CORONA PANDEMIC: A LESSON FOR PREPAREDNESS IN FUTURE · major health crises. As late as November last year a leading paper pointed out the issue. The warnings fell on deaf ears of

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Forcenturiesmanlivedinharmonywithnature,bothsettingclearboundariesbetweentheirterritories.ItwasonlyaftertheriseofIndustrialRevolutionthatmanbegantheneverendingencroachmentofnature’sterritoryandnatureinretaliationhastransferredvirusesanddiseasesfromtheirworldtousintheformofepi-demicsandpandemicsfromtimetotime.AfewexamplesbeingtheSpanishFluof1918,SARS2008,MERSandthecurrentSARS-CoV-2ortheCovid19.Theseareallzoonoticdiseasesmeaningtheyhavebeentransferredtohumansfromtheanimals.Nationsacrosstheglobearefightingthediseaseonawarfootingasitkeepschokingoureconomies,homesandmoralseveryday.Allourmenandmachineshaveprovenobsoleteagainstthisinvis-ibleandmicroenemy.Ithasinfectedmillionsandclaimedlakhsoflivesaroundtheworldwithmorethan3000deathsinIndiaaloneandscientistsacrosstheworldareinaracetofinditsantidoteattheearliest.

TheepicentreofSARS-CoV-2orCovid19istheChinesecityofWuhanintheHubeiProvince.ThelocalwetmarketofthecityhasbeensuspectedtobethecauseofthetransferofthevirusfromanimalstohumansandwasfirstreportedbyChinatotheworldon31stDecember2019.Ascasesofinfectionfromthevirusbegantospreadacrosstheworld,theWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)finallydeclaredthediseaseasaPandemic(whenadiseasespreadsacrossContinents).

Whilecasesofinfectionsanddeathsarerisingeverydayinthecountry,fortunately,ArunachalPradeshdoesnothaveasinglepositivecaseatpresentbutwearefarfromimmunetothevirus.Everynowandthenvariousissuesandloopholeshavesurfacedinthesocialmediaregardingporousborders,unhygienicquarantinefacilities,lackofskilledlabtechnicians,shortagesofICU,testingcentresetc.Allthesehasbroughtseriouslacu-naeinourcapabilitytodealwiththePandemicandhadthevirushituswe,forsure,wouldhavebeendoomed.Ithasalsoledtodelayintheacademiccycle,slumpinbusinesses,delayininfrastructurebuildingactivitiesduetoshortageoflabourandmaterials,delayinJusticedelivery,Policyimplementationetc.Thishasultimatelyledtoslowdownintheeconomynotjustinthestatebutworldwide.

Itisimperativeforpolicymakersnowtoformulatepoliciesandguidelinesbasedonourleaningsfromthecurrentpandemicanditsaftereffects.ThefirstandmostvitalbeingincreasedexpenditureinpublicsectorhealthcareandformulationofaStateHealthPolicyinlinesofthecurrentandchangingneeds.ThelessonsfromSpanishFluof1918alsopointsoutthatPublicHealthcareisthebestdefenceagainstsuchPandemics.AswealreadyhavesufficientnumberofPrimaryHealthCentres(PHC),CommunityHealthCentres(CHC)andDistrictHospitalsacrossthestate,theneedistostrengthenthemnowbyupgradingequipmentsandincreasingmanpowerthroughproperassessmentandbringthematparwithHealthcaresystemintherestofthecountry.AlsostandardizetheloneMedicalCollege(TRIHMS)ofourstateandpromoteresearchanddevelopment.Stream-linemedicinesupplyandbankontherichmedicinalflorathatnaturehasbestoweduponus.ArunachalcouldbecometheforerunnerinAyurvedicMedicineSysteminthecountryifrightstepsaretakeninthisdirection,aspromotionofHerbalCultivationofRs4000crorehasalsobeenoutlinedinthePMAtmaNirbharPackage.

TheKeralaModelistoutedtobethemostsuccessfulmodelindealingwiththePandemicastheyhavenotonlymanagedtoflattenthecurvebutalsochangeitsdirectiondespiteitbeingthefirststatethatwashitbythePandemicinIndia.ThishasbeensuccessfulfromtheirlearningofNipahVirusandtheKeralaFloodsof2018.Alongwiththistheroleofeducationandstateofarthealthfacilities inKeralahasbeenamajorcontributorintheirsuccess.KeralainveststhemostamonganyotherstateinEducationandHealthcare.Bothbeingstate

CORONA PANDEMIC: A LESSON FOR PREPAREDNESS IN FUTURE(Senior)

Amina NabamIGNOU Itanagar Regional Centre

Nirjuli, Papumpare Dist.

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subjects,itisuptotheStatetodecidetheirshareofexpenditureintheStateBudget.Itiseasiertodisseminateinformationandgenerateawarenesswhenpeopleareeducated.Witharound40%of thepopulation inourstatebeingilliterate,itcreatesextraburdenontheStategovtanditsfunctionariestoeducatethemaboutthedisease.AlongwithitanotherinvisiblevirusthattheStateCovidTeamhashadtodealwithfromtimetotimeismisinformationandrumours,whichhascreatedunnecessarypanicandstigmatization.OnepositivecasefromaparticularcommunityinthestatewasenoughtostigmatizetheentirecommunityinArunachal,althoughthecaseissameacrossthecountry.Hencethereisanimmediateneedtoincreasespendingoneducationandfillintheloopholesofthepresentsystem.

ThePandemichasalsoonceagainreiteratedtheneedtobeSelfReliantorAtmaNirbhar.Overdepen-denceonAssamforallnecessitiesbeitfood,industrialproducts,transportation,healthcareetccreatedpanic,chaos,hoarding,shortageandskyrocketingpricesofessentials in thestate.Wecannotgo intopanicmodeeachtimeadisasterstrikesandwhenthingsgetbacktonormalweforgetthattherewaseversuchasituation!Example:TheCAAprotestsinAssamwhenthewholeofNorthEastcametostandstill.Hence,itshightimethatwestrengthenourcoresectorslikeagriculture,horticulture,floriculture,textilesandbecomeselfreliant.Em-poweringSelfHelpGroupsandcreatingmarketclustersintheproducingvillagesthroughtheArunachalRuralLivelihoodMission,providingcoldstoragefacilities,timelytransportationtothemarketsandscientificmethodsoffarmingwillboostfarmproductivity.Focusshouldbetocreategrowthcentresallacrossthestateandnotjustinthecapitalregion.Sincelargeindustriesneedmoreinvestmentandgestationperiod,thereforeourfocusshouldbeonupgradingCottageindustriesandMSMEs.Bringpoliciestohelpthemthriveandsupportthestateeconomy.Concretebordersandstringentcheckpointswouldeasetheadministrationonbothsidesofthestatebordersinhandlingtheflowofpeopleintothestate.GovernmentofArunachalPradeshneedstobringinadialogbe-tweenalltheconcernedpartiesandresolveborderissuesattheearliest.GovtofAPcanissueILPintheformofsmartcardsandscanthemonEntryandExitintothestateatthecheckgate.Thiswillhelpinkeepingatabonthemovementofthemigrantsintothestateandalsoreducecorruptionbytheauthoritieswholetthempassthroughformere200bucksattimes!

ThemostvaluablelessonfromthePandemicthatnotonlyIndia,buttheworldatlargehaslearntisthecaseof“StrandedMigrants”.TheGovernmentgaveanoversightaboutthemigrantlaboursinarushtoflattenthecurveandimplementedtheLockdownwithoutapropermitigationplanforthem.Thenewspapersareflood-edwithheartbreakingpicturesofmigrantswalkinghundredsofkilometresonfoot,manycrushedbytrainsandtrucksintheirsleepandmanyhavenothadfoodfordays.Thisisalessonforustokeepinmindallthesectionsofthesocietywheneverweframeapolicyorlawandidentifythemostvulnerablesectionsofoursocietylikemigrantlabours,prisoners,localvegetablesellers,meatsellers,milksellersandsmallbusinessowners.ItisalsoofextremeimportancethatpeopleaffectedbyhumanitariancrisisandlivingincamplikesituationorprisonsbepartofthePandemicstrategies.

Disasterdoesnotdifferentiatebetweenrichandpoorbutthericharealwaysbetterplacedintermsofdealingwithitandaccesstohelpintimeofneed.

TheCovid19has broughtwith it another pandemic along i.e “The ShadowPandemic” all across theglobe.ShadowPandemicistheriseincasesofdomesticviolenceandsexualabuseagainstwomenandchildrenduringperiodsoflockdown.Lossofjobs,homeconfinement,insecurity,anxietyandthevictimnotabletoreachherrescuersduringsuchtimescanbeattributedtothis.Hence,NGOs,PoliceandStateWomenCommissionmustbeveryvigilantatsuchtimesandensurethattheyareaccessibleatalltimes.

Giventhekindofgeographicalsettingwearein,wearepronetoallkindsofnaturaldisasters.SoweneedResilientDevelopmentnotjustformegadisastersbutforperennialproblemsofflood,landslide,rapidur-banization,pollutionetc.DisasterManagementPoliciesshouldbebasedontheprinciplesofLivelihoodSecurity,

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SustainableInfrastructure-scientificmethodsofconstructionandCapacityBuildingbyincludingcurriculumondisastermanagementinschools,collegesandtrainingemployeesforthesame.Thereshouldbeflexiblemodelsfordisasterriskandintegrationfromnationaltograssrootslevel.TheplanshouldentaildetailedRiskReduction,MitigationandRehabilitationStrategiesforallkindsofdisasterswhethernaturalormanmadeandinvolveallstakeholders.

TheSARSCovid-19hasputtheworldonastandstillandhasbroughtoutthehumanfallacyofbeingasuperiororganism.Itisnowalessontomankindthatwearemerelyactorsinthedivinedesignofnatureanditwillfinditswaystosettheequilibriumright,whichasperMalthusianTheoryofPopulationGrowthisaPositiveCheckandevidencesofnaturereclaimingherspacehavesurfacedallaroundtheworld.Inourquesttoacquiremoreresourceswehavedestroyedecosystemsandhavebroughtthevirusclosertohumancommunitiesbynarrowingtheboundariesbetweenhumansandanimalsthatonceweredistinctlyseparated.

Thedisease isamanufacturedpandemicofourowndoingsandas ittakesoverour livesandhomesinchbyinch,wewaitdesperately,forsciencetocreateamiraclesoon.Theonlythingwecandonowistopickuppiecesofourlivesandlearnnewwaysoflivinglikerunningofficesandbusinessthroughextensiveuseofinformationtechnology,workfromhome,avoidunnecessarytravels,socialdistancing,practisebasichygieneasawayoflife,strengthenPublicSectorHealthinfrastructureastheyareinstrumentalinfightinganydisaster,developholisticpoliciesconsideringallaspects,haveresilientdisastermanagementprogramsforallkindsofbigandsmalldisasters,learnwaystobeselfreliantandcontributetotheeconomyandmostimportantly,respectnature’sboundaries.

