We need mass mobilization so that 2020 won’t be 1918 redux

Context: Need for communities mobilisation on the scale of the Quit India Movement to fight the COVID pandemic so that 2020 does not turn out to be 1918 redux.

Historic 1918 Pandemic and Its Impact: 1918 to 1920 in waves, the Spanish Flu hit India the hardest. 

• The flu killed 12-18 million, about 4-7% of the country’s population. The 1921 decadal census recorded a decline in population.
• 1918 was also had the worst economy in 120 years (economy shrank by 10.5%, had high inflation). 

Strategy for Corona Battle:  

• Defining the frontline: The frontline is our communities, where the virus can be contained, minimized, and tackled. 

• Feasible precautionary measures: Physical distancing, wearing masks, not having large gatherings, etc. could be taken keeping in view social fabric, economic activities, etc. 
• Need for extra resources: Some constraints (no water to wash hand, physical distancing in urban slums) could be addressed through extra resources or support. 
• Quick action measures: The infected must be identified soonest and put in isolation. Their contacts must be traced rapidly and quarantined. 
• Robust ground-level surveillance and monitoring systems: Relevant infrastructure should be put in place (E.g. trained healthcare workers).

Present shortfall: We are failing on this frontline across vast swathes of the country. 

• Poor quality quarantine and isolation facilities: People are avoiding them by any means.
• Inadequate testing capacities: It often forces samples to be sent 200-300km away. 
• Resource crunch:

• Officials are struggling for resources and effective clinical protocols. 
• Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers are mis-utilized (Polio vaccination, enabling institutional childbirth, and the like, was their role) and underpaid(only Rs 4000/month). 

• Command and Control culture of governance: 

• It has hollowed out our grassroots institutions, disempowered the frontline, and diminished the value of expertise. 
• The present crisis is being treated as a ”law and order” problem, with communities and individuals seen as objects to be tamed.

Way forward: Our administration must mobilize our communities in a way to play roles as equal partners in the efforts to tackle the present pandemic.