IMPRI Team
To discuss the ways to tackle the spread of the second wave of the pandemic in rural areas, and stressed Medical Facilities the Centre for Habitat, Urban and Regional Studies (CHURS) and Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), New Delhi organized a Panel Discussion on Rural Realities| Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand | Practitioner’s Experience in Tackling the Second Wave in Indian Villages on May 17, 2021.
The esteemed panelists were Dr PC Negi, Professor and head, Department of Cardiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh; Renu Thakur, Secretary, Association of Rural planning and action, Askote, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand; Shankar Datt, Founder member and Treasurer, Shramyog, Dehradun, Uttarakhand; Dr Anil Jaggi, Founder, Venture, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Dr OP Bhuraita, Chairman, State resource centre, Himachal; Prof Sas Biswas, Professor and head, Department of Forestry, Dolphin Post graduate Institute of Biomedical and natural sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand; Dr Jitender Kumar Mokta, Professor of Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical college and hospital, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
Focused Attention on Policy Research
Prof Sas Biswas enlightened the conversation by pointing to how crucial Policy research is. According to Prof Sas, Socio-economic survey in villages should be conducted because data collection is important. More attention needs to be on micro-level policies. Migrants, weddings and funerals are the major causes of the spread of this deadly virus. We have to develop a road map.
According to Prof Sas, ghost villages are now deserted; they can be converted into COVID centers. Public awareness and education is needed. The surveillance system has to be strong. We can learn from the best practices and from our traditional systems. What should be the post-COVID world and what are the sustainable mechanisms is a question that needs deeper attention and more discussions. Prof Biswas concluded by highlighting that we need to understand weaknesses and opportunities at every stage.