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Whenthedusthassettledandeveryonegoesbacktohisownbusiness,India,likeanyothercountrywillhavemuchtolearnfromtheCoronapandemic.SoisthecaseforeverystateinthecountryincludingArunachalPradesh.Asaonceinacenturyevent,muchisatstakeiftheretrospectiongoesamissed.ThepandemicbroughtouttheworstoutofthecountryandthelessonslearntandreformstakenwillgoalongwayinshapingIndiafordecadestocome.Alreadythereisclarioncallforreformsfromeverycornerofthecountryandfromeverystrataofthesociety.Economicissueshavebeenaddressedtosomeextent.Othersimportantissuesmaysimplybebrushedasideandneverbeaddressed. ForyearsIndiahasbeenwarnedofitspoorhealthcaresystemanditsinabilitytohandleoutbreaksandmajorhealthcrises.AslateasNovemberlastyearaleadingpaperpointedouttheissue.ThewarningsfellondeafearsofpolicymakersasIndiacontinuedtospendlowonhealthexpenditure.AccordingtoOECDIndia’shealthcarespendingout-of-pocketandpublicin2016was3.6%ofGDPlowerthananyotherBRICScountries,behindChina’s5%.Incomparisonin2018itwas16.9%intheUSwhileOECDaveragewas8.8%.Indiaranked170outof188countriesingovernmentspendingaspercentageofGDPin2016.Ithasnotimprovedsince,spendingjust1.29%ofGDPbyCentreandstatesforthefinancialyear2019-20. Amidstthecurrentpandemicthegovernmentbeganspendingenormouslyonhealthcare.Butitmustensurethatthespendingdoesnot justaddressthepresentcrisisbutpreventandmitigatefutureones.ThecaseforcompleteoverhaulandrestructuringofIndia’shealthcaresystemisstrong.ThecurrentpandemichasexposedthefailuresofIndia’shealthcaresystemmorethananything.Attheonsetoftheoutbreak,Indiawasonthebackfoot,totallyunpreparedtofightthenovelcoronaviruswhichwasbringingevendevelopedcountriesliketheUS,theUKandWesternEuropeancountriestotheirknees.Thebestitcoulddowasimposecurfewandblanketbanofmovementofpeople.Despiteresortingtooneofthemoststringentlockdownsintheworld,itcouldnotcontainthespreadofthedisease,infectingalmostoneandahalflakhandravaging35of36statesandUTs,sparingonlyLakhadweeptillnow.HospitalswereoverwhelmedeveninrelativelydevelopedstateslikeMaharashtra,MadhyaPradeshandGujarat. Tobeonabetterfootinginfuturerobustscreeningandsurveillancesystemsshouldbesetupineverypartofthecountrywhiletestingcentresshouldbeineverystatewithtestingcapacitiesproportionateto itspopulation.BeforetheoutbreakstateslikeArunachalPradeshandNagalanddidnothavetestingcentres.Beingfrontierstatesfortunewasontheirside,thetwostatesweresparedbytheonslaught-registeringfivecasessofar.Thingscouldhavespiralledoutofcontrolhadappropriatemeasuresnotbeenputupearly.Itwasadifferentstory inManipur,attributedtopoorscreening.Fortwomonthsthepandemicwasundercontrolwithonly2importedcasesandnosecondarytransmissions.However,asthelockdownbegantobepartiallyliftedupandstrandedpeoplefromoutsidethestatereturned,therewasasuddenspurtincasesrisingupto25inafewdays.Poorscreeningwaspointedoutasacausewhilethedeputycommissionerofadistrictwastransferredforbreak-inglockdownprotocols.Suchnegligenceisdangerousinatimeofapandemic. There is alsoaneed fordedicatedepidemicand infectiousdiseaseshospitals ineverydistrict acrossthecountry.Thepandemicthrewoutthecountry’shealthcaresystemoutofgear.Thesparseresourceswerechannelledtocombatthediseasewhilenormalhealthservicesweresuspended,deprivingthecommonmanofroutinehealthservicesanddenyingpeoplewithprolongedhealthissuesofmuchneededcare.Thecountry


Dapulou Joseph(B-Tech, Mech. Engg.) NERIST

Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh -791109

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mustinfutureensurethatitswholehealthsystemisnotsacrificedforadisease,thusputtingatstakethelivesofmillionsofothersafflictedwithvariousotherailments. Amidstthisbatteringonthehealthcaresystem,thepharmaceuticalindustrywasbetterprepared.NotonlyisIndiaself-reliantindrugsbutitspharmaceuticalcompaniescontributesubstantiallytothecountry’sex-port.ManyforeigncompaniesturnedtoIndiaforthesuppliesofdrugsinthewakeofthepandemic.Howeveritwasnotthecasewhenitcametotestingkits.Indiahadtorelyonsupplyofimportantreagentsfromforeigncountriesthusseverelyimpactingitstestingcapabilities.MoreoverfaultykitsprocuredfromChinahadtobereturned.Thisshouldbeawake-upcallforIndiatoimproveitscapabilityinmanufacturingmedicalequipment. ThepandemicalsobroughttotheforethepoorhygieneofIndianpublic.Severalyearsago,theHowrahbridgemadeheadlinesbecauseofbeingerodedbytobaccospit.TheCOVID-19showedthedangerthatsuchbe-haviorcouldposetopublichealth.Thehomeministrypromptlybannedpublicspitting.Somestatesalongwithissuingsuchordersbannedthesaleofsmokelesstobacco.Suchmeasuresarehighlylaudableandshouldnotsimplybeastop-gapmeasurebutkeptinplaceasapreventivemeasureforanypotentialoutbreakinfuture. Thevulnerabilityofthoseinslumsandtheurbanpoortoepidemicwaslaidbarebythecurrentpandem-ic.Socialdistancing-anewnorminCOVID-19agewasanimpossibilityinsuchareas.Awholefamilylivesinaroomortwoandhousesarebuiltincloseproximitytoeachother-barelyenoughforapersontopassthrough.Addedtothecomplicationwerecommunitytoiletsusedbydozenseveryday.Postthepandemic,alongwithpovertyalleviationprogrammes,propercityplanningandurbanhousingareamusttoprepareforanyoutbreakinfuture.

Animportantmeasurewasmandatoryuseofmasksinpublic.IfthereissomethingthattheIndianpop-ulacehasbeentaught,itistheimportantrolethatmasksplayinpreventingthespreadofinfectiousdiseaseswhichmainlyspreadthroughrespiratorydroplets.Untilnowfewseriouslytookdoctors’advice,tocoverthemouthwhilesneezingandcoughing,washinghandsandabstainingfromshakinghandswhilesick.Hopefully,thispandemichastaughteveryonethecrucialrolespersonalandpublichygieneplayinpreventingthespreadofcommunicablediseases.AnyepidemicandfuturecouldbehugelymitigatedifeveryIndianlearntsuchinvalu-ablelessons.

Another phenomenonobservedwas higher rates of fatality amongpeoplewith pre-existingmedicalconditionssuchascardiovasculardiseases(CVDs),respiratoryinfectionsanddiabetes.Thus,whileeveryonehadreasonstofearanewdiseaseforwhichthereisnoestablishedcureorvaccine,therewasmorereasontofearforthosewithsuchpre-existinghealthissues.IndiahasthesecondhighestdiabeticpatientsintheworldwhileCVDsareontherise.Assuchdiseasesareeitherrelatedtolifestyleorexacerbatedbypoorlifestyle,thispandemicshouldmotivateIndianstocultivatehealthylifestyles.

Schools,collegesalongwithallothereducationalinstitutionshaveallbeenshutdownevenbeforethenationwide lockdownbegan.While those institutions inurbanareascouldprovideonlineclasses, their ruralcounterpartsdidnothavesuchluxuries.Thisonlyincreasestheurban-ruralknowledgeaccessibilitygapkeepingtheruralstudentsatacompetitivedisadvantageinnationallevelexams.SuchproblemsareespeciallyacuteformostlyruralstateslikeArunachalPradesh.ThiscallsforanurgentneedtoimproveInternetconnectivityinruralIndia.

Thelockdownalsotookaheavytollontheemotionalandpsychologicalhealthofthecitizensaspeo-plewereconfinedtotheirhomes.Unliketherichingatedcompoundsandthevillagers,theurbanpoorborethebruntasthewholefamilyhadtobeincrampedroomsthroughouttheday.Therewerealsoincreasedcasesofdomesticviolencealongwithcasesofpeoplewhohadcomeoutofsubstanceabuse,alcoholismandotheraddictionsrevertingtoharmfulhabits.ThesereportsbringtolimelightIndia’spoorjobattaking

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careoftheweakandfrailinthesociety.Itmustbeensuredthattheirwell-beingistakencaredofinfutureshouldanysuchsituationarise. Itwasalsoreportedthatthecoronavirusprobablyjumpedtohumansfrombatseitherthroughawetmarketorfromalaboratory.MarketsinthenortheasternregionparticularlyNagalandandManipurareknowntosellbushmeat.Theremustbestrictregulationsagainstpoachingofwildanimalsandtheirmarketing.Proto-colsforsafe-handlingandstorageofvirusesforresearchpurposesmustalsoberevisitedtopreventanylapses.

Thepandemicthoughcalamitousshouldnotbewasted.Ithasshownthenation’sstrengthsandweak-nessesinallfronts.Indiahasmuchtolearnfromthepandemicfromforeignrelationsandfiscalpoliciestofed-eralismandcivillibertiestopersonalhygieneandlifestyle.Butmorethananything,lessonsshouldbelearntforIndiatobewell-preparedshouldanotherepidemicorpandemicstrikethecountry.

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Asnormallifecomestoastandstill,wehavewitnessedthedetermination,spiritandthecorevirtueofthepeopleofthiscountryandthefrontlineheroesthatleadusthroughthesetoughtimes.But,thepandemichasalsoexposedustoourvulnerabilitiesandvices.Inretrospectitisnothardtocomebyinstancesoferrorsandneglect,ofignoranceandmiscalculations.Thepandemicloomsoverthenationandthiscallsforleadersin emergencypreparedness and response todevise effective crises response and address the ever evolvingsituation.Furthermore,withincreasingpossibilitiesofasecondwave,itbecomesmoreimportantthanevertoreflectontheexistingstrategies,theirproductivityandsuccessrates,thefallaciesincurrentmanagementofthesituationandalsoourownpersonalinputtothecircumstances.Thispandemichasalsoillustratedtoustherealtimehealthscenarioinourcountry,thesphereswherewearelaggingandalsomadeusawareaboutourownpersonalhygieneatamicroscopiclevelasanindividual.Toavoidsimilarcaseseruptinginthefutureandtomit-igateitincaseofasecondwave,weneedtoobservecarefullyandanalysetheexistingcourseofactiontodrawthegraphofwhatprecautionaryandcurativemeasureswecantakeinthefuture.

Generalhealthcaresectionisofprimaryimportance.Itcanbecategorizedintotwobroadgroups-first,existingsituationsandeffecton“healthcareneglected”areas;second,existingsituationsandeffectonthehealthcommunity.Thispandemicwasasevereblowtoourhealthfacilitiesespeciallyforthemostvulnerablesectionsofthesociety;thepoorandtheoldordiseasedwhowerethemosthardhit.Itisnosecretthatmanyplaceshaveshabbyornohealthfacilitiesatall.Andthesearemostcommonlytheruralareasorurbanareaspopulatedbyeconomicallystrainedpeople.Thesadironyofthissituationisthatthesesectionsaremostvulnerableyetmostillequippedtofightthesituationathand.Letalonehitechhealthapparatus,manydonotevenhavetheconceptofpersonalhygienebecausetheyareunaware.Weneedtostrengthenourhealthservicesbyprovidingproperhealtheducationandbasicbutwellequippedhospitalsallacrossthecountry.AtpresentIndia’shealthexpen-diturestandsatameagre1.28%whichisinstarkcontrasttotheeverincreasingpopulationofthenation.Weasasocietymustlaymoreimportanceonhealthcareandtrytoreachtheremotestareas.Economicstatusshouldnotdeterminehowhealthyweare.Inthehealthsector,lackofPPEs,inadequatecontainmentandtestingfacili-ties,insufficientnumbersofventilatorsandbedswasevident.Therearestillnomakeshiftcabinsforthepeopleatthehospitalandpeopleindifferentfacilitiesunderquarantinewhichisscaryregardingthefactthatcorona-virusisahighlytransmissiblevirus.Ononehand,wearepromotingsocialdistancingandontheotherhandwearemakinghundredsofpeoplesharethespacewithapotentialcarrierwhichundoesallthehardwork.Onecarrierinaroommighttransmitittoothersinafewdaysandtheymightshownegativeresultsasthetestingkitsareonlysensitivetoacertainlevel/countofviruswhichtakessometimetoreplicateinthehumanbody.Sotheseseeminglynegativetestedpeoplewillgoonandspreaditbackhome.ThisisquiteevidentasAssamwhichhad2-3casesuntilcoupleofmonthsagoisnowsteadilyseeingariseinthecases.Somakeshiftshiftcabinsistheleastprecautiononecantakeforpeopleunderquarantinewhichwillenableinensuringsafetyoncereleased.Alsothisisawakeupcallforustoalwayskeepourhealthfacilitiesup-to-dateandencourageindustriesmakinghealthgears.

Crisesresponseandhealthcarestructuremustbeledundercapableleadership.Unlikeanadministrativefailureorasecuritythreattothecountry,itisprimarilyahealthcrisis.Sothepresentresponseteamstructureisnotasconditionsdemand.Therefore,peoplefromthehealthcommunitymustbetheonesincharge.Fur-thermore,afewpeoplefromacertainpartofthecountrycannotdecideandexpecttoeffectivelyhandlethesituationineverynookandcrannyofthisvastcountry.Propercollaborationisvitaltocorrespondadeptlytothe


Ashee Linggi (PG, Agriculture Science)

Roing, Lower Dibang Valley, 792110, A.P.

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challenges.Therecouldbeaboardwithtophealthfacultyheadingit,whoareincollaborationwithatleastonedoctorfromeverydistrictwhowouldupdatethemaboutthesituationsthere,theneedsarising,theirapproach-esandwaysoftacklingthechallengesthereandbrainstormforbetterresults.Theadministratorsandpoliceshouldassumeamoresupportiverole,enhancingbrainstorms,effectivecommunicationoftheadvicesgivenbytheboardtothepublic,ensuringthattherulesandregulationsarefollowedandmanagingpropersupplychainofessentialcommodities;theyshouldcheckconfusionandpanicamongpublic.Thiswouldgivethefrontlineworkerscommandovertheirownfieldsofexpertiseandgenerateactualandreliabledata.Thiswillhelpusinlearninggroundrealityandcopingasrequired.

Nextlessonisprioritisingscienceoversuperstition.Onecannotunseehowthehealthworkersandpolicewerepeltedwithstonesduringduty.Thisisarealitycheckforus.Eventodaythebasiceducationstructureisinshamblesinmanypartsofthecountryandelsewhererotelearningisthetrend.Weneedtoshiftthetrendtoeducationthatismorefocussedonpracticalknowledgeandimbibinginyoungpeopleinnovativenessaswellashealthcareawareness,civicsense,senseofresponsibilitytosocietyandeducatethemaboutepidemicsandpandemicsandhowtocopewithsuchchallenges.Thesimplestactsofpersonalhygienecanmakehugediffer-ences.Weneedtomakepeopletrustscienceandmakethemunderstandthatsciencemaybeinconvenientforsometimebutitcansaveourlives.Researchersmustbeencouragedtomakenewdiscoveriestounderstandtheextentofproblemsandtheaspectswhichthreatenusandfindtreatmentsforthisissue.ThediscoveryofCovid19affectingatigerhasopenednewdimensionsandwarnedusofit’spossibilities.Supportingscientificdemeanourwilllaythefoundationstoneforlogicalthinkingandinturnimprovethetemperamentofthesocietyandmakethemmorelawabiding.Theeducationsystemneedtoeducatepeopleonsuchtopicsandhowtocopewiththemwithoutpanicking.Alsoweneedtoimbibeahabitofcleanlinessandhygieneamongstthepublic.

Thischapteringlobalhistoryisahugelessonforustopromoteproactivebehaviourratherthanjustre-activebehaviour.WeneedtolearnfromothercountrieslikeSouthKorea(Test-Trace-Treatmodel)whichlearntfromitsfirsthandexperienceofSARS,MERSandH1N1virus.Theyhavebeenhighlysuccessfulinflatteningthecurve.Whenwegetreportsofepidemicsesp.,humantohumantransferrableandzoonoticdiseasesweneedtoinformthetransportservicestorestrictentryoftouristswhohavetheareaofconcernintheirtravelhistory.Alsoincaseitistoolateforthat,quickimplementationofepidemicstrategiesisrequired.Widespreadandcompulso-rytestingwhichwearestrugglingwithatpresent,isofutmostimportancewhilesimultaneouslypreparing,likemassproductionofmasksandPPEsinthiscase.Widespreadtestsaretheonlywaywecanactuallymakecontacttracingworkandresumingnormalworkingofinstituions.Apparently,manyareashavebeendeclaredasgreenzonesbutthegroundrealityisthatthisisstillbasedonanunsuregroundasmanyofthesezonesarenotbasedonproperwidespreadtestsbutonthebasisofwhetherpeoplewithsymptomsapproachthemedicalcommu-nityoronthebasisofthermaltestswhichisquiteinadequate.Thishasledtomany“greenzones”turningred.Alsogiventhefactthatapercentageofpeopleaffectedwiththediseaseareasymptomatic,thesezonegradingsaretobetakenwithagrainofsaltandshoulddefinitelynotdeterusfromfollowingprecautionarymeasures.

Regularandextensivefumigationofcontainmentandpublicareasarevitalinkeepingfurtherspreadincheck.Keepingsanitizerdispensersinpublicareasforpublicuseencouragespersonalhygiene.Currentlywhatstandsinthenameofacheck-gatesisasmallroomwithsomepolicepersonnel.Thereisnoinfrastructureforemergency.Theymustimprovephysicalinfrastructurepermanentlytosupportemergencyrequirementsandmembersofthemedicalteamtomakesimpletestsandprovideescortvehiclestodropreturneestothequaran-tinebaseorcontainmentcentreswhichshouldbefumigatedordisinfectedafterthepurposehasbeenserved.Thequarantinecentresmusthaveproper screening,disinfectingandwastedisposal facilities.Theymustbeprovidedwiththerequiredtestingkitsandmustbedisinfectedregularly.

Alsototallockdownofaffectedareasanddeliveringservicesdirectlyatdoorstepsiseffectiveonlyintheinitialperiodsastheaffectedcommunityisnotverylargeandtheneedstocatertowouldbelimitedascom-paredtolockdownofwholecountry.Anisolationshouldalwaysbeprecededandfollowedbywidespreadtest-

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ing.Thentracingofpositiveindividualsandtakingthemundermedicalcarewouldbeeasier.Atotalnationwidelockdownisunsustainableinthelongrunduetoeconomicandsocialstresstoo.Andincaseithappens,devisinganorganizedsystemofdistributionandeffectivemobilisationofsupplieswouldalsobeeffective inavoidingcrowds.

Apartfromthattoavoidhaphazardandunorganizedresponsewemustsetasidesomeportionfortherainyday.Introducingepidemic/naturaldisasterrelieffundoreconomicemergencyfundsasaseparatefundinthebudgetwillkeepuspreparedforquickandtimelyreleaseofhelpandreliefwhensuddenhazardsstrike.Thiswillhelpusinmitigatinglossoflifeandgivethecountryabettershotatrecovery.

Keepingupdatedwithwhatishappeningaroundtheworldcangiveusinsightonwhatotheroptionsorstrategieswecanexplore.Forexample,antibodytestinginthepresentcasescenario. Thiswholeepisodehastaughtustheimportanceofcoordinationbetweenpublicandgovernment,gain-ingpublictrustviaeffectivecommunication.Tomaintainabalancebetweencautionandfearitisimportanttobetransparentwiththepublicbecauseincaseslikethis,generalpublicco-operationisofabsoluteimportance.Weshouldnotmakethepublicseethecontagionasadeadlydiseasethatisasure-killbuteducatethemonwhatprecautionstotakeandwhethertheyhavecomeincontactwithapositivecase.Simplyrelyingonpeopletoselfdiagnoseviaanappandassumingtheyarenegativeisfoolhardinessasmanyareasymptomaticandmanymightbescaredtoapproachthegovernmentormistrustthemedicalcare.Communicatinganddispensingin-formationtopublicwiththeaidofradios,speakers,newspapers,televisionmediaandcellphoneappsmustbedonewithcautiontoavoidunduepanicandalsothecommunicationteammustkeepacheckforrumoursandfakeinformation.Manyoftheabovementionedstrategiesneedtheaidoftechnologywhichisstillafarsee.Despitehavingahugepopulationofengineerswhywearestillunabletoutilisetheirskillsissomethingthepeopleshouldponderon.Fundingresearcherstocomeupwithquickrealtimetestsforhumantohumantransferrablemicroorganismscouldbereallyhelpfulforscreeningpassengersatentryandexitpoints.Technologyaidsmuchinmakingbetterstrategiesandmakingpre-existingstrategiesworkbetter.

As the climate changesand temperatures rise, andearthbecomesmorehospitable fordifferentmi-croorganisms,itwouldbeanunreliablepropositiontosaythatthisisthelastofanoutbreakthatwesee.Itisunderstoodthateventhisoutbreakisgoingtobealongaffair.Insteadifwekeepinvadingnaturalhabitats,manbecomesmoreexposedtowildlifeandnewerzoonoticdiseases.Keepingacheckonouradvancestonatureiskeytoavoidingdisastrousconfrontationswithnature.

Lastlythispandemichasalsotaughtusaverypersonallesson,toassumeindividualresponsibilitiesto-wardsthesocietyandpeoplearoundus.OneofthevitalreasonbehindsuccessofSouthKoreainflatteningthecurvewasbecauseoftheintegrity,responsiblebehaviourandsocialawarenessofthepublic.Wecomeacrossmanyinstancesofpeopleignoringsocialdistancingnormsinthecommonplaces.Manypeoplehavetakenthislockdownasaholidaybreak.Thefailuretounderstandthatmeetingrelativesandfriendscanwait,ifwelive,bearstestamenttothelackofdisciplineandintegrity.Thiscanmakesthebeststrategiesfutile.Aresponsibleso-cietyisafterall,thefirststepinpreparedness.Withknowledge,wellorganizedepidemicstrategies,decisiveness,transparency,clarityofmessageanduseoftechnologywecanstaybetterpreparedforsuchtrials.Endingonthenotethat“Anintelligentpersonlearnsfromhisownexperiencebutawisemanalsolearnsfromtheexperiencesofothers”isaptlessonforallofus.

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Humansareconsideredthemostintelligentandwiseamongotherspecies.Humanracehasachievedthepowertodestroytheentirehumanracewiththeinventionsofdevastatingnucleararmamentsandwarfareequipments,whileontheotherside,theycanalsomakeearthabetterplacebymaintaininginternationalpeaceandhumanitytowardseachother.Thoughwiththehelpofscienceandtechnologyhumanshaveachievedsomuchinthisworld,butmanyatimewehaveseenthosesituationswerehumansarenotinfallibleenoughtodealwithsuchcrisesforinstanceCoronaatpresent,ithasbeendeclaredapandemicbytheworldhealthor-ganisation.Whenitfirstcameinlaterpartof2019,duetolowlevelofdetectionandinformation,oranyotherreason,Chinahasnotrevealedeverythingtotheworld,buttherewereamplenumberofVideos,articles,newsthatwascirculatingalloverthesocialmediaplatformlikeFacebook,Instagram,etc,butpeopleallovertheworlddidnotseemtobemuchconcernedoverit,onlyafterseeingthedevastatingpotentialofthispandemiconothercountrieslikeChina,Italy,USAinalargescaleinthestartingof2020,othercountriesincludingIndiahadstartedtheirstrongactionagainstit,inIndia,theIndianGovernmentundertheleadershipofNarendraModihadtakenamajordecisionofnationwidecurfew,andthenLockdown.

