Chandan Sharma
So, how far are we away from the vaccine for
COVID-19? There are conflicting reports about the preparation of the vaccine
and its possible availability of for the consumption of common people. There
may be some business interests involved in this concern but the infamous media
briefing of the US President Donald Trump about disinfectant and bleach
injection, actually reveals a lot in this concern. The US President indicated a
lot about preparedness of the vaccine. Later on, he also gave some tips about
it during his latest Townhall. There can be a debate on the issue but it
provides a great solace not only to affected or infected communities but to
entire globe.
But the process
of developing a vaccine is a difficult task; Moreover, it is a daunting task
for any company or government or system to make it available for the common
public at affordable cost in such a chaotic situation. It certainly not an easy
task when demand (and requirement) is so high and every passing day provides
new information and complication about the disease. Scientists and virologists
have never been faced such a difficult situation as they are facing to handle
the Coronavirus. Not only that, its shape and microbiological structure are
changing with time and space but also the fatality of the virus too is very
high. Several virologists, scientists, doctors and health professionals too
have lost their life while treating patients.
The case of
coronavirus or COVID-19 is complex. Probably no pandemic in the history has affected
economies of the entire globe so badly. The economies of the major developing
and developed nations have come to halt to save the life of the people. Over
80% economic activities have been stopped or halted to and over 3.8 billion
people of Asian and EU nations, UK and US have been put under lockdown for
months, an unprecedented situation, beyond imagination for even the most
autocratic government or even a dictator. Needless to say that it has also
suspended or reduced democratic rights and basic human rights to a great
extent.
Moreover, it
needs to understand that the discovery of a perfect vaccine of the coronavirus
is somehow related to the ‘Great depression’, as the term is widely used by the
international agencies including IMF for the current and upcoming economic
scenario. There is a slim chance of recovery of economy if the spread of
coronavirus has not been contained and an affordable vaccine for the common
people is not developed. Many may like it or not but the world is bound to or say
pushed to follow restart and reset mode. It is difficult to say that whether
the ideological loyalties will remain same or it will follow the same old
pattern but the bureaucracy is not going to remain same in the coming days, so
the political and economic matrix too are bound to change as these are
inter-dependent to each-other.
Change in
economic order and trade
Like it or not
but the economic order and trade pattern are also bound to change. For
instance, trade as well as diplomatic relations between US and China has
already been changed after the outbreak of the pandemic.
US president
Donald Trump has publically admitted that he is not happy with China on the
issue of pandemic. Even he has put the entire blame of the development and
spread of virus on China. The tussle between the two superpowers had actually started
with the trade war and unilateral hike in the tariff on Chinese goods. But the
outbreak of the pandemic in the US has created a huge loss of life as over 70,000
people have already died and over one million people have been infected by the
virus and number is growing despite all effort and despite the fact that the
spread has been contained to a great extent by extremely high number of testing
and other medical facilities. Even the US President Donald Trump told the media
that the attack (of coronavirus) is worst attack, bigger than Pearl Harbour or
9/11 attack. This is enough indication about the severity of the spread of
coronavirus.
US-China tussle
& India
US President
Donald Trump may not be happy with WHO or China on the issue but he himself
admitted that he has altered the trade deficit between US and China. The USD
500 billion trade deficit between US and China has now changed. However, Trump
did not reveal that how much change has been made after the outbreak but he
admitted that it is now in favour of US.
But, China too
has expanded its business to many EU nations after the outbreak of the
pandemic. This will certainly boost the economy of China too. Trade experts say
that India has been unable to encash the opportunity, emerged due to pandemic.
Entire business of medical equipments and PPE and testing kits have been
spearheaded by the China in majority of EU nations and even in US and India. On
the other hand, high quality medical equipments like ventilators, its
production, trade and distribution have been controlled by the US.
Impact on
democracy, politics & economy
It will take time
to understand economic impact of such changes but one thing is sure that
politics, economics, bureaucratic system and administration including homeland
security have entered into the era of metamorphosis and reopening of economies
will certainly pose new challenges before the affected economies. The recent
gas leak in an MNC chemical factory and plight of migrant workers and behavior of
affluent class in absence of a clear policy in such unprecedented situation of
lockdown in India and more than two-third part of the world and growing
starvation and unemployment put a challenging and difficult situation before
the government as well as opposition parties in a democratic set up.
This is the
reason that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other top leaders express
anguish over the death of 16 migrant labourers in train accident and leader of
opposition party Rahul Gandhi tells government through media to make a proper
arrangement for their movement and allow them (stranded migrant labourers) to
travel to their home or desired destination. Unfortunately, this is not a
simple political gimmick. This indicates towards a complex and difficult time
for politics, economy and livelihood and mere promises and publicity will not
going to work if the plans and policies are not executed and implemented with
true spirit.
(yuvavani.com
is an independent pvt. initiative; it does not belong to any outlet/outfit/ppp
or AIR) (Author is founder & editor of the portal)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment