Covid-19-Blessing in

Disguise
Abdul Adil Paray
MA, M.Phil, UGC NET
University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J&K.
e-mail: aadil.hist15@gmail.com
 Introduction
• The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has
created not only the global health crisis but also socio-
economic and political disturbances, that has had a deep
impact on the way we perceive our world and our everyday
lives.
• But at the same time the pandemic has brought a paradigm
shift in various spheres of human lives and resulted in what
was impossible before its outbreak.
• This papers aims to highlight more the positive indirect
effects of COVID-19 on the Environment, Economy and
 Methodology:

• The ECLAC methodology was implemented to assess

direct, indirect and secondary effects of single event by a
collection of data and information of various types
(Physical, financial and expert judgment) in each sector.
• Thus economic effects are estimated through collection of
information from economic agents, governments and
experts. In this study secondary research methodology was
used involving re-analysis, interpretation, and review of
past data.
 Impact on Environment:

• Air quality is essential for people's health; however, 91% of the world population lives in places
where poor air quality exceeds the permissible limits. The consequences of air quality
degradation are manifested in a significant percentage of global mortality each year. In this
regard, the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) report indicates that air pollution
contributes to almost 8% of total deaths in the world; the most affected countries being those
found in Africa, Asia and part of Europe.
• There is a significant association between contingency measures and improvement in air
quality, clean beaches and environmental noise reduction.
• . The first positive indirect impact on the environment is that on the one hand, climate experts
predict that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions could drop to proportions never before seen since
World War II (Global Carbon Project, 2020). This outcome is mainly due to the social
distancing policies adopted by the governments following the appearance of the pandemic.
• The scientists and environmentalists have observed the decreased concentrations of NO2 and
PM 2.5.
 Impact on Environment……

• In India the results were similar too; March 22 was the ‘Janata Curfew’, following
which, a significant dip in air pollution levels was measured across the country. Cities
like Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Lucknow saw their average Air Quality Index
(AQI) staying within two digits.
• Another example of cleaner air was seen when, on April 3rd, residents of Jalandhar, a
city in Punjab state, woke up to a view of the Dhauladhar mountain range, a rare feat
in normal times, considering the distance between the two places- lying nearly 213
kilometres apart from each other and have not been visible from the city in recent
memory.
• Water bodies have also been clearing and the rivers Yamuna and Ganga have seen
significant improvement since the enforcement of a nationwide lockdown. According
to the real-time water monitoring data of the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB), the average water quality of 27 points of the Ganga seen in recent days, is
suitable for bathing and propagation of wildlife and fisheries.
 Impact on Environment……

• Waste recycling has always been a major

environmental problem of interest to all countries.
Recycling is a common and effective way to prevent
pollution, save energy, and conserve natural resources.
As a result of the pandemic, countries including India
have stopped recycling programs in some of their
cities, as authorities have been concerned about the risk
of COVID-19 spreading in recycling centers.
• Beaches are now more cleaner and better to visit.
 IMPACT ON ECONOMY
• There is now a renewed discussion of whether countries apart from China could benefit from the post-
pandemic world. As far as India is concerned, it showed good growth in Organic Chemicals and Iron &
Steel. India lost in leather exports to Cambodia and Indonesia that could have been diverted from China.
• To understand whether India can benefit if factories from China were relocated, India looked at the
Capital Goods, Consumer Goods, Intermediate Goods and Raw Materials Revealed Comparative
Advantage for India and China. Although, the Revealed Comparative Advantage for India is lower than
China as far as Capital Goods Exports are concerned, India can still capitalize on this opportunity to
push its Capital Goods exports. However, the bigger opportunity right now is in Consumer Goods
Sector, in which India has an RCA greater than China.
• On how India can benefit from the Coronavirus spread post lockdown, although 2020 is a lost year, in
terms of trade, India can think long-term and build relations so that it can occupy the space vacated by
China. India can look in the range of incremental exports growing by $20 billion in the least favorable
outcome to a significant $193 billion jump in the 5 year horizon, only if it builds its capabilities and
captures share from China. India can find opportunities for its supply chains and industries and can try
and mold the dialogue towards one which has a greater place for multi polar global order.
 Impact on Education:

• i) The slow pace of change in academic institutions globally is lamentable, with

centuries-old, lecture-based approaches to teaching, entrenched institutional
biases, and outmoded classrooms. However, COVID-19 has become a catalyst for
educational institutions worldwide to search for innovative solutions in a
relatively short period of time. To help slow the virus' spread, students in India
started to learn at home via interactive apps. Millions of students got access to
learning material through live internet channels.
• ii) In just the past few weeks, we have seen learning consortiums and coalitions
taking shape, with diverse stakeholders - including governments, publishers,
education professionals, technology providers, and telecom network operators -
coming together to utilize digital platforms as a temporary solution to the crisis.
In emerging countries where education has predominantly been provided by the
government, this could become a prevalent and consequential trend to future
education.
 Conclusion:

• There are few benefits of this pandemic but overall it is a disguise.

• The environment has refreshed, the new e-learning involvement
has started, digitalization has boosted, local economy is becoming
less dependent on imports.
• This pandemic has exposed the institutional preparedness in terms
of healthcare to combat any natural disaster or pandemic in the
world. Therefore, the states round the globe shall make it a thrust
area to be prepared and ready to face any health related
eventuality.
THANK YOU