IMPRI Team

To discuss the ways to tackle the spread of the second wave 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.

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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.

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Source: @IMPRI #WebPolicyTalk

Livelihood Security and Vaccination is the Need

Dr. Priya Shanmugam pointed to the nexus between lives and livelihood security. Government alone can’t do it, we need to cooperate to tackle the pandemic. The role of NGOs and volunteers is of utmost importance during these hard times. Bengaluru as IT hub has used technology efficiently. Task forces have been constituted. Sought help with Infosys to revamp BBMP bed allocation software to ensure transparency.

A big rural concern is helplessness of ASHAs as they lack proper protective gears. Urban centric COVID response has added to the agony. Decentralized decision making and mental health is deteriorating more.

Humane approach required in adhering to the norms. Gender gaps would widen post pandemic; therefore, we need to strengthen our institutional framework and policy mechanisms. Also, there should be special window borrowing programs for states to strengthen health care and fund vaccination programs. Crime rates would increase because of livelihood concerns.

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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.