Thiswarbetweenthecoronaandtheworldhasproventhateveryoneintheworldisequallyvulnera-bletothesecrises,irrespectiveofanydifferencesinrace,caste,colour,sex,culture,economyetc.ThoughthispandemichasbecomeanightmareineveryIndividuallife,butithasalsotaughtmanystronglessonstoeverynation,everystate,everysocietyandeveryhumanbeingingeneral.Whenourlifeisatstake,nothingmatters,notevenwealth.Someofthemainlessonslearnedforpreparednessinfutureare:

It has taught India among other developing countries about its medical incapacities and health infrastructure:Indiahasapopulationof1.3billion,makesitthe2ndlargestpopulatednationintheworld,justafterChina.India’slagsfarbehindchinainmanysectors,fromitsmedicalinfrastructuretootherequipments,infact,Indianpharmaindustryheavilyreliesonimportsofbulkdrugs,enzymes,testingkits,personalprotectiveequipments(PPE)andothermedicalequipmentsfromChina.ItisquiteevidentthatIndia’sfragilehealthcareinfrastructurewillnotbeabletocopewithsuchoutbreak.AsrevealedbytheUnionHealthministry,wehaveoneisolationbedforevery84,000andonedoctorforevery11,600Indians.Therearetheshortageofventila-tors,beds,andothermajorequipmentstofightagainstCorona.Asillustratedbyanofficial,inthecaseofAssam,36outof200ventilatorsbeingusedingovernmenthospitals,andthoseventilatorsinworkingconditionhavebeendeployedforcriticalpatients.IfitistheconditionofAssam,thenwhatwillbetheconditionofourstateArunachalPradesh,thinkaboutit.

Lesson learned from the incident of rail accident of 16 labourers in Aurangabad, Maharashtra:Lock-downputspooratrisk,Indiaisknownasthecountryofvillages,morethan50%oftheIndianpopulationispoor,andthesituationissuchthateventoday,millionsofpoorpeoplearenotinaconditiontoaffordamealfora


Khoda Anju(M-Phil. Political Science)

Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, A.P.

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singletime.AmidCoronavirus,Indiangovernmenthastakenmanymajorstepstohelpsuchpoorsectionsofthesocietybyprovidingvariousreliefpackagesandbenefits,intheformoffreefoodgrains,cashthathasbeendepositedintheirrespectivebankaccount.Manyatime,providingmoneyandfoodisnottheonlysolution,atthisphaseoffearanduncertainty,whatapoorpersonwantsisthesecurityoftheirlifeandfamily.Theyareuneducated,untrainedsectionofoursociety,theyarenotfullyawareofthewholestory,theymighthaddevel-opedimproperideaaboutthewholeCoronavirusthing,andalltheywantedwastotravelbacktheirrespectivevillages,withtheirfamily.AmidlockdownthousandsofLabourershadlosttheirjobs,theydon’thavehousetolivelikeothersincities,theirintentionwasnotwrong,becausemostpublictransportationhasalreadybeencan-celledduetothelockdown,sotheydecidedtowalktowardstheirvillageaftertheylosttheirjobsduetoCovid-19lockdown.Theideaofproperdisplacementofpoorlabourersshouldhavebeenconductedinanearlierandinmorepreciseway.Ithasalsotaughtusthatequity,andnotequalityshouldbetheprincipleforcombatingthecorona.

Coronahasshowedustheexistenceoldaged“communalvirus”andblindfaithinoursociety:Amidcoro-navirus,wehaveseenmanyinstancesofcommunalvirusandblindfaith.HindublamingtheMuslim’s,Muslim’sblamingtheHindu,asaresult,“deadlycommunalvirusspreadingfasterthanthecoronavirus”.Therearemanyreligiousbigotswhoarecontinuouslyinjectingthevirusofblindfaithandhatredamongthepeopleinthesoci-ety.WemightfindoutthesolutionforCoronawiththehelpofscienceandtechnologysoonerorlater,butwhataboutthecommunalvirus?TheseedofcommunaldifferenceswasthemainreasonbehindthecolonisationofIndia,thedifferencesbetweentheMuslimandHinduhadledtothepartitionofIndiaandPakistan.WeIndian’sneedtostopblamingeachotherforanycause,insteadatsuchcriticalperiod,weneedtojoinourhandsagainstCorona,because“wherethereisunity,thereisalwaysvictory”.

CoronahasacceleratedIndiatowardsgreaterDigitalisation:Oneofthebestwaystomaintainsocialdis-tancingamidCoronaVirussituationisdigitalisation.Workfromhomeandonlineclassesareoneofthebestini-tiativesthathavetouchedeverysectionofoursociety.AppslikeGoogleDuo,Zoom,Hangouts,havereportedlyseenariseof71%.IthasevenboostedtheE-Learningservices.AppssuchasUnacademy,Byjushaveachievedaround82.73%increaseinthetimespent.Butitalsoshedslightonthedigitaldisparityamongurbanandruralareas;itisanalarmbellforourgovernmenttothinkaboutthewaystobringeachandeverypartofoursocietyundertheumbrellaofdigitalisation.

LessonlearnedfromTablighiJamaatincidentinNizamuddin,NewDelhi:ItisoneofthelessonforpeoplenotonlyinIndia,butforallovertheworld,werearound3,400membersgatheredattheevent.Thisisoneofthebigmisconceptionsofpeoplethattheycouldfindgodonlyintemple,mazjid,gurudwaraorchurch.”.Duringthisburningsituation,yeswedoneedpeacethroughprayers,herewecangofordigitalformoffellowshiporprayersmeet.Asbiblesays,“yourbodyisthetempleofgod,“wheretwoorthreegatherinmyname,thereisthepresenceofgodandthatischurch.

Coronahasshedslighton“Cleanlinessisnexttogodliness”:Everychildmusthaveheardaboutthislinesduringtheirschooldays,wehavebeentaughttowashourhandsbeforeandaftereatingsinceourchildhood,tocleanoursurroundings,houses,toilets.InthisphaseofCoronapandemic,theonlyweapontofightwiththecoronaisbymaintainingpersonalhygiene,thoughweallareawareofthis,butmostofthetimeweactuallydo

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notproperlyfollowthat,coronahasremindedusallagaintheutmostimportanceofmaintainingcleanlinessandgoodhygiene.

Coronahasremindedusaboutourresponsibilitytowardsourmothernature:Wehaveseenadrasticreductionintheenvironmentalpollution,duringtheentirelockdownphase.OurmothernatureisoneofmostpreciousgiftbytheGod;itprovidesusallthenaturalresourcessuchasair,water,foodandhabitattomeetourneeds,butwhatdidwehumanshavegivenitbackasasignofgratitude,globalwarming?Lockdownmightnotbelikedbythecivilians,butforspecieslockdownmayindeedbegoodnews,becauselockdownmeanslessno.Ofvehiclesontheroad,reductioninemissionsduetoreduceinindustrialactivity,thisultimatelymeanslesspollution.AdropintheairpollutionwasfirstobservedbyNASAinChina’sHubieprovince,wherethecoronaoutbreakbeganinDecember.NatureissendingusmessagethroughCoronavirusabouttheneedofthehour,andthatistopreserveourmothernature.

Coronahasshowedtheurgencytofillthegapofshortagesintheelementcalled“trainedhumanresourc-es”theyarecomposedofDoctors,nurses,laboratorytechniciansetc.Theyarethefrontlinewarriorinourbattleagainstthedeadlycorona.Dearthofhealthcareworkers/staffcouldhandicapourcountry’shealthcaresystem.TofightagainstthedeadlyCorona,weneedagoodandwelltrainednumbersofourhealthcaretroopstowinoverit.Governmentshouldalsoemphasiseonthesafetyandprotectionofsuchfrontlinewarriors.

Coronohasrestoredourfaithinhumanity,amidcoronavirus,obviouslylifeunderquarantineandiso-lationwithinthefourwallsofthehouseisnoteasy.Butnoteveryoneisjustsittingathomeanddoingnothing,therearefewnumbersofpeoplewhoaredoingsomeamazingworktohelpthoseinneed,onesuchinstancesisthefeedingofstreetdogs,distributionoffoodpacketstohelptheneedyduringthelockdownperiod.Weneedmoreofsuchrealheroes.

AsstatedbyRoberClancy,

“Wehavethecapacitytobeasuperhero.Inordertobecomeone,youjusthavetofindyouruniquepowerorabilityandexploititforthegreatergood.Thecapeandmaskaretheoptionalaccessories,butakindheartisessential”.

AtthistimewhileothercountriesoftheworldarefightingCovid-19,IndiaisfightingagainstAmphan(cyclone),China,Pakistan,Nepal,andcommunalvirusamongitscountrymen,allatonce.WeallhavetouniteleavingourdifferencesasideforthesafetyofourMotherland.

Let us join hands to fight against Corona virus

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Theoutbreakofadeadlyvirushasbroughtthewholeworldintoastandstill.Strictrestrictionshavebeenimplementedonmovementandsocialcontact.Peoplearestrictlyinstructedtowearafacemaskandawarenessforhealthhygieneisspreadingout.Nowpeoplespendingmostoftheirtimeathomereadingbooksandnovels,learningnewculinaryskills,gardeningandmostimportantlyspendingqualitytimewiththeirlovedonesandthefamilywhichmanydidn’thaveforalongtimebecauseoftheirbusyschedules.ThegovernmentofIndiaisemphasizingboththepublicandprivatesectorstoworkfromhomeasitseemsthenationistakingadvantageofbeingthechildofthe21stcenturywhereinternetusageiswidelyprevalent.AtthisnotePrimeMinisterNarendraModi’sDigitalIndiaCampaign2015worksatitsbest,whichhelaunchedtomakeavailablegovernmentservicetocitizenselectronicallybyonlineinfrastructureimprovementandalsoaimsbyenhancinginternetconnectivityandtoempowerthecountrydigitallyinthedomainoftechnology.

TheviruswhichwasoriginatedintheWuhancityofChinaisnamedasNOVELCORONAVIRUSORCOVID-19,tillDecember2019seeminglyconfinedtoChinabutafewweekslaterthevirusbecameaglobalpandemic.Thisviruscausedarespiratoryillnessthatcanbetransmittedfromdropletsofbodilyfluidssuchasmucusandsalivaisterrifyingthewholeworld.However,astheworldtussledwiththeCovid-19pandemictherearestillsomecountriesthatarereportingzerocasesofthediseasecausedbythecoronavirus.Aspertherecordsofdatare-leasedbyJohnsHopkinsUniversitywhichhasbeenassignedtomodelingthespreadofthediseasesaystillsofarthirteensuchcountrieswhichlieinAsia,Africa,andOceaniahavezeroreportsofthediseasenamelyTurkmen-istan,NorthKorea,Palau,Kiribati,MarshallIslands,Micronesia,Nauru,Samoa,SolomonIsland,Tonga,Tuvalu,andVanuatu.Thesearesmallcountriesintermsofareasandhavealesserpopulationthantherestwhichareseverelyaffectedbythevirus.Therefore,socialisolationcouldbeapartofpeople’sliveshere.AsperthereportsoftheWorldTradeOrganization,manyofthesecountriesaretheleastvisitedcountriesintheworld.PerhapsbecauseoftheirphysicallocationasmanyoftheseareOceaniacountriestheycouldmanagetoescapefromthevirus.Anotherreasoncouldbethattheymighthavetakenprecautionarymeasuressuchassealingtheborder,cancelingflightwaybeforeanypositiveCOVID-19case.Ontheotherside,therestoftheworldpopulationarepushingtheirbacktocontainthevirus.ItalytoppedthelistofmostaffectedcountriesbythevirusfollowedbySpain.Tollingliveseachday,tillsofarthefatalitiesnumberraisedmorethan3lakhs,andithasbeenalmostfive-monthsincetheoutbreakofthevirusyetsofarnoultimatevaccinationhasbeendevelopedtocurethediseaseonlyfirstaidandtheprecautionarymeasuresarebeingcarriedouttocontainthespreadofthevirus.

InthecaseofIndia,thenumberofCoronaviruscasescrossedtheonelakhmarkinthecountry,whilethefatalitiestouchmorethanthreethousand,accordingtotheUnionHealthMinistry.However,inArunachalPradeshonlyonepositiveCOVIDcasehasbeendetected in themonthofApril that toobeencuredwithoutspreadingoutfurthertoanyotherindividuals.Insuchweareluckybyescapingfromvirustillsofarandhoping


Noni Nayam(M-Phil, History)

Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, A.P.

