THE CATASTROPHIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON INDIA
The author of this blog is Shivi Shrivastava Semester IV, Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad.
INTRODUCTION- SITUATION AROUND THE GLOBE
The
planet is now in the grips of the novel Corona Virus or COVID-19. All over the
world, this outrageous and draconian virus has spread in more than 210
countries infected more than 4 million population and caused the death of more
than 2.88 lakh people.[1]
The disease is spreading across the world and causing fatality to thousands of
lives every single day. This virus has become humanity's current nemesis. The
figures for confirmed cases and death counts in India are rocketing at a high
pace. India’s COVID-19 positive cases have surged to more than 81,000 with a
death toll nearing the 2700-mark.[2]
COVID-19
is an infectious disease that is quickly evolving and is the reason for the
current global health crisis. This disease is caused by severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has become unstoppable. The
first case of COVID-19 was reported in November 2019 in Wuhan, China.[3]
This new strain of the virus has never previously been found in human beings.[4]
On 11th March 2020, the World Health
Organization had declared COVID-19 as "pandemic" and a national
emergency. A pandemic as defined by WHO is an epidemic that usually affects a
large number of people and spreads worldwide or over a very wide area, crossing
international boundaries.[5]Within
a few months, this mammoth pandemic has clawed on all the continents of the
planet except Antarctica. The world has never witnessed such a situation in a
generation, where every other country is on high alert.
WHY COVID-19 IS SEEN AS SUCH A BIG THREAT?
Over
myriads of problems that exist in the world, COVID-19 is a challenge, and
destroying this virus needs national support. COVID-19 has hijacked the rhythm
of our daily routine, caused bewilderment and chaos all across the globe,
crushed the economy, suspended the fights and trains, shattered the stock
market and has forced the countries to impose stringent measures like complete
lockdown, quarantines or mass-closures. Terror thrives regarding the COVID-19
and its deadly consequences. This monstrous pandemic is attacking societies at
the core, both socially as well as legally. The pandemic has flickered fears of
an impending economic crisis.
Impact on the Economy
The
impact of the pandemic is worsening every week. The economic implications of
the pandemic are not only detrimental to the public health but ceaseless other
things like retail chains, food, and agriculture, travel and trade, etc. Due to
the unanticipated halt in all types of economic activities, the development of
each country has become standstill. According to the International Monetary
Fund, the global economy would shrink by 3 percent this year, which is the
steepest since the Great Depression of the 1930s.[6]
The coronavirus outbreak has disrupted all the global supply chains, caused an
unprecedented impact on the health of people bankrupted all the businesses,
fractured international trade and has made millions of people unemployed.
Researchers have estimated that the world would face a situation of extreme
global poverty as an impact of COVID 19.
The
pandemic has overwhelmed almost all the countries across the world and India
also has borne the brunt of the same. The condition in India is heart-breaking and
pathetic, where the small-scale wage workers, laborers are starving, losing
livelihoods and the country is at high risk. The pandemic is devastating the
economy as it is expected that during every day of the lockdown India would
lose $ 4.5 billion and is wreaking havoc to the country. As of now by 27th
April, million youth in the age group of 20-30 years has lost their jobs as the
result of the nationwide lockdown. It can be said that in future the businesses
and the firms would be grappling with tremendous uncertainty.
The
complete lockdown imposed in the country is hitting the retail, pharma, and
service sector very hard. It is estimated by the economist that in India the
impact of COVID-19 will be around Rs 7-8 trillion and all the sectors will the
brunt of this pandemic.[7]
The halt imposed on transportation facilities and the suspension of visas has
led to plunging in the tourism sector. Further, there has been a great
detrimental effect of this outbreak on primary sectors, secondary sectors, and
tertiary sectors. All the sectors and industries including chemical industries,
Shipping, Automobile, Textile, Solar Power Sector would be adversely affected
and will result in massive fallout for the economy. It was forecasted by the
economists that this year there will be a revival in GDP because the Indian
economy was experiencing a sluggish phase ever since the GST was implemented
and the demonetization. But all this went vain as COVID-19 pandemic has
destructured the entire Indian economy.
