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.
He contextualized the session by giving a brief socio-historic background of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand by stating that both these states are predominantly rural. Historically, there has been focus on health sector in both of these states. State was the largest investor in 90s as a result there are not many private hospitals in Himachal. Also there is a deep connect among the people in both of these states culturally.
According to Mr. Tikender, there is software of people who are more hearted and connected to each other in hilly sates. Old customs and cultures bind people together. There is an ongoing debate b/w “Science vs old customs” and doctors are seen as an avatar of god in India. According to Mr Tikender, Negotiation skills are crucial at this point of time.