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forfuturefortunate.However,thoughwearefreefromthevirusyetweareseverelyaffectedbytheambiancecreatedbythevirus.Firstly,fearofinsecurityforfutureexhaustionoffoodsuppliesoressentialcommoditiesifthevirusisnotcontained.TheoutraginggrowthofCOVIDcasesinAssamisterrifyingthenativesofArunachalPradeshasweshareacloseboundarywiththestateandmostimportantly,wearesomuchdependentuponAssamforgettingouressentialcommoditiestomenialworkers.Dwellersarestrugglingeachdayfortheirdailyneedsastheyareneverpreparedforsuchepidemic.Peoplewerechillinginfastyearsbecausetheygotevery-thingtheywantfromtheotherstatesandhadalmostforgottentodotheirjobofcultivationwhichactuallybeenpartoftheirlivesforsubsistence.MostofthevillagersgaveuptheirThumprenggo(jhumcultivation)andstart-edoptingmenialworksforborderroadorganizationsinmanycornersofthestateoropenedsmallshops.Whenthispandemicevolvedthemostaffectedpopulationarethevillagersbecausetheyneitherhavegoodsintheirshopstosellnorhadmenialworksasthemovementissealedfromeverywhere.Meanwhiletheworstpartisthattheyhaven’tkeptadequatefuturesavings.

Nevertheless,thispandemichasgivenalessontoeveryindividualintheworld.Thereisasaying“Strug-glesarerequiredtosurviveinlifebecause,inordertostandup,youhavetoknowwhatfallingdownislike-”.Amidstthislockdownwehavelearnedhowimportantitistobeself-reliantandself-sufficientsothatwedonothavetodependonothers.Especiallyourstatehasshownupwithverylowproductivityintermsofagriculture,horticulture,fishfarming,poultryandanimalhusbandry.Asaresult,wehavetodependonotherstatestogettheseessentialgoods.Therefore,aneffortshouldbemadeinthesesectors,sothatifinfutureifsuchpandemicoccursagainthenwecansurvivewithourowncapabilitiesandproductionwithpride.Besideseffortshouldn’tbemadeonlyonself-consumptionbutforsupplytoowithcoldstoragefacility.

Anothersector thatneedsspecialcare is thehealthcarecenterand its infrastructure.Sincetheout-breakofvirusesalternativelyinnewspapersadvertisementforthepostofhealthworkersandreportsoflackofequipmentinthehospitalssoughtagreatconcernoverthepeopleofthestate.Thehealthsectoristhemostimportantsectorwherethegovernmentshouldgiveadequateattention.Itshouldbeproperlyequippedwiththenecessary infrastructure.Further, lackofnecessitiesequipmentforsensitivemedicalcasesthatrequiredurgentsurgeryandmedicationandlackofventilatorsinintensivecareunithasforcedmanypatientstotransferfromthestatemedicaltoDibrugarh,Guwahati,andotherstateshadcausedalotofhardshiptothepatientsandthefamilyamidstduringthelockdown.

Anothersignificantsectorthatneedsattentionisthedomesticmanufacturingindustries.Thegovernmentshouldboostandsupportdomesticproduction.Localenterprisesandyouthofthestatemustbeencouragedandmotivatedtowardsentrepreneurshipwithproperguidanceandselectiveessentialmanufacturingindustriesshouldbeencouragedtoopenafactoryinthestatewithapropersurveyofthearea.Thepresentscenarioisheartbreaking,wealmosthavenosingleessentialproducingindustrieshereinthestate.Evenforvegetablesthedwellershavetodependonotherstates.Henceproperstepsmustbetakenwithastrongerfoundationtoensurethatthepeopleofthestatedonothavetodependonotherstatesfornecessitiesatthetimeofcrisis.

Combating ecological imbalance is another important concernthat needsthemere attentionof all ofmankind.Conservationofbiodiversityisverymuchessentials.Whenthereisanimbalanceinnaturedisasterispronetohappen.The2019Amazonrainforestwildfire,whichisthelargestterrestrialcarbon-dioxidesinkand

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playsasignificantroleinmitigatingglobalwarmingwasabigthreattomankind,andnowtheNovelCoronavirus.Atthisphaseofthemodernizationwebarelyrememberhownatureisimportantforus,wejustcouldnotresisttodestroyGod’sgiftforoursurvival.Wetrustman-madetechnologymorethannatureandforgotthatnaturewasasourceofhealingbeforethistechnologyeracameup.HereIdon’tsaydevelopmentisnotnecessarybutitshouldbedonewithpropermeasuresandprecautionsbytakingcareofeveryinhabitantoftheEarth.Onemustrealizethatselfishnessandgreedcausemostofourproblems.Ifwedon’ttakeanylessonfromthispandemicanddonotstitchourmistakesthanwe’llhavetofacemoresuchpandemicinthefuture.

Besidesawarenessofthe importanceof“moneysavings”mustbegiventopeople,what Ipersonallylearnedinthispandemicishowimportantthesavingis.Thoughonemaybeearningverylittleincomeperdaybutitisimportanttosavesomethingfromyourearnings.Evenitisonerupee,eachmustfilltheirpiggypot.Especiallyprivate-sector,farmers,andmenialworkersareworsthitbytheCovid-19economiccrisis.Thoughgovernmentreliefishelpinginmitigatingeconomicstressbuthowfaritwillhelp.DevelopmentoftheEducationsectorandawarenessofhealthandhygieneisanothervitaltaskthegovernmentmusttakecareof.Inmostoftheregionsofthecountrymanyarenegligencetothecontagiousnatureofthevirusduetolackofawareness,eventhoughverylengthyguidelinesareprovidedmostpeopletendtoignoreduetolackofproperunderstandingofthereadandcarelessness.

WhilewrappinguptomyessayanimportantnoteIwanttoputinhereis,nowlet’snotfocusonwhatwehavenotratherfocusonwhatmeasureswecanopttomitigatethesituationandforthefuture.Itisimportantwhatwelearnedoutofthisstruggle.

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“Anticipatingtheendoftheworldishumanity’soldestpastime.”Andthisopportunityhasescalatedeversincetheoutbreakofthefabled“Covid19”.Thevirushasmadeitsacquaintancetoeverysinglesoul,bestowingchaosaroundtheworldbypausingit.Entireglobeisseendisturbedbythehavoc,lookingformeasurestode-structitineverypossibleway,fromlabexperimentstowashinghands.Nowliterallyeverynewschannelandthesocialnetworkingsitesflashtheupdatesofreports,casesanddeathtollsshapingterrorinourlivesandmakingthephrase‘theworldisonthevergeofextinction’moreorlessacliché.Nowonderthatthedarkerpossibilitieshavetrieditsbesttosubdueourhopes,buttheoptimisticsightcanguideusthroughthelightdirectingtowardsafutureasevenifthereisasinglepercentchancetoendtheextremity,theprospectisworthaneffort.Thisessayisadisplayofrepercussionsofthepandemicwithaninsightbytakingthatonepercenttoviewasalessonanddealwithsuchinevitabilitieswheresomehaveguidedmissilesbutmisguidedmen.

When thecasesof coronavirus inceptionwerefirst confirmed inWuhan,China, theepicentreof theoutbreak,mankindwasstillcontinuingwithitslifestyleinotherpartsoftheworld,sometakingpityonthefatal-itieswhilesomesurmisingtheirfoodhabits,preciselyeatingbats.Informationontheviruswasout,themodesitspreads,preventivemeasuresandsymptomswhicharenowrevisedandavailableoninternet,newspaper,TVandeventhereareprovisionsforspeakersonthestreet.Butonlyiftheresponsewasmadeearlierandontime,manylivescould’vebeensaved.Insuchacrisis,expeditiousactionisthebestwaytopreventtheworseuncertaincertainties.Andthisonesurelyexemplifiesthesaid,aswithremorsecomestheenlightenmenttoactaccordinglyonanotherjunctureoflife.YetWHOwasdoingitsparttomaintainalessfearfulenvironmentbynotaddressingitapandemicandkeptpullingitlikeshootingaslingshot.Andbythetimeitwasproclaimedtobeone,asthemeaninggoes,theseveritywashitalmostallaroundtheworld.ItalyknowntobecrowdedwiththesunriseandfanciedforitsbestnightlifenowgivesaglimpseofhauntingabsenceanddesertedstreetsafterthecrisisasbigandabstractasCovid19tookovertheMediterraneancountry.ItseffectsarewitnessedeveninthesuperpowerUSAwithoveramillioncasesandseveralthousanddeaths.Infact,sinceitsemergenceinAsialatelastyear,thevirushasspreadtoeverycontinentexceptAntarctica.Countriesareinblood,sweatandtearsforthecessationofthevirusbytestingandtreatingpatients,quarantiningcitizens,promotingtheideaofsocialdistancingandcompletelockdownperiods;acrosstheworld,shops,theatres,storesandeveneducationalinstitutionsareshut.Asforthestudents,learningcontinueswithonlineplatformswhichdisplaythefuturisticmodeandacceptanceofthepurposeoverthetraditionalone.Thissimplyshowsthattherequiredreshapinghasinclinedfasterwiththepredicament.Andahumanmindcapableofsomuchmore,isexploringtoendurethecurrentoccurrences,trainingtheentirehumanityfortakinguprequisitesteps.

ThepragmaticscrutinyconfinesagainstunderratingCovid19asamerehealthcrisis.Withitsendlesspotentialtoinfectandthreatenone’slife,italsocreatesdevastatingsocial,economicandpoliticalcatastrophe


Kenzar Bagra(MA 1st Year, Deptt. of English)

Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh.

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thatwillleaveitsmark.Sincetheannouncementofthenationwidelockdown,peoplehavequarantinedthem-selvesintheirhomes,fulfillingtheirresponsibilityinthebattleagainstthevirus.Inthiscrucialsituation,whenthewelfareofthefamilyandthecloseonesareofparamountimportance,therearesomelivingawayfromtheirfamilies,notjustthoseinselfisolationbutalsowhoarestuckindifferentcitiesandevencountriesduetoworkorstudies,leavingtheirdearonesanxiousandlamentingovertheunforeseeneventualities.Everydomainhasadifferentpicturetoportray,exceptingthetimidityofthesoundness;whilesomearecomplainingovernotmakingprofitsduetotemporaryshuttingdownofcertainbusinesses,somearemoreconcernedaboutmakingapennytosurviveandfeedthehousehold.Andtheextremelypoorarepullingthroughtheparallelconditions,onlythatithasgotworse.Governmentandseveralvolunteershavecomeupraisingfundsmakingbesteffortsreachingdownbyliftingpeopleup.However,theidealpreviewdoesnotcoincidewithrealityattimes.Medicalfacilitiesarefacingacrisis,economyhasbeenseverelyaffected,businessesareatloses,filmindustryisonalongbreakpresentingaviciouscircleofdepositionleadingtounemploymentandundesirablelifeofwageearnerswiththerevivingofcounterproductiveracistandfalsifiedreligiousdogmas.Entirepopulationisaffectedbythejeopardyandiswiththebestintentionstosteercleartheadversitieswhichtheytakeundeservedandstartnewandfreshifnotlikehowitusedtobe.Anditseemsattainablewithawhole-of-societyapproachtothepandem-icinfluenzapreparednessemphasizingthesignificantrolesplayednotonlybythehealthsectors,policeforceteam,individuals,andcommunitiesmitigatingitseffects.Whiletheyareindulgedinmobilityandresponse,thenationalgovernmentisthenaturalleaderforoverallcoordinationandcommunicationefforts.Developingca-pacitiesforalleviatingtheeffectsofthepandemic,includingrobustcontingencyandbusinesscontinuityplansatthenucleus,preparingtheentirehumanityforawidespreadplightisthespecificationinthemeanwhile.

