Malnutrition: A Dangerous Virus Facing India
Even before the Coronavirus pandemic hit us, India was one among the most malnourished countries. It was expected that Covid-19 would deal a death blow to the poor in India that has one of the worst development indicators. The situation got worse when the government imposed a stringent lockdown last year without making adequate preparations.
Now, the government is making unsuccessful attempts to restore India’s dignity and economy by promising free vaccine and rations. In a recent paper, economists Jean Dreze and Anmol Somanchi highlighted the extent of food deprivation experienced by the poor after the 2020 lockdown in India by analyzing survey data. All economic activities came to a standstill in the country after the Covid-19 lockdown that was regarded as the toughest one in the world. It is now clear that the lockdown impacted income and employment generation. The survey has revealed that there is a huge fall in income of people after the lockdown when compared to their pre-lockdown income.
Non-agriculturist participants of the survey reported that their income was Rs 6,858 in March 2020 that fell to Rs 1,929 in May 2020 and remained the same till September 2020. Their days without work that was at 7.3 per cent in the beginning of March 2020 shot up to 23.6 per cent in the first week of May 2020 and remained high at 16.2 per cent till September 2020 first week. About 52 per cent of the people who had jobs before the lockdown lost their jobs in May 2020 and the breadwinners of the remaining 20 per cent families had their jobs but their income had reduced substantially. Dreze and Somanchi argue that the impact of the lockdown on the Indian economy is not temporary. They show that it is unlikely that the income and jobs would be restored to their pre-lockdown levels.
Similar to income-related issues, surveys have also drawn attention to the increase in food insecurity. About 53 per cent to 77 per cent participants in the survey have stated that their food consumption has reduced now when compared to pre-Covid days. This situation has not changed even after the lockdown was lifted, they said.
The survey conducted by the Centre for Sustainable Employment of Azim Premji University is more worrisome. It says that around 60 per cent of the people surveyed have stated that their consumption of food between September-November was lower when compared to their food intake before the pandemic.. The situation of those living in abject poverty is far worse. A substantial number of migrant labourers consumed less than two meals a day in May 2020. Similarly, according to a study conducted by Pradhan, a not-for-profit organization, half the laborers of the unorganized sector in rural areas are consuming less food than what they used to have earlier.
The fact that there has been a reduction in nutrition levels in the food consumed during the lockdown is equally worrying. Though there was no difference in the amount people spent on pulses, there was a huge fall in the amount spent on consuming protein-rich food such as eggs, meat, fish, and different types of fruits. There was a 50 per cent reduction in the amount that people spent on meat and fish
In the midst of this, the Indian Public Distribution System that provides food grains for free or at low prices emerged as a ray of hope. During the lockdown, the Centre and state governments announced supply of free food grains and increased the quota of food grains. About 89 per cent of Indians obtained food grains under the PDS and an equal number of Indians escaped hunger by receiving free food grains as part of different schemes during the lockdown.
With Covid-19 second wave raging this summer, many states have implemented lockdowns. But the government is unable to prevent the kind of humanitarian crisis that the country faced last year. The relief measures announced for lockdown is not yielding results as expected. Though the amount of financial aid provided has been the same as last year, it is not reaching the beneficiaries. Due to problems in the public distribution system at the state levels, it has not been possible to distribute free food grains provided by the Centre. The immediate need is for the Centre and state governments to coordinate and work in tandem to ensure efficient distribution of food grains and financial aid and make sure that crores of Indians are saved from the crisis. The onus is on the government to uplift the country after lockdown, for which preparations must start immediately. In the fight against infectious diseases, nutritious food is as much important as vaccines. The government should also consider the danger of infectious diseases that malnutrition can precipitate in the future.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
