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Amitabh Kant Writes: The Power of Collectivised Solutions in Fighting the Coronavirus Pandemic

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4 years ago

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Everybody agrees that we are living through unprecedented times. The nature and scale of the crisis that the Covid-19 pandemic has unfolded are unparalleled. In such a scenario, solutions are unlikely to come from past experiences or best practices. The biggest source of strength now is the partnerships we have built over the years.

The situation at hand calls for stakeholders to come together, work side by side, channelize efforts, and support each other. This, precisely, is what one of the Empowered Groups (EG) created by the Government of India for comprehensive action and integrated response to contain the pandemic, has been doing since it was formed in the end of March.

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The mandate is to coordinate with three key groups of stakeholders: NGOs, private sector, and international development organisations, and help them in charting the best course of response action. The fight against Covid-19, since its start, needed as many hands as were available. The job was too big for the government to handle alone.

The strategy was to leverage vertical and horizontal partnerships: the vertical partnerships that the stakeholders have built within their organisations (for instance, multiple agencies in the UN system) and the horizontal partnerships which the government has institutionalised with the stakeholders (for example, NGO Darpan). The Empowered Group itself is a partnership, as its members are from eight different government ministries/organisations.

NGOs, given their deep connect with spatial and sectoral issues, were a natural partner in this endeavour. There is nobody better placed than the NGOs, to understand the pulse at the grassroots and engage closely with communities, especially in rural India. Around 92,000 organisations were urged to partner with district administrations and contribute to response efforts. Chief secretaries of all states were requested to engage the NGOs in relief and response efforts and designate state and district nodal officers to coordinate with NGOs. The approach was to leverage the strength and reach of the local NGOs in identifying priority areas for action and avoid duplicity of efforts.

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The response from the NGOs was heart-warming. They have been actively setting up community kitchens, creating awareness about prevention, physical distancing and isolation, providing shelter to the homeless, daily wage workers, and urban poor, supporting government efforts in setting up health camps and in deputing volunteers and care givers to deliver services to the elderly, persons with disabilities, children, transgender persons, and others in vulnerable situations.

An outstanding contribution of NGOs was developing communication strategy in different vernaculars, which went a long way in taking awareness measures to the community level. Akshaya Patra, Rama Krishna Mission, Tata Trusts, Piramal Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Action Aid, International Red Cross Society, Prayas, Help-age India, SEWA, Sulabh International, Charities Aid Foundation of India, Gaudia Math, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India were some of the partners which have embodied the whole-of-society approach in Covid-19 response management.

The crisis has brought out the best in the Indian start-up space. Many of them rose to the occasion and accelerated the development of low cost, scalable, and quick solutions. The results have been promising. AgVa accelerated the development of ventilators which are low-cost, mobile, low on power consumption and form factor, and require minimal training for operators.

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Biodesign developed a robotic product called ResperAid, which enables mechanised use of manual ventilators. Kaaenaat developed highly portable ventilators which can be used to serve two patients simultaneously and has built-in battery, oxygen concentrator, and sterilizer cabinet. The products of a few non-ventilator start-ups too came to the aid of the COVID-19 fighting machinery.

The AI-enabled analysis of chest X-Rays developed by Qure.ai enables large-scale screening to identify potential COVID-19 positive cases. GIS and geo-fencing technologies by Dronamaps enabled information cluster strategies for hotspots. AI-powered online doctor consultation and telemedicine platform by Mfine connects diagnostics labs and pharmacies with doctors and patients.

The AI-enabled thermal imaging camera developed by Staqu facilitated large-scale screening at low cost. These developments strengthen the argument that low-cost and scalable innovative solutions designed and developed domestically must drive our country’s transformation. In an age when clouds of uncertainty hover over the vast and complex global supply chain networks, unleashing the innovative spirits of Indian entrepreneurs and creating sound domestic supply chain systems fit the bill.

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The manner in which the stakeholders responded to the pandemic and the positive outcomes of their response reinforce the power of partnerships. In fact, they operated through partnerships. The NGO leaderships created momentum throughout their networks and delivered much-needed response. They also brought to the attention of the Group the problems from the grassroots. Multiple agencies of the international development organisations (for instance, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP and others from the UN system) designed and executed joint response initiatives, leveraging their presence across the country.