Themasksonourfacesunmaskthemiserablerealityoftheannihilatedversionoftheplanet.Despiteallthedisparities,fromgeographicallocationtoculture,thispandemicmakesarevelationthatweareonthesameboat,butthistimetheboatissinking.Andit’snotthatthehumanraceisrestingonitslaurels,buttryingtofigureoutasolution.Theintelligentmindsareoccupiedtobringoutvaccinationworkingsleeplessnightsoratleastharderthanever.Abigquestionmarkofsafetyhurlsoverthedoctors,nurses,policemenandeverysinglepersonwhoabidebyprovidingtheirserviceseveninthesetimes.Theapparentimagedoesn’tjustcomewithanuglypicturebutitisalsounacceptableandthecoreisstilldeeper.Awhimsicaldisplayofawarriorbeingbornev-erytimeapersonstepsoutoftheirhome,evenforgroceryshoppingmakesajokeofusspecies,withthemasks,gloveslikeanarmourandthefamilymember’sconcerned“becareful”words.Theironyis,wearingmaskswasneveramandatoryissueevenwithits‘dustproof’qualitiesbutthemindfulnessandcopingnatureofhumanshaveadapteditsincesomethousanddeathtollsduetotheviruswhilemillionsdieduetoroadaccidentsbutthehelmetsandseatbeltshavenotmadeityet.Itisduetotheveryhumannaturetounseetheterriblehappeningsaslongasitisbehindascreen.Onemusthowever,keeplearningfromtheexperiencesespeciallysomethinglikethesewhichcanputtheentirehumankindtoriskandmakeitstagnant.Theapparitionofthisupheavalhasinfluencedtheworldwithimmenseloss,andsuchanuninvitedentitycanberestrainedbyshuttingourdoors,thedoorsbuiltbyourtolerantandjudiciousattributes.

Weexperiencedsimilarfearsinthe1880s,encounteredworldwarsandyetwecontemplateovertheexistenceoftomorrow.Itisanobligationtoformaninfrastructuretotacklewiththevirus,notjustatindividualornationallevelbutglobally.IsolatingandrespondingtowardsanotherCovid19,EbolaorSpanishfluwitha

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newstrainisthenecessityofthepresentaswellasthefuture.Ifsuchanoutbreakcanbehandledontimeandpreventinglossoflivesandproperty,theeffortsmadewillbeaninvestmentforusandthegenerationstocomepreservinglifeonearth.Thereisextensivetrepidationofthecompetencetheperilcanservewhichthemencantakedowntogetherforwherethereisunity,triumphfollows.Andasfornow,let’sberesponsiblecitizensimpartinghumanityanddutytowardsallthelifeformscontributingineverypossibleway,beitfollowingtheinstructionsofstayinghome,washinghandsandsocialdistancing.Itishightimetolearnfromthebygonecrisesthatthehumanscansurvivesuchcalamitiesinunionandexemplifywhileteachingfromthecontemporarythatonemustbeprudentandusethisfar-sightednesstoupholdtheeradicationofanymenacesupportingonean-otherandpromptlyexertingasitmaybetoolatetoactlate.Also,itemphasizestheimportanceofcleanlinessandtakingprecautionswhileoutinpublicasthecreaturesinvisibletothenakedeyescansneakintoourbodyandourliveswithoutbeingnoticed.Nowhavingbeenthewitnessesofsuchadetrimentalepisode,escapingitwouldbenothinglessthanavictorythatwilltouchthelivesofeverybeingwhowatchesit,andalsolearnsfromit.

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MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED BY PEOPLE FOR CLEAN AND HEALTHY LIVING(Junior)

Swati SinghClass XII

Dani Kunia Government Higher Secondary School, Hapoli

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Ahealthylifestyleisawayoflivingthatlowerstheriskofbeingseriouslyillordyingearly.Notalldis-easesarepreventable,buta largeproportionofdeaths,particularly those fromcoronaryheartdiseaseandlungcancer,canbeavoided.Healthisnotonlyjustaboutavoidingdisease.Itsalsoaboutphysical,mentalandsocialwellbeing.Ahealthylifestyleisn’t justdietandexercise.TheWHOdefinedhealthas‘Acompletestateofmental,physicalandsocialwell-beingnotmerely theabsenceofdisease’.Wikipediadefinesa lifestyleasthewayaperson lives. This includespatternsof social relations, consumption, entertainment, anddress.Ahealthylifestyleisgenerallycharacterizedasa“balancedlife”inwhichonemakes“wisechoices”.HealthyLiv-ingisabouttakingresponsibilityforyourdecisionsandmakingsmarthealthchoicesfortodayandforthefu-ture.Sohealthy livingwouldconsistofgoodphysical,mental,socialandemotionalwellbeingoftheperson. ThereforekeepingthatinmindWeshouldadoptmentionedhabits:

Eathealthy:Therightnutritionisnecessarytoliveahealthylifestyle.Ourbodyrequiresawellbalanceddieteverydayinordertomaintaintheadequateamountsofvitamins,nutrientsandmineralsneededtomaintainahealthybody. Physicalexercise:Wewillneedtoincludefitnessaspartofourlife.Physicalfitnesskeepsourweightincheck,helpsus sleepbetteratnight,preventsheart attacksand strokesandotherhealthproblems, andgenerallyprolongsourlife.Basicallytherearesomanybenefitsofexercisingthatwereallycan’tliveafulllifewithoutit. Propersleeppattern:Agoodnight’ssleep is incredibly important foryourhealth. In fact, it’s justas import-ant as eatinghealthy andexercising. Poor sleep is strongly linked toweight gain.Good sleep canmaximizeproblem-solvingskillsandenhancememory.Poorsleephasbeenshownto impairbrainfunction.Gettingatleast8hoursof sleepcan improveyour immune functionandhelpfight thecommoncold.Goodsleepcanmaximizeproblem-solving skillsandenhancememory.Poor sleephasbeenshown to impairbrain function. Manage stress: Emotional stress plays an important role in many illnesses, both directly and indi-rectly. People are also more likely to smoke, overeat, drink too much, work too hard, argue with oth-ers and so on, when they are feeling stressed. Thus, stress management is an important part of ournew lifestyle, and meditation and relaxation techniques are truly a key part of living a healthy lifestyle. Emotional well being: Loving yourself is a key to a healthy, happy lifestyle. Self-esteem is all abouthow much people value themselves; the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhilethey feel. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect how you act. Personalhygiene:Personalhygieneishowyoucareforyourbody.Thispracticeincludesbathing,washingyourhands,brushingyourteeth,andmore.Everyday,youcomeintocontactwithmillionsofoutsidegermsandvirus-es.Theycanlingeronyourbody,andinsomecases,theymaymakeyousick.Trimyournailsregularlytokeepthemshortandclean.Washyourhandsafteryouusetherestroom.Scrubwithsoapfor20to30seconds,andbesuretocleanbetweenyourfingers,onthebackofyourhands,andunderyournails.Brushatleasttwiceadayfor2min-utes.Germsonyourhandscaneasilyenteryourbodythroughyourmouth,nose,eyes,orears.Washyourhandswhenyouhandlefood,beforeyoueat,ifyouhandlegarbage,whenyousneezeandanytimeyoutouchananimal.


Mumne MeguClass XII

VKV Itanagar, A.P.

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Say no to addiction: Addiction is a psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a chemical, drug,activity, or substance. Prevention must begin during childhood and extend into later adolescence. Mes-sages that parents, doctors, teachers, themedia and others in the community send to children and teensabout the dangers of tobacco/nicotine, alcohol and other drug abuse can be extremely influential in help-ing to prevent addiction and reduce substance abuse. Resist social pressures to engage in substance use,Strenghten self-esteem, Improve decision-making and communication skills, Manage stress and anxiety. Social health: Social health can be defined as our ability to interact and form meaningful relationshipswith others. It also relates to how comfortablywe can adapt in social situations.Our social health and so-cial wellness are a vital part of our overall health andwellbeing. The quality and quantity of our relation-ships affect our mental and physical wellbeing. We can develop and maintain social connections in manyways. Involvements in church, volunteer activities, social clubs, continuing education, andother communityserviceallhelpusconnectwithothers.Bemorethoughtfulaboutthepeoplearoundyouandbemorekind. Careforyourmentalhealth:Goodmentalhealthhelpsyouenjoylifeandcopewithproblems.Itoffersafeelingofwell-beingandinnerstrength.Developandkeepstrongrelationshipswithpeoplewhowillsupportyou.Maketimeeverydaytoenjoysomethingyoureallyliketodo.Volunteerforacauseoranissueyoucareabout.Helpoutaco-work-er,neighbor,orfriend.Findwaystocontribute,itcanhelpyoufeelgoodaboutyourselfandwhoyouareintheworld. Clean environment: A Clean Environment Is Essential for Healthy Living. The more you don’tcare about our environment, the more it will become polluted with contaminants and tox-ins that have a harmful impact on our health. Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases and can-cer, among other problems and diseases. Water pollution can lead to typhoid, diarrheal disease etc. We know what works to clean our surrounding and environment. It’s time to shift our focus onswearing by the mantra, the three Rs, i.e, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. A key part of waste “reduction”is “conservation”—using natural resources wisely, and using less than usual in order avoid waste.

Withdramaticallyrisingratesofoverweightandobesity,“healthyliving”needstobecomeawayoflifeformorepeople.Makinghealthyfoodchoices,stayingphysicallyactiveandmaintainingahealthyweightareessentialtogoodhealth.Ifyouwanttoachieveahealthylifestyleyoumusttakestepstoensureyoumaintainacertainlevelofbalance…spiritually,physically,emotionally,socially,mentallyandfinancially.Youneedtobal-anceworkandfamily,andalltheotherareasofyourlifewithoutspreadingyourselftoothinandhavingaguilttripwhenyoudoonething,butthinkyoushouldbedoinganother.Allofthekeyareasofourlivesoverlapandinterlink,effectingeachother.Unlesswecreateforourselvessatisfactionineachandeverypartofourlife,wecannevertrulybefulfilled,orliveacontented,happyandhealthylife.Whenahealthylifestyleisadopted,amorepositiverolemodelisprovidedtootherpeopleinthefamily,particularlychildren.

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Maga NunuClass XII

Govt. Hr. Sec. School , Polo Colony, Naharlagun (AP).

Godhas givenhumancommunityeverypossible situation. Everydaywe comeacrosshardshipsandprosperitysimultaneously.Hardshipmakesusstrongforbetterfutureandprosperityfurtherencouragesustoliveourlifehappily.Whetherpoororricheveryoneisinundatedwithplentyofobstacles.Oneofthemostfatalobstaclewhichcan’tbeignoredispoorhealthorsufferingfromdiseases.Todaymostofthediseasesaretheresultofuncleanlivingstyle.Therearenumerousdiseasesduetouncleanandbadhealth,suchasmalaria,den-gueandCovid-19etc.WeHumansaresmartenoughtocontrolthisspreading.Themostbasicthingwecandoisstaycleanandhealthy.Thesearethemastersolutionforalmosteverydisease.Cleanlinessisnexttogodliness.Thisisaproverbwhichweallhaveheardsinceourchildhood.Todaywestayinasocietywherecleanlinesshasnotjustbecomeanecessitybutismandatory.Tostaycleanonedoesn’tneedwealth.It’sachoicesoeventhepoorestcanaffordtostaycleanandhygienic.Stayingcleanautomaticallymakesyourlifehealthy. Cleanlinessisanaturalmedicine.Manypathogensanddiseasesariseduetodirtysurrounding.Mostofthevectorsandpathogensareborneinuncleansurfaces.Thereisasayingthatthebestwaytotreatadiseaseistotreatfromthebase.Cleanandhealthylivingisthebasiccuresoit’salwaysbettertostaycleanandhealthy.Onceyouare infectedthenyoucaninfectotherstoohencestayingcleanandhealthy isactuallycaringyourlovedones.Ifnotforyourselfatleastforyourloveonesstaycleanandhealthy.Severalmeasurescanbetakenforcleanandhealthyliving:

1. Clean yourself physically. Thefirstandtheforemostmeasureistocleanyourselfphysically.Physicalcleanlinesswillcleanthebodyandthiswillfurtherkeepyouawayfromdailyattackfrompathogens.Oureldersusetotellthatifyoucleanyourstomachthennodiseasescanharmyouandscientificallyitstruetoohencealwayscleanyourstomachbydrinkingplentyofwaterthiswillfurtherenhanceyourimmunity.

