The COVID-19 crisis is a very dynamic situation and the Indian variants are being termed as ‘Variant of interest,’ hence, there is a need to keep changing strategies to prevent further waves of the pandemic in the country. As the country has had enough political debate, discussion, discourse, and disagreement on the response and management of COVID-19, even political analysts now say that there is no time for politics now; India needs to manage COVID-19 efficiently and effectively.
Known for her fearless and independent views on political and social issues, media panelist, social activists, gender-equity advocate, ex-corporate honcho, Sujata Pandey says it is time to manage deadly ‘Mahamari’ ( pandemic) with magnanimity. Being an MBA and after spending a decade in the corporate sector Sujata has an in-depth understanding of the management of products, solutions, and services. Hence, her voice gets attention at every level of policymaking and implementation.
Sujata also unravels various pressing political issues. Her views on the Kisan Andolan grabbed national attention and her bit by bit discussion of the Bengal Elections was crisp and clear to a remarkable extent.
The COVID-19 is currently a prime concern for her. The second wave of COVID-19 created unprecedented havoc and shattered the response and management. India was certainly not fully prepared in terms of health infrastructure and adequate vaccination to limit its adverse effects.
Sujata Pandey says, “The severity of the second wave is was so strong that no government in the world could have managed it. Within a very short span, the number of infected persons increased immensely. Even the best of the infrastructure in the most developed countries would have faced a similar situation during COVID peaks there. The mutated or evasive virus not only surprised us by its ability to spread but also infected the victims more severely than the first wave. Hence, the entire healthcare system appeared to have collapsed or insufficient."
“Despite all challenges, we all need to pull up our socks to manage the crisis efficiently the challenge is so huge that the government alone cannot win this war,” she adds.
The current situation has made her both depressed and determined. Her corporate training and ground-level social activism have given her the strength to get her ideas implemented with logical convincing to those who are at the helm of affairs. As a full-time social activist, Sujata claims that various governments have been trying to combat the pandemic but somehow, there have been loopholes. She hopes that the governments would be cautious and take all necessary measures to combat the COVID waves. According to her, the second wave has taught us all lessons to deal with this dynamic situation or a probable third wave.
The ongoing crisis needs to be tackled efficiently and India needs to invest heavily in its healthcare sector to let media panelist and political analyst like Sujata Pandey concentrate on political issues which finally determines our lives or the way we live-peacefully, safely, and healthy.
Sujata Pandey regularly documents her opinions and reviews everyday political decisions and movements.