Indian Union Health Ministry data updated at 8 am on 27 April 2021 (Tuesday) reported: The death toll mounted to 1,97,894 with 2,771 new fatalities. With 3,23,144 people testing positive for the Coronavirus in a day, India’s infection tally has climbed to 1,76,36,307. At the same time, the national recovery rate further dropped to 82.54 percent.
These are the official figures only; however, the people on the ground have estimated much higher and estimated that almost all of the population is infected, making the figure of nearly 600 million. The daily increase of new cases is estimated at half a million. The causalities are also estimated much higher than the official figures. A severe crisis of disposing of the dead bodies is being faced.
Many factors played an adverse role in turning the situation so grave; the first is the mutation of the Indian strain, which is more contagious and more fatal. However, the mismanagement by Government was also a major reason for such a difficult situation. Prime Minister Modi, representing the extremist Hindus political parties, has initially politicized the Pandemic and mistreated its own minorities and lower-caste Hindus. Indian society was turned highly polarized based on religion and caste. Led by an extremist government, who wanted to turn India into a “Pure Hindu State” where all non-Hindus either have to turned Hindu or leave India — Christians have to move to Europe and Muslims to Middle-East. Minorities and low-caste hindus were refused to extend primary health care services initially, who constitute almost 92 percent of the country’s population. The upper class ruling elite Brahmans are only 8 percent of the whole population.
The collapsed economy was also one of the critical reasons for the Pandemic turning into an alarming stage. As a matter of fact, ill-planned lockdowns deteriorated the law and order situation, and wrong policies have resulted in poor economic performance. There was hardly any foreign investment recently; even the existing investment witnessed an out wad flow. Indian domestic capital was also shifted abroad, and qualified Human Resource was also moved abroad for safe and secure environments.
Lack of awareness, lack of healthcare facilities, and lack of official interest contributed to the speedy spread of Coronavirus. Social culture, individual’s hygienic habits, and lifestyle were also affecting the situation.
Although there were multiple reasons, Coronavirus is a global threat, and the magnitude of the threat is so huge that no one single country can overcome it alone. Even the most developed and advanced countries also became the victim of the Pandemic. There is no single country on the globe considered absolutely safe.
There is a dire need to fight against the Pandemic collectively. It is appealed to all nations and communities to think above race, religion, ethnicity, and geographical divides and focus only to defeat the common enemy of humanity – Coronavirus. However, developed, advanced and wealthy countries may contribute more and proactively recue human beings in the developing and underdeveloped countries.
Although Pakistan-India rivalry is historical and enmity existed since getting independence from British rule in 1947. But, at this critical moment, the people and Government of Pakistan have generously extended humanitarian assistance to India. Pakistan is also passing through Pandemic and economic crises, but Pakistan is among the first few nations to come forward to provide humanitarian aid to India despite its limited resources.
Pakistan is opposing the discriminatory and extremist policies of PM Modi but cares about the human lives of the public in India. Pakistan stands with an ordinary person in India in a destitute situation and willing to rescue human lives, irrespective of their race, religion, and social status. The visionary leadership in Pakistan is appealing to the Government of India to relax its unilateral imposed restrictions on Pakistan for trade and travel so that the humanitarian aid may reach the needy people timely and efficiently.
It is appealed to the international community to outreach India to save human lives proactively. The most precious thing in this universe is Humankind and must be rescued, irrespective of race, belief, and nationality. It is hoped that all nations and individuals may follow Pakistan in saving human life according to their capacity.