund of US$ 10 million for SAARC and also allowed the use of her medical portals for the members of the grouping. 

Since the countrywide lockdown on 25th March, Prime Minister Modi has been consistently reaching out to the leaderships of the global community including USA, Russia, UK, France, China, Australia and many other countries. 

In the G20 Virtual Summit organised under the chairmanship of King Salman of Saudi Arabia; the Indian Prime Minister spelt out India's strategy in battling the pandemic. Mr. Modi called for synergy between the G20 countries to have a common yet comprehensive approach in fighting coronavirus. India also pledged to be part of the US$ 5 trillion G20 fund to help tide over the economic impact of covid19. 

India also provided humanitarian and medical assistance to the SAARC countries like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Nepal immediately after the pandemic hit those countries. New Delhi has supplied the anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine to US, Russia, Britain, France, Switzerland, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and 48 other nations. 

India's role during the pandemic has been appreciated by the UN, the WHO and the global community. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have also praised India's stimulus package for the domestic industry and the weaker sections. 

The pandemic has brought out India's best role. The entire country has risen as one to take on the pandemic. The states too are working in close coordination with the central government to fight the virus. The government is seized of the impact of covid19 on India's economy. The exact nature of this is being thoroughly studied. Ministries have been tasked to work on strategies to be rolled out after the lockdown is lifted. 

Though the international financial institutions have said that global recession is on the cards, India has its work cut-out. Focussing on providing jobs, India announced certain easing of norms in the non-hotspot areas of the country from 20th April. 

In these areas, agricultural activities, rural construction, marketing of rural produce; industrial work and other developmental activities are permitted with proper social distancing and maintenance of personal hygiene. This measure has been welcomed by the entire country. Also, despite the pandemic, India is to see bumper output of food grains this year too. This would add to the 7.2 crore MT of buffer stock. 

India has chosen to walk the difficult path with maturity. New Delhi has been able to strike a fine balance between her domestic fight against coronavirus and her international obligations and commitments.

India's positivity in the midst of the gloom set by the corona pandemic is sure to earn her laurels in these difficult times. 

Script: Kaushik Roy, AIR: News Analyst.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Data Darbar Suicide Attack

-
The deadly attack on the famous Sufi shrine Data Darbar in Lahore on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan that killed 10 and injured more than 25 people is yet another ghastly reminder that Pakistan still shelters terrorist groups that have now come to haunt its own State. The suicide bombing was apparently targeted towards the elite security force that was assigned to guard the Shrine as the inflow of devotees increase during Ramadan. This is not the first time a Sufi Shrine was targeted by terrorists in Pakistan. Many Shrines like Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan, Baba Farid in Pakpattan and Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi were attacked in the past. The Sufi nature of these shrines has made them an easy target of the terrorist groups that consider Sufis to be heretics. The terror organisations within Pakistan such as the Pakistan Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Hizbul Ahrar (said to be a splinter faction of the local Taliban) that took responsibility for the latest bombings in...
Read more

Military Build-Up In The Persian Gulf

-
In response to the attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman last week; the US Department of Defence announced that it is sending an additional 1,000 troops to bolster security in the Persian Gulf. This comes amidst the escalating tensions in the region following US decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPoA) in May 2018. The US also re-imposed economic sanctions on Iran and last month ended all waivers for Iranian oil imports. President Donald Trump further decided to impose new sanctions and warned of secondary sanctions on individuals or entities doing business with Iranian industries under sanctions. Iran too had responded with warning other signatories of the JCPoA, especially UK, France and Germany, to do more to ease the impact of sanctions on Iranian economy failing which Tehran will be forced to retract from the deal. This prompted the US to send additional troops including Arlington and a Patriot missile battery. At ...
Read more

Pakistan’s Crippling Financial Crisis

-
As if the turmoil due to terrorism was not enough for Pakistan, it is facing fresh spate of demonstrations against unprecedented inflation that is putting the already crippling economy out of gear. Inflation is expected to rise to double-digitssoon. The major reason for this has been the steep rise in food and energy prices that has had a cascading effect on the process of other commodities. Pakistan’s imports are increasing and Foreign Exchange reserves have fallen to just about $8 billion; this is just enough for meeting payment obligations for two months. The exchange value of the Pakistani Rupee has fallen to 150 to a US dollar.It has been devalued 20 times during the past three years by about 20%. Since Pakistan is importing major part of its fuel requirements and many other commodities of daily consumption; steep inflation has led to almost halving the incomes of the people. This has led to large-scale public unrest in the country. Street protests led by Jamaat-e-Islami in Pesha...
Read more