2. Clean yourself mentally. Todayinoursocietypeoplearemuchmoredepressedandsad.Thisfurtherimpactsusphysically.Infactmentaldisturbanceismuchmorefatalthanphysicaldisturbancesbecausewehavecureforalmosteveryphys-icalailmentsbutmentalhealthcanbecuredonlybyselfrealisation.Sotostayhealthyitismandatorytocleannegativethoughtsandkeepyourselffitmentally.Evendoctorsbelievethatifwearementallynotpreparedtofightthediseasesthenevenmedicinesareuseless.Behappyandsmilethesearetheeasiestandmosteffectivewaytostayhealthymentallyandphysically.

3. Clean your surroundings. Dirtysurroundingbornepathogensandvectors.TodayoursocietyisfacingsomecommonfataldiseaseslikeDengueandMalaria.Thesearesolelybecauseofuncleansurrounding(Mosquitoesbreedindirtyandstag-nantwater).TodayweareexperiencingtheterrorofCovid-19cases.Stillwedon’thavevaccinesandmedicineforthis.Butwecanstillcontrolthisbycleaningoursurroundings.Asitisaviraldiseasewecansanitizeoursurroundingtocontrolitsinfection.

4. Maintain hygiene (personal hygiene). Covid-19pandemichasthoughtuswhycleanliness ismandatory, ifyoustaydirtyyouyourselfare in

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dangerandyournearonesarealsovulnerable.Soshowyourloveandcaretoyourloveonesbykeepingyourmannershygienic.Ifeveryoneisconcernabouttheirownpersonalhygienethennoonewillbethecarrierofthepathogensandcertainlybythiswecanwineverydisease.

5. Proper Diet. Havingaproperdietkeepsapersonphysicallyfitandhealthy.Itbooststheimmunity.Sonaturallyyourbodycanfighttheailments.Recentcaseofcovid-19suggestthatthepeoplewithgoodimmunityareasymp-tomaticandlesslikelytosuffer.HaveimmunityboosterslikeChyawanprash,horlicksetc.Givespecialcaretochildrenandeldersinyourhomeastheyaremorepronetodiseases.

6. Serve people in this pandemic. Inthispandemicpooraresufferingthemost.Theyaredisturbedbothmentallyandphysically.Theyarenotgettingproperdiet.Sopleasesupportthemmentallybylovingthemandphysicallybyprovidingthemwithdailyessentials.Thiswillfurtherkeepthemhealthyandsafe.Slumsaremostpronetocovidcases.Providingthemwithessentialswillsupportthemtobeathomeandstaysafe.WearefortunatethatGodhasgivenusthefortunetoservethepoorsolet’snotfailthistimeandshowourhumanity.

7. Exercise and Yoga. Exercisewillenhanceyourphysicalhealth.YogameanstheunionofBodyandsoul.Thisfacilitateswell-beingofoverallbodymentallyandphysically.Bothofthesewillenhanceyourimmunityandwillcleanyourbodyinternally.Thesecanbeperformedbyeveryindividualwhetherpoororrich,hencestayinghealthyiseveryone’scupoftea. Conclusion. Preventionisbetterthancure.Adoptingcleanandhealthylivingwillpreventalmosteveryailment,soit’salwaysbettertostaycleanandhealthy.Godhascreatedussobeautifulsoit’sfurtherourdutytonourishourselfbystayingcleanandhealthy.Todaytheworldisdevastatedduetopandemic.Nomedicinesandvaccinesareavailablesofar.Wholeworldisunitedtofightagainstitbutstilllaggingbehind.Thenumberofcovidcasesisincreasingdaily.IndianGovtistryingeverypossibleaspecttocontroltheinfectionbutstillfarbehind.Weasanindividualshouldunderstandthatgovtishelplessnow.Nowsolelyit’sourdutytohandlethis.Weshouldtaketheresponsibilitytostayhygienicandhealthy.Ifeveryoneofusdoesitcertainlywearegoingtowinthis.Thispandemichasgivenusagreatlessontoadoptcleanandhealthyliving.Ifwedon’tlearnthelessonnowthenitwillbetoolate.Let’sfightthispandemicthroughthis7Srule.

Stayclean,stayhealthy,stayhome,staysafe,stayhappy,spreadloveandsmile.

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Abhijit PaulClass- X

VKV, Roing, A.P.

Introduction: Acleanandhealthylifestyleisimportantforeveryone.“Healthyliving”meansphysical,socialandmentalhealthareinbalanceandfunctioningwelltogetherinaperson“Cleanliving”isusedtodescribesomeonewholivesinahealthyandmorallyacceptableway.Forexample,bynottakinganydrugs.Whenwelookafterourphysicalhealth,wefeelbetter,fitter,morerelaxedandbetterabletocopewiththings.Thisisespeciallyimport-antwhensomeonehaveamentalillness.Inmanyinstances,physicalandmentalhealthsarecloselylinked,sothatachange(goodorbad)inonedirectlyaffectstheother.Allhumanshavetoeatfoodforgrowthandmain-tenanceofahealthybody,butwehumanshavedifferentnutritionrequirementsasinfants,children,teenagers,adults,etc.Forexample,infantsmayrequirefeedingeveryfourhoursuntiltheygraduallyageandbegintotakeinmoresolidfoods.Eventuallytheydevelopintothenormalpatternofeatingthreetimesperday.However,kids,teenagersandyoungadultsoftensnackbetweenmeals.Cleanandhealthy living isvery importantandshouldbeapartofourlifestyle.Itcanhelppreventchronicdiseasesandlong-termillnesses.Betterhealthiscentraltohumanhappinessandwell-being.Italsomakesanimportantcontributiontoeconomicprogress,ashealthypopulationslivelonger,aremoreproductiveandsavemore.

Advantages of clean and healthy living: Ahealthylifestylehasbothshortandlongtermhealthbenefits.

Long term benefits:Eatingabalanceddiet,takingregularexercisesandmaintainingahealthyweightcanaddyearstoourlifeandreducetheriskofcertaindiseasesincludingcancer,diabetes,cardiovasculardiseases,oste-oporosisandobesity.

Short term benefits:Intheshortterm,itcanalsomakeusfeelandlookourbest,giveusmoreenergyandhelptomaintainahealthyweight.

Healthyhabitsarehardtodevelopandoftenrequirechangingourmindset.Butifwemakesacrificestomakeourhealthbetter,theimpactscanbefar-reaching,regardlessofourage,genderorphysicalability.

*Controls Weight: Eating rightandexercising regularly canhelpusavoidexcessweightgainandmaintainahealthyweight.Evenifwe’renottryingtoloseweight,regularexercisecanimprovecardiovascularhealth,boostourimmunesystemandincreaseourenergylevel.

*Combating diseases:Healthyhabitshelppreventhealthconditions,suchasheartdiseases,strokeandhighbloodpressure.Itkeepsourcholesterolandbloodpressurewithinasaferange,decreasingtheriskofcardio-vasculardiseases.Italsoreducestheriskofawiderangeofdiseasesincludingdiabetes,depression,metabolicsyndrome,cancers,arthritis,etc.

*Boosts energy: Italsoimprovesmusclestrengthandboostsendurance,givingusmoreenergy.Exercisehelpsdeliveroxygenandnutrientstoourtissuesandgetsthecardiovascularsystemworkingmoreefficiently.

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How to have a clean and healthy life?

Healthy eating:*Weshouldeatthreehealthymealsaday(breakfast,lunchanddinner);itisimportanttorememberthatdin-nerdoesnothavetobethelargestmeal.

*Ourfoodshouldconsistofhealthyitems,suchasfruits,vegetables,wholegrainsandfat-freeorlow-fatprod-ucts.

*Meats,poultry,fish,beans,eggsandnutsshouldbeincorporatedintoahealthydiet.

*Weshouldavoideatingalargemealbeforesleepingtodecreasegastro-esophagealrefluxandweightgain. Physicalactivityandexercise:*Regularexercisecanpreventandreverseage-relateddecreasesinmusclemassandstrength,improvebal-ance,flexibilityandendurance.

*Itcanhelpincreaseself-esteemandself-confidence,decreasestressandanxietyandenhancemood.

*Itcanhelppreventcoronaryheartdisease,stroke,diabetes,obesityandhighbloodpressure.

*Startslowlyandprogressgraduallytoavoidinjuryorexcessivesorenessorfatigue. Avoid alcohol/tobacco use: *TobaccouseisthemostimportantpreventableillnessandcauseofdeathintheU.S.,accordingtotheNation-alCancerInstitute(NCI).

*Weshouldstopusingtobaccotoavoidcancers.Quittingtobaccoisdifficultsinceitcontainsnicotine,whichisaddictive.Formost,quittingsmokingrequiresaseriouslifelongcommitment.Quittingsmokingeffortsmayincludebehaviormodifications,counselinganduseofnicotinechewinggumororalmedications.

*Weshouldavoidalcoholconsumption.

What will happen if we do not live in a healthy environment? Whenwedon’tgiveourbodythepropernutrients,it’sunabletofunctionatitsbest.Anunhealthylifestylenotonlydeprivesusofthenutrientsrequiredforenergyandvitality,italsointroducesunhealthysub-stancessuchastransfat,aswellashighlevelsofsaturatedfatandsugar.

*Increase in Obesity:Anunhealthydietisamajorriskfactorforbecomingoverweightorobese.Unhealthydietsareoftenenergy-dense,whichmeanstheyaremuchhigherincaloriesthannutrient-densedietsthatincludefruits,vegetablesandotherfiber-richfoods.Whenweconsumemorecaloriesthanweburn,theextracaloriesarestoredasbodyfat.Obesityisamajorriskfactorformanychronicdiseases,includingcancer,car-diovasculardiseases,hypertensionanddiabetes. *Higher risk of chronic diseases:Dietshighinunhealthysubstancessignificantlyincreasetheriskformanychronicdiseases.Transfat,forexample,canincreasebadcholesterolwhilesimultaneouslydecreasinggoodcholesterol.Thisartery-cloggingeffectisstronglylinkedtoheartdiseases. Mental health decline:Anunhealthylifestylealsonegativelyaffectsmentalhealth.Lackofphysicalactivity,smoking,unhealthydietandlackofsleepincreasestheriskofchronicmentaldisorders.

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Conclusion: Acleanandhealthylifeisveryimportantinourlifeaswellasforthenation.Ithelpsinpreventingmanydiseases,maintainsourbodyweightandprovidesessentialnutrientstoourbody.Italsoimpactsourlifeinapositiveway.Whenweliveinahealthylifestyle,wefeelbetterandbetterabletocopeupwiththings,becauseitenhancesourmoodandkeepsourbodyactive.SoIwouldliketoendmyessaywiththequote,“Healthisastateofcompleteharmonyofthebody,mindandspirit.”

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Bomdi Carolyn TayengD.E.M. Govt. Higher Secondary School, Pasighat

Introduction: Cleanlinessisahabitofmaintainingourbody,homeandsurroundingneatandclean.Thereisafamousproverbsaying‘cleanlinessisnexttogodliness’.Cleanlinessreflectstheinnerbeautyofaperson.Itisveryessen-tialthatisrequiredtoliveahealthylife. Maintainingpersonalcleanlinesshelpsustostayrefresh.Ithelpsusfromharmfulbacteriaandviruses.Ithelpsustostayfitandhealthylife.Cleanlinesshelpsinbuildinggoodcharacterbykeepingbody,mindandsoulcleanandpeaceful.Weshouldstaycleaneverydaybydrinkingcleanwater,wearingcleanclothesandmaintaincleanofourhomesandsurrounding.

Cleanlinessshouldbepracticefromearlyage.Teachersandparentsshouldencouragetheirchildrentopracticecleanliness fromearlyage.Childrenshouldpracticegoodhabits likebrushingteethandtakingbathdaily.Childrenshouldwashtheirhandsbeforeeatingfood,cuttingnailsetc.fromearlyage.Civicsensesshouldimpartbothatthehomeandschool.