The coalitions which the industry organisations such as CII, FICCI, and NASSCOM have built over the years brought people and resources together, identified problems at multiple levels, channelized ideas and solutions, and facilitated innovations. The role played by the government has been facilitative in nature, which was based on the institutional and informal partnerships built with the three groups of stakeholders over the years.

Where do we stand today? Until three months ago, not a single N95 mask or PPE was manufactured in India. Today, we have 104 domestic firms making PPE and four manufacturing N95 masks. Over 2.6 lakh PPE and 2 lakh N95 masks are being manufactured in India, daily.

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Domestic manufacturing of ventilators has strengthened manifold – orders for more than 59,000 units have been placed with nine manufacturers. While this shows the adaptiveness of Indian industry, the shift to domestic production must happen on a larger scale for a wider set of sectors in the long run, as envisioned by Make in India.

Civil society, and voluntary and non-governmental organisations constitute the backbone of collective articulation of citizen interest in a democracy. As facilitators, mediators, and advocators of this interest, they have put people before everything else during this pandemic crisis. Their resource limitations did not slow them down in reaching to those in the most vulnerable situations. The support provided by the NGOs to the government initiatives has been timely and invaluable, and their commitment unshaken.

They also have worked hand in hand with the private sector in implementing response initiatives. We are certain that the vertical and horizontal partnerships built over the decades and strengthened during the joint fight against the pandemic will deliver bigger results in times to come.

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Disclaimer:Author is CEO, NITI Aayog. Views expressed are personal.






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“Second Phase Of Lok Sabha Polls: Voter Turnout Falls To 54.85%, High Concern In Uttar Pradesh

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2 days ago

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April 27, 2024

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Second phase of Lok Sabha polls: Voter Turnout Falls to 54.85% Now, low voter turnout a high concern in Uttar Pradesh

Despite a media blitzkrieg by the Election Commission the low voter turnout has become a big talking point in the ongoing multiphase 2024 Lok Sabha elections with the political pundits splitting the semantic hair as to which party is going to gain and which party will lose from this phenomenon.

As per the data released by the Election Commission the second phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh on which voting was conducted in eight parliamentary constituencies the voter turnout was 54.85% which was 7% less than the 62% voting witnessed for the same seats in 2019.

Mathura saw a massive 12% drop from 61.03% in 2019 elections and the voter turnout was 49.29%. Voter turnout was 49.65% representing a drop of % from 55.83% in 2019. Amroha recorded a voter turnout of 64.02% polling, 58.70% in Meerut, 56.62% in Aligarh, 55.97% in Baghpat, 55.79% in Bulandshahr and 53 % in Gautam Buddh Nagar. The first phase of the polling in UP which happened on April 19 saw a voter turnout of 60.25%, as compared to 66.50% voting recorded in 2019.

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The low voter turnout has pulled out the political parties from their stupor and booth level workers have been mobilized to get maximum votes polled at the respective booths. The EC has also directed all the electoral returning officers to motivate voters to exercise their franchise. However it seems the voters are not very keen to exercise their franchise rights.

There are many reasons for this lack of empathy among the voters which include the absence of emotive issues among the voters, harvest season in the rural areas, increasing temperatures and also disenchantment among grass roots party workers who are the driving force who motivate the voters to come out and vote in large numbers.

However the low voter turnout has started a slug fest between the political parties with each claiming that it is winning in the elections. The Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh and minister of state for cooperation JPS Rathore have proclaimed that voting trends are in favor of BJP.

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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in a post on X, talked about the strange trend but also declared that the voter has voted for the INDIA bloc in large numbers and the votes for BJP has steadily gone down. Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Avinash Pande said the voters are excited and it is a vote for a change and the INDIA candidates are winning by a big margin. Rashtriya Lok Dal, a component of NDA  chief Jayant Chaudhary, said that the alliance will win 80 seats in UP.

Also Read: Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Election Phase 2 : Key seats, candidates in the fray

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Prajwal Revanna, Sitting Member Of Parliament (MP) Sparks Controversy Over Alleged Private Video

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2 days ago

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April 27, 2024

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Prajwal Revanna, Sitting Member of Parliament (MP) sparks controversy over alleged private video

A private video allegedly featuring Prajwal Revanna, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Hassan district in Karnataka, has been leaked on the internet.

