It’s time to strengthen the relationship between state and individuals with incremental reforms and welfare programs.
Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo
Above 5 million deaths were reported around the world due to Coronavirus during the last 21 months, each new wave getting worse with new variants. Now again the media is threatening a new variant known as Omicron. Lockdown and social restrictions imposed by government badly affected our economy and disenfranchised our social fabric. Almost each of us is at his knees, and essential food item prices are at the hike.
Unfortunately, most nations on the globe are still striving to understand the pandemic and its management. We have only just started to understand the disease better and getting familiar with new SOPs and business guidelines. Life is becoming a race where rules keep changing.
Almost every institution is trying to cut its costs, which is slowing down the recovery process. Urbanization is at its fullest extent, and pandemic has exposed that living in cities is very costly and risky, overcrowding in cities is also resulting in high infection rates. It’s time authorities should promote towns with controllable populations.
Our health system seems to be focused on vaccination and record-keeping. No doubt the online registration system proved to be the best solution but the health system, in general, has failed, as one can hardly access cheaper and trustworthy medicines. Day to day economics is at a halt, new social values, new food intake patterns, joblessness, working and studying from home are some of the factors affecting the state of our mental health.
Nobody is sure how soon our society will again enjoy the fitness and the quality of life we were used to. Working remotely has made virtual connectivity compulsory. The digital push that is now taking place is accelerating changes in traditional business models, and soon the chamber of commerce will be replaced with cartels and net-based trade channels. Digital currency is replacing our traditional old currency models. The urban services sector is shrinking; generally, services structures require restructuring. Doorstep or virtual services are needed of the time. But even today, the majority of our rural residents is disconnected and hardly can find access to media and the internet. In such a situation their marginalization will only increase challenges for the nation.
Along with social safety nets, creating jobs or designing opportunities for self-employment will be a key in economic recovery. Authorities should take measures to utilize every source to educate its citizens that Covid19 is real and part of our lives now. It requires some precautions to avoid further spread. I am afraid with current circumstances we might have the rise of new opportunist groups. It’s time to strengthen the relationship between state and individuals with incremental reforms and welfare programs. Ultimately disruption is what drives long-living standards. This is the time when we need to embrace these seismic changes and fuel our hearts with innovations.
__________________
Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo is a Hyderabad-based Development Consultant. He can be approached at email: zaheer.junejo@gmail.com