Social and Legal Impact of the pandemic
The
consequences of this pandemic are dramatic and they would have long term
effects. COVID-19 pandemic has cut across all segments of the population and
especially it has hard hit the indigent people, senile, people, with disabilities
and youth. It can be undoubtedly said that the income of people during this
pandemic could drop significantly, leading to a reduction in consumption by
households and which will result in the prevalence of undernutrition rise. The
closure of colleges and schools could expose children to multiple types of
child abuse which will have indelible consequences on their health and can
cause unwanted pregnancies and emotional trauma also.[8]
The
public's pestilence fear and the governmental reaction has postponed or
canceled many public events and has restrained daily activities. The tourism
sector has been adversely affected and there is a diminution in the
international arrivals. In India, since the transports have stopped carrying
passengers across the country, the migrants and poverty-stricken people have
started walking to hundreds of kilometers to their native villages. This has
caused potential devastation on the health of the workers and laborers and
ultimately led to the spread of the coronavirus.
The
impact of COVID-19 is not just restricted to socio-economic but this colossal
pandemic is also legally affecting the country. Multiple legal implications are
arising as a result of the epidemic which includes insurance coverage of
epidemic-related damages, issues related to employment relationships, problems
in the field of travel laws, and commercial contracts. Many contracts would be
delayed, postponed, or canceled as an outcome of the pandemic. Parties may
restrain from performing the contractual obligation either because of the
impact of coronavirus or they are attempting to use it as an excuse to
disentangle themselves from an unfavorable contract. There has been that
whether COVID-19 will give rise to a valid force majeure defense under a
particular contract or not because different contacts stipulate different
requirements for different situations. So, the companies and firms are advised
to enterprisingly manage the pertaining legal risk and cautiously judge which
party will bear the losses caused by the pandemic.[9]
OVERCOMING THE CORONA CONUNDRUM
The
pandemic has sent shock waves across every corner of the world. Fear and terror
are on the rise. Agitation and concern brew over lockdowns, quarantines, mass
surveillance, and travel bans. Essential commodities have become hoard-worthy
goods. All the researchers and scientists across the world are working night and
day to find a cure for this havoc and develop a vaccine for coronavirus. This
is the time when the national governments and international agencies should
take the leadership role in saving the planet and making the diagnosis,
treatments, vaccines for the coronavirus a national and global priority.[10]
All medical institutions and research centers must brace up and work under
proactive management approaches. Continued and enhanced coordinated
international disease scrutiny is essential.
Despite
this catastrophe, the Indian government is not behind in bringing a positive
change in the status quo. They are taking all the necessary steps to prevent
COVID-19, including the delivery of essential items and stable commodities,
doorstep delivery of packed mid-day meals, periodical medical check-ups are
being done and providing residence to the suspected people. The government is
raising awareness through every means including WhatsApp Chatbot, videos,
messages on phones, emails, mobile caller tunes, online dashboards, and what
not. The Government of India on 1st April has launched the 'Aarogya Setu' app which
can track the coronavirus cases across the country. The authorities are also
providing emergency passes to regulate the movement of people and goods during
the lockdown period.
The
government has made certain procedural changes in the working of governmental
institutions like banks, Tribunals, offices, etc. The Supreme Court of India is
now hearing cases through video conferencing from the confines of their homes.
The authorities have also released thousands of prisoners from the jails to
ease congestion in jails over coronavirus. Furthermore, this is one of the most
challenging situations and so it will require the best of humanity to overcome.[11]
The donations of people will support immediate and long-term relief and
recovery in vulnerable communities. The virus cannot be defeated by the use of
regular healthcare systems but it needs multi-national and multi-sectoral
efforts. This is a pandemic and working in silos is not an option.
[1] World Health Organization, Coronavirus (2020) <
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries>
(May 15, 2020).
[2] id.
[3] Helen Davidson, Coronavirus Outbreak,
The Guardian (Mar. 13, 2020).
[4] Aaron Kandola, Coronavirus cause: Origin and how it spreads,
Medical News Today (Mar. 17, 2020).
[5] Nicole Wetsman, WHO declares the outbreak of the new coronavirus
is a pandemic, The Verge (Mar. 11, 2020).
[7] Rukshad Davar, How
much economy will lose from Coronavirus and what to expect from economic relief
package 2.0, Financial Express (May 4, 2020).
[8] Olaniyi Evans, Socio-economic impacts of novel coronavirus: The
policy solutions, Research Gate (Mar. 2020).
[9] Bharat Vasani, COVID-19: Officially a Pandemic, Indian Corporate
Law, Cyril Amarchandas Mangaldas Blog (Mar. 18, 2020)
[11] Maruf Islam Chowdhury, COVID-19 pandemic: Social awareness and
our legal obligations as citizens, The Business Standards (Mar. 26, 2020).
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