CONTENT Page no
Section 1 INTRODUCTION
Section 2 Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Context: The unprecedented crisis Global Socio-Economic impact of COVID 19, as reported by UN COVID – 19 in India STUDY OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY MAJOR VULNERABILITIES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC Immediate Impacts of Lock Down in India: Few statistics Challenges in front of the Government POLICY MEASURES BY INDIA GOVERNMENT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS Interventions at the central government and State Government level I) Policy Interventions at Central levels II) Interventions by State Governments in the Study States III) Important Advisories/Circulars at Central and State levels ASSESSING GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSES: WHAT WENT WRONG? Unprepared decision on lock down and Haphazard travel restrictions Miniscule relief package for the hardest hit sections of population Inadequate stimulus package for MSME and Farmers Insufficient investment in health system, shortage of emergency supplies and delays in domestic production of testing kits Insufficient stimulus package for economic revival Caste, class and gender bias of policy responses POLICY MEASURES BY FEW OTHER COUNTRIES: A SHORT OVERVIEW Policy Measures taken in Selected Countries- A brief Increased social assistance to support vulnerable section of population Pro-poor measures providing direct benefits in terms of food and in-kind support Work-life balance to boost productivity and rebuild economy Measures for robust health care system International strategies to invoke Digital Technologies in the public-health responses International solidarity to fight against Pandemic Responses by United Nations System WHAT MEASURES INDIA NEEDS TO HANDLE FUTURE PANDEMIC: FEW RECOMMENDATIONS Comprehensive strengthening of public health system and stepping up of investment in public health Reviving Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) and promotion of monthly basic income support Shielding poor by taxing rich Provision of food security through universalization of PDS and designing of safety-net schemes Budget for NREGA not to be reduced
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