As this news began to dominate the media, his election agent filed a police complaint claiming that the videos were morphed to defame his public image and influence the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Prajwal Revanna, a Sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Allegedly Has Private Video Leaked Online

On Tuesday, Poornachandra Tejaswi MG, the election agent for both the JD(S) and the BJP, filed a police complaint alleging that Naveen Gowda and others were responsible for the leak.

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They reportedly circulated the video to voters in the Hassan Lok Sabha segment via WhatsApp, pen drives, and CDs. The FIR states:

“Naveen Gowda and others morphed videos and images and circulated them to the voters in the Hassan Lok Sabha segment through pen drives, CDs and WhatsApp to put Prajwal Revanna in bad light. These accused are going door to door and showing obscene photos and videos, provoking people not to vote for Prajwal in the Lok Sabha elections. These efforts are being made to disrupt the polling.”

In response, the police have filed a complaint under the sections of the Information Technology Act of 2008 and the Indian Penal Code.

Prajwal Revanna is the son of Holenarasipura MLA and former minister H D Revanna, and the grandson of former Prime Minister H D Devegowda. He is seeking a second term and is currently running against Congress candidate Shreyas M Patel, the grandson of G Puttaswamy Gowda.

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In the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, Puttaswamy Gowda won against Devegowda on a Congress ticket. On April 26, the Hassan constituency will participate in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Also Check: Tanmay Bhat Clears The Air About His Net Worth Of 665 Crores, Saying- ‘This Number Is Wildly Off’

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Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Election Phase 2 : Key seats, candidates in the fray

Published

3 days ago

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April 26, 2024

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Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Election Phase 2 : Key seats, candidates in the fray

The massive electoral exercise of the Lok Sabha Elections for 2024 is in full swing and the second phase of the election has commenced. In the second phase the fate of the candidates of 89 constituencies spread across 13 states will be decided by the voters. Uttar Pradesh is the most important state with more than 80 Lok Sabha seats. In the second phase of the election voters will vote for eight Lok Sabha seats.

Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha seats which will go for the polls include Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Amroha, Meerut, Aligarh,  Bulandshahar, Mathura, and Baghpat. Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, and Gautam Buddh Nagar will see a triangular contest between NDA bloc, the Opposition INDIA alliance, and the Bahujan Samaj Party. Mathura and Ghaziabad will see a straight contest between BJP and Congress. In Aligarh and Bulandshahr the BJP will lock horns with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party.

The Details are as follows-

  • Amroh -Kanwar Singh Tanwar(BJP) ,Danish Ali (Congress).Mujahid Hussain(BSP)
  • Meerut   – Arun Govil (BJP),Sunita Verma Pradhan (Samajwadi Party),Mujahid Hussain(BSP)
  • Mathura-Hema Malini (BJP),Mukesh Dhangar (Congress)         —
  • Baghpat-Rajkumar Sangwan (RLD),Amarpal Sharma (Samajwadi Party),Praveen Bansal(BSP)
  • Aligarh-Satish Kumar Gautam (BJP),Bijendra Singh (Samajwadi Party) —
  • Ghaziabad-Atul Garg (BJP) ,Dolly Sharma (Congress)           —
  • Budh Nagar-Dr Mahesh Sharma (BJP),Mahendra Nagar (Samajwadi Party),R.S.Solanki(BSP)
  • Bulandshahar-Bhola Singh (BJP),Shivram Valmiki (Samajwadi Party)     —

Many prominent personalities will find their fate locked in the EVM machines and this includes Hema Malini who will be eying for her third win from Mathura. She is pitted against Mukesh Dhangar from the Congress party.

Another star Arun Govil is standing from the BJP from Meerut and he is pitted against Sunita Verma from the SP and Devvrat Tyagi from the BSP. Arun Govil had played the character of Lord Rama in the Ranananda Sagar 1987 serial Ramayan

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MP Kunwar Danish Ali has changed party and is now standing as a Congress candidate Amroha, a constituency historically without a strong allegiance to any particular party. He stood and won as a BSP candidate in 2019. He will be pitted against Kanwar Singh Tanwar of the BJP and Mujahid Hussain of the BSP.

As per reports in the first four hours a voter turnout of 24.31 per cent was recorded in the eight parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections on Friday. The polling began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.

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