Asweallknowthatcharitybeginsathome.Parentsshouldguideandteachtheirchildrentotakepartinhouseholdactivitieslikewashingclothsandutensils,cooking,wateringthegardenetc.sothatwhentheygrowuptheywouldnotdependonother.Parentingdecidesachildlife.

Cleanlinessaddscharmtolife.Eventhegreatestloverofchildrenismorelikelytopickupacomparativelycleanchildtohugitwithloveandaffection.Itistruethatamotherlovesherchildinwhateverformandshapeitmightbe.Butanoutsiderobserverisnotthatblindedwithlovelikeamotherandhasreservationandchoice.OurIndiaPrimeMinisterNarendraModihasstartedacampaignoncleanlinesscalled‘SwachhBharatAbhiyan’in2014.Weshouldunderstandthatmaintainingcleanlinessisnotonlytheworkofthegovernmentbutalsotheresponsibilitiesofeverycitizensofthecountry.

Wemustparticipatein‘SwachhBharatAbhiyan’toensureourhomes,offices,schools,colleges,gardens,surroundingetc.neatandclean.

Method to adopt cleanliness

Tokeepoursurroundingcleanwemustadoptthefollowingmethods:

1.Installationofdustbinathomeaswellasinmarketsareas,busandrailwaysstation,airportparks,crowdedareas,roadsideetc.inordertokeepcleanlinesstosurrounding.

2.Sweepingthesurfaceofthehome,roads/streets,foothpathatmarketsareas,etc.

3.Giveawarenessatthecommunitylevelonwaterstagnationthatcausescontagious/communicablediseaseslikemalaria,dengue,typhoidetc.

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4.Installationsofpropergarbagepitathome,crowdedareas,marketplacesetc.

5.Makeahabitsandhobbyofdoingcleanliness.

6.Reminderofcivicsensesand fundamentaldutiesathome, institution,officespremises,publicplacesetc.whichisamoralobligationsofeverycitizensofIndia.

METHODS TO ADOPT HEALTHY LIVINGTostayhealthywemustadoptthefollowingmethods

1)AwarenessonpropersanitationsThesanitaryshouldbecleanproperlysothatbacteriacan’tbreed.Knowl-edgeshouldbegiventothepeopleregardingsanitationespeciallythepeoplethosewholiveinruralareas.

2)KeepcleanvegetablesAllthechildrenshouldbegivenproperknowledgethatbeforeeatingfoodoranyothereatablesthingstheyshouldwashtheirhandsbecausewecannotseethebacteriawithournakedeyes.

3)KeepcleanenvironmentWeshouldkeepoursurroundingneatandclean.Weshouldavoiddeforestationrath-erencourageplantationsbyeachpersoninayear.

4)ControlpollutionInordertodecreasetherateofpollutionwemustfollowsomemethods a)UseCNGinsteadofpetrolordiesel. b)WhyCNGispreferredmorethanpetrolordiesel?CNGispreferredmorethanpetrolordieselbecause itischeapanditisobtainedintheformofgas. c)UseofBio-fuel.5)Habitsofregularexerciseslikewalking&joggingetc.

6)Habitsofsleepingatleast7to8hoursaday.

7)Maintainofpropernutritionsoftakingmineralsandvitaminsdietsproductslikeorganicfruits&leafyvegetables.

8)Avoidoftakingfastfoodsandpacketsfoods.

STAY HOME STAY SAFE AND LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE Asweallknowthat,adreadeddiseasename‘’CoronaVirus’’[Covid-19]isspreadinglikeawildfireallovertheworld,ItwasfirstdetectedinWuhancityofChina.Vitalmeasuresandprecautionsmustbefollowedbythepeopleinordertostaysafewhicharegivenbelow:

1)Washingourhandsatleast5-6timesadayfor20secondswhilecomingfromoutsidelikeMarkets,crowdedpublicplaces,etc.

2)Avoidtouchingournose,mouthoranypartsofourbody.

3)Maintainsocialdistancingatleastfor2meters.

4)Wearingmaskinordertostaysafe.

5)Ifanyonefeelssymptomslikeheadache,nausea,diarrhoeaandcough,heorsheshouldimmediatelyrefertoadoctor.

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CONCLUSION “Nothinginspirescleanlinessthananunexpectedguest’’.Itisintheuncleanmilieu,ambienceandatmo-spherethatallthediseasecausingbacteriamosquitoesandfliesflourish.Hence,wemusttakeallthepainstokeepourbody,clothes,housesandsurroundingsneatandclean.

It’soktolookcool.Theeldersshouldactasrolemodelsforchildren..Theyshouldthemselvesobserveallthenecessaryrulesconcerningcleanliness.

SwachhBharatAbhiyanwhichisintroducedinthecountryisaremarkablestepofslogansoncleanlinessandhealthylife.Ifallstepsaretakenatlocal,stateandnationallevelstoobservecleanlinessinletterandspirit,ourcountrycanbechangedintoaheaven.Let’skeepourheartpure,ourconsciencesfreefromevil,andourbodieswashedwithcleanwater.

Allofusshouldunderstandtheimportanceandimplementationofcleanlinessinourdailylifebecause‘’Cleanlinessisastateof,purity,clarityandprecision’’.

Covid-19isadeadlydiseasesandagreatchallengingforthepeoplesofthepresentworldbutwecandefeatthisdiseasebystrictlyfollowingtheguidelinesofdo’sanddonot.

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John Ongwang WangjenClass X

V.K.V. Jairampur, A.P.

Cleanlinessmeansthatthereisnodirt,nodust,nostains,andnobadsmells.Thegoalsofcleanlinessarehealth,beautyabsenceofoffensiveadourandtoavoidthespreadingofdirtandcontaminantstooneselfandothers.

Withthehelpofcleanliness,wecankeepourphysicalandmentalhealthclean,whichwillfeelusgood.Cleanliness gives rise to a good characterby keepingbody,mind, and soul clean andpeaceful.Maintainingcleanlinessistheessentialpartofhealthylivingbecauseitisthecleanlinessonlywhichhelpstoimproveourpersonalitybykeepingcleanexternallyandinternally.

The habitswhich are learned or followed at a young age get embedded into one’s personality.Oneshouldstarttofollowcertainhabits likewashinghandsbeforemeals,regularbrushingofteeth,andbathingfromtheyoungage.Itisessentialtofollowcertaingoodpracticeslikekeepingoursurroundingsclean,avoidinglitteringinpublicplaces,refrainingfromspittingontheroad,andmanymoregoodhabits.

Itiseverybody’sresponsibilityandoneshouldkeepthemselvesandtheirsurroundingscleanandhygien-ic.Italsobringsgoodandpositivethoughtsinthemindwhichslowsdowntheoccurrenceofdiseases.

IMPORTANCEOFCLEANLINESS:

SanitationandNeatnessplayanimportantroleinourdaytodayroutine.ItisimportantasitpreventsdangerousdiseaseslikeDengue,typhoid,hepatitis,andotherdiseasescausedbymosquitobiteetc.

DiseaseslikeJaundice,Cholera,Ascariasis,Leptospirosis,Ringworm,Scabies,Trachoma,etccanbespreadduetoeatingcontaminatedfood,drinkingcontaminatedwaterorlivinginanunhygieniccondition.Trashalsospreadbadodourwhichisdifficulttotolerate.Therewillalsobeanaccumulationoftrashanddirtifcleanmeasuresarenottaken.

TIPSTOMAINTAINCLEANLINESS:-Someofthecleanhabitsthatweshouldfollowarelistedbelow:-

1.Oneshouldalwayswashtheirhandsbeforeeatingandaftereating.

2.Washhandproperlyafterusingtoilet.

3.Oneshouldalwayswashhandbeforecooking.

4.Rinsevegetablesproperlybeforecuttingorcooking.

5.Weshouldbrushourteethatleasttwice.

6.Takingabatheverydayismandatory.

7.Washinghandsafterplayingisalsoveryessential.

8.Coveringyournosewhilesneezingorcoveringyourmouthwhileyawningisalsonecessary.

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9.Ifsomeonehaspetsandrodentsintheirhouse,theymustgetridofthemassoonaspossible.

10.Onemustalwayscovertheirfood.

SOME ESSENTIAL POINTS TO BE FOLLOWED BY AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON:

1)EatHealthy

2)Drinkalotofwater

3)IncludeExerciseinyourdailyroutine

4)Goodsleep

5)Stressmanagement

6)Maintainaproperhygiene

7)Avoidunhealthyhabits

8)Trainyourmindandbody.

(1) Eat Healthy

Eatinghealthydoesnotthatyouavoidcertainfoodandeatothers.Itrathermeanshavingagoodproportionofallthevitamins,nutrientsandmineralsinyourdiet.Thisisreferredasabalanceddiet.Yourbodyneedbalanceddieteverydaytoliveahealthylife.

(2) Drink a lot of water

Waterhelpsinbringingcalories;italsohelpsinmaintainingaproperbalanceoffluidsinthebody.Italsoflushesoutthetoxinsfromthebody.Onemustatleastdrink2-3litresofwaterinaday.

(3) Exercise in your everyday routine

Fitnessshouldbeapartofourlifeasitnotonlykeepsourweightincheckbutalsopreventsalotofdiseases(strokes/attack),keepbloodpressureincontrolmore.

(4) Good sleep

Apropersleepplaysanimportantroleinourhealthylifestyle.Ourbodyneedsgoodsleeptorepairandhealitself.Onemustsetapropersleepschedulewhichmuchsetapropersleepschedulewhichmustbe6-8hoursperdayinaadults.

(5) Stress management

Stress isthecauseofmanydiseases; ithampersourhealthbothdirectlyand indirectly.Theoutcomeoftoomuchstressisdrinkingtoomuch,smokingandovereating.Afewwaysthroughwhichyoucanmanagethestressandbringtheanxietylevelsdownaremeditation,involvingourselfinexercisessuchasYogaandNirvanathathelpincalmingyourminddown,practicingdeepbreathingatregularintervalsinaday.

(6) Maintain a proper Hygiene

Inourentirelifetime,wecomeinclosecontactwithalotlovingorganismsthatshareacommonlivingenviron-ment.Someoftheseorganismsarecausedvariousinfections.So,makesuretowashyourhandbeforeandaftereating,keepyourbodytidy,maintainagoodoralhygieneandcookthefoodinacleanplace.

(7) Avoid Unhealthy Habits

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Someoftheunhealthyhabitsthatyoushouldavoidtoleadahealthylifearedrinkingtoomuchalcohol,smoking,lackofexercise,notvisitingtoyourDoctoronaregularbasisforcheckups,eatingunhealthyfoods,nottakingtheprescribedmedicines,havingunsafesex,Skippingmeals.

(8) Train your Mind and Body

Aligningourmindandbodyisveryimportantandtodothatyoumusthaveavisionandagoalthatinspiresandexcitesyou.Don’tlosefocusandkeepsworkingtowardsit,youshouldhaveafullcontrolonyourthoughtsandmakesurethesethoughtsarepositiveandhelpyouinachievingyourgoal.

CONCLUSION:-

CleanlinessisnexttoGodliness.Everythingsurroundingthelifeofanindividualisviableforcleanlinessinordertomaintainfunctionalityanddevelopment.Infact,forthisverypurpose,thegovernmentifIndiahasinitiatedtheSwatchBharatAbhiyansoastoeducateandinculcategoodhabitsamongthecitizensofthecountrywithregardstocleanliness.

Cleanlinessaddsmorevaluetopersonalandsociallife.Sincegoodhabitsarecontagious.Physicalclean-linessisbeneficialwithregardtohumaninteractionandwiththeenvironmentintermsofhealth,safetyandlifespan,Cleanlinessbeingarolemodel.

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CORONA PANDEMIC: A LESSON FOR PREPAREDNESS IN FUTURE · major health crises. As late as November last year a leading paper pointed out the issue. The warnings fell on deaf ears of