We in America can look at the misery in India, and learn from it. VIDYA KRISHNAN is a writer and journalist, and currently a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University. Averting our gaze from the tragedies surrounding us, remaining divorced from reality, in our little bubbles, are political and moral choices. We have been willfully unaware of the ricketiness of our* health-care system. The collective well-being of our nation depends on us showing solidarity with and compassion toward one another. No one is safe until everyone is. [*our = American ] India Is What Happens When Rich People Do Nothing
Haha. Reminds me of reading Bharadwaj Rangan's blog for movie reviews. His review and the comments below analyze and bring out the elements which even the movie's director wouldn't have perceived. Nah, the simple reason is this: tell the common man that taking in 10 ml of the pesticide will bring instant death, he would run away ASAP. But dilute it and spray the vegetables with 1/1000th of that, he has no qualms consuming it. -- We read about corona deaths. Share and tweet 'RIP xxxx' with sad smileys. Show terrified expressions in the face reacting to oxygen shortages. But then we couldn't do away with: wearing mask for the neck, chin, lips but not covering till the nose. Keeping it safe in the pocket till the police check point. socialization. Early morning today on the way to work I still see there's a bunch of retired folks in front of tea stalls sipping their beverages standing too close to each other, masks on their necks. Maybe they are vaccinated? People, including relatives take offense if I don't enter their home or ask them to move apart. Have to pacify them with 'i haven't showered, I was shopping etc, it's only good for you'. power trips. Someone called me to boast how he used his police connection to get a vaccine without registration. This is the first and foremost thing about this country: beating the system. People who arrive at PHC to get their dose are said 'no stock' and those are squandered to sell it this way. You would expect govt employees to function in 'war footing' after seeing all this crisis pics and videos and death stats? nope, nada. Make the best of a crisis. his is a nation that prides in breaking the law and not facing any action than obeying the law. There's a book written by Sainath in his own cynical language - https://www.amazon.in/Everybody-Loves-Good-Drought-Sainath/dp/0140259848 It explains how an agrarian crisis is much liked because officers can then make money using schemes. How would a system that is attuned to corruption change from that decades of conditioning? There's officers who after passing out of the training academy highly motivated to accomplish things and in ten years they become the very thing they hated about the country. Those who don't become corrupt are relegated to file keeping and such assignments. Industrialists and entrepreneurs want officers who accept the bribe and make things convenient for them rather than pay the right taxes and do a business obeying the laws. Go to youtube and see any Indian food making videos; if anyone makes a comment about hygiene, the immediate counter from fellow desis be like 'omg you so heartless, that poor man making a living selling for Rs.10 a plate, how can he afford gloves/RO water blah blah'. All went will till covid hit us. Read any media narrative, it may seem that India is a country of innocent, powerless civilians governed by insensitive politicians and if this person is elected, is a solution to all the ills facing the country. Live here, try to bring a change by dealing with the very people, officers, politicians and you will come to see the complexities. A crisis presents an opportunity for reform. A nation comprising of simple, hard working people deserves growth, prosperity and happiness and culture/behavioral adamancy cannot be allowed to squander it. We lost much of the manufacturing advantage to China in the 90s and now to automation. There's no time to waste. To keep going with this useless blame game with the people, press, 'intellectuals' and the government butchering each other is of no use to anyone in the long run; I can only hope this short term pain gives the necessary impetus for the people and the country to learn from the suffering and do better.
Covid: US backs waiver on vaccine patents to boost supply This recent news is good for world. But though not related to India, in USA healthcare is very expensive and unaffordable for non insured and it had not waived patent and paved way for generic medications which meant that the prices of medications are high and pharmaceutical companies are essentially capitalising on this. Privatisation and importantly not making generic medications approval is costly and costs lives. Public money is what helped them in the first place to develop it and after that it’s all business. Investment in public health is very important.