Social analysis of the governmental-based health measures: A critique

• Published in: Indian journal of social psychiatry : official publication of Indian Association for Social Psychiatry 2020-10, Vol.36 (5), p.126-130, Article 126
• Main Authors: Gupta, Rajiv, Arya, Sidharth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; COVID-19; health-care workers; lockdown; Pandemics; social distancing; stigma
• ISSN: 0971-9962; 2454-8316
• DOI: 10.4103/ijsp.ijsp_197_20

Governments across the globe have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by imposing restrictions of various magnitudes on citizen activities. The Indian government imposed one of the strictest lockdown among all nations. The lockdown initially meant for 3 weeks has been extended thrice for a total duration of about 10 weeks. During this period, there has been closure of nonessential services. While the government did take certain proactive steps, however much remains to be desired at the ground level. This unprecedented move and other precautionary steps to control the pandemic unearthed numerous psychosocial consequences; however, for this particular paper, we will focus on social challenges such as migration, poverty and hunger, social disconnection, homelessness, and increased screen time arising as a result of government-based measures. Government policies for health-care workers have been only partially successful as there had been numerous incidents of struggles expressed from different corners of the country. Further stigma related to pandemic has had a serious impact on control measures. It remains unclear whether the social changes occurring to combat the crisis are transient or will create a totally transformed society. The true extent of the devastation due to the pandemic will only be clear in the near future.