While the severity and sorrow of the pandemic cannot be minimized, there are silver linings. It is important to look at the potential positive outcomes that can be achieved from Coronavirus adversity.

COVID-19: Glimmer Of Hope In Dark Times  (Part-2) 

CoronaVirus Positive Images

1) Educational Institutions 

Precautionary measures 

As the government's first precautionary step to managing COVID-19 spread, all schools and colleges were closed down. After that, academic and competitive examinations were also postponed. All the actions academics are taken protected students' health, although at a hefty price of time loss.

 

Education sector overhaul 

However, the measures taken have started discussions within the education sector to encourage schools and universities across the nation to pursue the online delivery of education. 

 

The pandemic may bring a paradigm shift in the education sector, completely transforming the way education is provided.

 

It may help in opening the sector for a significant overhaul, including massive investments.

Digitization Expansion

With public and private investments, the schools or universities may further develop and expand its digital offerings, educating even the remotest parts of the country without hassles.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic may speed up the rate of change necessary in imparting education. It may completely alter the way training is provided today.  

 

They focus more on using technology, particularly regarding the development of online and degree programs, school curriculum, and short courses. Virtual classrooms can provide education not only during times of an emergency but may also offer a more engaging experience for students.

Distance learning 

Technology has emerged as a saviour for many sectors to remain operational during the lockdown, hence the education sector can also benefit immensely by leveraging technology.

 

Distance learning is not a new concept in India, but with COVID-19 fallout, the government may be persuaded to allocate more resources to the education sector. It will require greater digitization of the school curriculum, new online programs, and train the faculty for the challenge. 

 

Coronavirus can be transmitted in various ways among the population, money exchange through circulating currency notes is one of the formidable ways that expose individuals to the virus.

2) Money Transactions

 

On banknotes, the coronavirus can remain active for hours. Since it was one of the most effective ways to transmit the epidemic, the Chinese central bank destroyed all banknotes collected by hospitals, wet markets, and buses to ensure cash transactions. It is estimated that China has injected 600 billion yuan (US$85.6 billion) of new banknotes throughout the country to battle a coronavirus outbreak.

 

Digital Drive in India 

Back home, the demonetization drive undertaken by the government three years back has proved to be a blessing in our fight against COVID-19. One of the most significant benefits of that drive was more people went cashless and embraced digital payment methods, wire transfers, and e-commerce. Post demonetization people reduced dependence on currency transactions, and rapid growth in the usage of debit cards, digital wallets, and cashless transactions even at marketplaces was witnessed.

 

The shift, encouraged by government and Central bank in the electronic transaction, was decisive and helped many startups e-commerce sites like Grofers, Flipkart, etc. to establish their hold among the customers.

Advantages 

Today as the lockdown is underway, these e-commerce sites are operational, providing necessary items at the doorstep. The government has pitched in by allowing them to operate as part of essential services.

 

Another significant advantage is the disbursement of money to the intended beneficiaries digitally across the nation without much hassle. During the lockdown, Aadhaar-linked bank accounts and crores of Jan Dhan accounts came in handy for direct transfer of welfare money to the poor.

 

As the digitization of payments increased exponentially post demonetization, it has come as a saviour without which the struggle against the disease would be lacklustre. It would have exposed millions of Indians to unwanted risk, standing in queues at banks, grocery stores, or in merely providing relief to the poor at a time when social distancing is required.

Future 

Going forward, the digital payment methods will become centralized, with most transactions will be through this method.

 

Due to the government and the private sector's collective efforts, today, India is the second-fastest digitizing economy among the 17 leading economies of the world, and the trend will only increase further once the lockdown is lifted.

 

As the coronavirus transcended national boundaries and became world headache, fingers are now being pointed at WHO, the watchdog to monitor diseases for the world community.

3) World Health Organization (WHO) 

Intriguingly, only after 5700 deaths and over 150,000 infected cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus from China that rapidly spread across the world a pandemic. The world paid a heavy price because of the time wasted by the WHO in dealing with the threat.

 

Instead of focusing energy to take countermeasures in controlling COVID -19, WHO wasted precious time in politicizing and downplaying the danger posed by  COVID -19.

 

There are reports that WHO chief Tedros hobnobbed with Chinese authorities in trivializing the Corona pandemic even when there was transmission between people and high fatality rates. The mismanagement of the deadly disease and failure to implement travel bans and restrictions helped spread the virus across the world. Because of the apathy showed by WHO, its leadership failure, the world missed a critical window to halt the pandemic or mitigate its risks.

Future 

There is a probability that drastic reforms would be enacted to make WHO transparent, once the COVID -19 pandemic is tamed. There is a need to maintain transparency in selecting the head of such institutions and accountability in the functioning of the world bodies. 

 

The importance of an international, autonomous organization has never been more recognized in the face of growing infectious diseases such as COVID -19.  Such a body would be proactive rather than reactive in its commitment to addressing present and potential future challenges. 

 

However, in its current form, WHO cannot cope with the problems of the rapidly changing global health scenario and thus needs a complete overhaul.

 

Regardless of all the doom and uncertainty in the economy, certain positive overshoots are noticeable that may alter the way businesses are operated today.