IMPRI Team

To discuss the ways to tackle the spread of the second wave of pandemic in rural areas, 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 | Karnataka Practitioners’ Experiences in Tackling the Second Wave” on May 21, 2021.

The esteemed panelists were Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta, Executive Director, Grassroots Research And Advocacy Movement (GRAAM), Mysore. Dr. Priya ShanmugamFaculty, Department of Economics, Mount Carmel College Autonomous, Bengaluru. Mr. Leo SaldanhaFounding Trustee and Coordinator, Environment Support Group, Bengaluru.

Mr. Nitesh Kumar JangirCo-Founder, Coeo Labs Pvt. Ltd. (An InnAccel Division), Bengaluru. Dr. Purnima MadhivananAssociate Professor, Public Health, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College, The University of Arizona. Dr. Nazrul HaqueAssistant Professor, Azim Premji University, BengaluruDr. M R SeetharamConsultant Orthopedic surgeon, Vivekananda Memorial Hospital; Core Member, SVYM and Dr. Jyotsna Jha, Director, Centre for Budget and Policy Studies (CBPS), Bengaluru as the discussant.

The moderator of the session was Prof Krishna Raj, Professor, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore.

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Strengthen Public Health Care in Pandemic

Dr. Jyotsna Jha underlined following three differences in the second wave:

  1. High infection rate
  2. Prevalent in Rural areas
  3. Younger age group getting infected

According to her, definitely it is a behavioral and cultural issue. Lack of health preparedness has led to this rapid upsurge in cases.

jha

There are critical gaps which needs our attention. Good communication is needed for reaching to the public effectively. Problems are deeper than they seem. We have poor accountability mechanisms. We can’t be apolitical now. Weak public health system is the result of corporatization. Technology is a divider. Definitely it is a federal issue. Long term horizon of decision making is needed. Strengthening public health care is the solution. We have to be better prepared. We have to hold the leadership accountable.

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  • IMPRI

    IMPRI, a startup research think tank, is a platform for pro-active, independent, non-partisan and policy-based research. It contributes to debates and deliberations for action-based solutions to a host of strategic issues. IMPRI is committed to democracy, mobilization and community building.