COVID-19: Indian Cities Are More Prone To Infections
Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Calcutta are seeing the mass exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s the high time that needs to reconsider the basic factor that is catalyzing the spread of pandemics.
In the current scenario, the spread of COVID-19 pandemic cannot be blamed only as a result of biological processes. All the pieces of evidence convey that this pandemic is engulfing urban areas faster than rural ones. In the congestion of urban areas, the epidemic found ground for its survival and propagation.
The factors like the mobility of people, physical connections and living conditions in the cities proved to be the critical determinants in the spreading of this contagious disease.
In addition, the city planning, scarcity of basic civic amenities and healthcare are posing a major threat for the population residing in Indian cities.
Highlights
Areas of big concern that are a major reason for the spread of infectious diseases;
- Poor civic amenities
- The bad state of public health infrastructure
- Problem of slums
- Contamination travelled by mobility of the mass
- High degree pollution
- Preference for individual favour
Major initiatives that need to be taken
- Land use plan
- Financial autonomy
- Mission Indra Dhanush, mission shield
Conclusion
Areas of big concern that are a major reason for the spread of infectious diseases
Poor civic amenities
In India, there is a skewed distribution of essential services and goods. The poor development of urbanization in India is the major reason behind this.
For reference, many slums localities in India have poor pipeline water facility and sanitation. The poor hygiene and sanitation conditions become the breeding ground for any kind of infections.
The bad state of public health infrastructure
India comes in second place in the world for the highest population. Despite this huge number of human resources on the terrain, India doesn’t have apt healthcare facilities to deal with such COVID-19 pandemic.
Problem of slum
In India, there is a huge population who resides in slums and they are staying there in congested huts and poorly maintained houses.
So, if one person got infected in these slums than there is a great of being whole locality infected.
Contamination travelled by mobility of the mass
In cities, millions of people commute daily by local trains and other public transports. Further, the density of people in normal days are seen much higher than it is recommended. The propagation of infection in such conditions is obvious and it can’t be taken for granted.
High degree pollution
The dangerous level of pollution in the Indian cities pose a great threat to the humankind. The pollution that are caused by vehicular traffic on roads, construction and demolitions make the people the cities more vulnerable to acquiring infections from the air.
Preference for individual favour
In cities where people are living by their own generally develops an easy to go attitude. They start to take social concerns for granted and pay heed only to their personal goals. In doing so, they put the favour of society at back and put the life of them and their society on stake.
Major initiatives that need to be taken
Land use plan
It is necessary to reconsider the land use plans according to the features of the city that can contribute to the long term goals and ethics.
Financial autonomy
Financial autonomy should be provided to the cities so that they can fulfil and manage basic amenities and cleanliness for the urban population residing there.
Mission Indra Dhanush 2.0
It aims to achieve immunization from diseases by full commitment to provide vaccines in districts and Indian urban areas that pose a low level of immunization.
Other initiatives in this direction are Shyama Prasad Mukherji urban mission, Amrut mission along with smart cities mission.
Conclusion
With the enactment of the 74th constitutional amendment Act, Reforms in urban areas was started in India in the early 1990s. The new LPG reform was introduced in India to uplift the Indian economy that played a great role in pioneering the urban sectors of India, but a lot was still left that needs to be done in order to transform Indian cities to present themselves as an example of settlement.
Some basic reforms need to be considered to make the lives of people residing in a city smart and to ensure their safety.
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