INDIA Decides to Extend Nationwide Coronavirus Lockdown
On last Saturday, Prime Minister of India has held a video conference with all of its state ministers and most of them have urged the Prime Minister to continue the lockdown to bring the spread under control. The spread of the novel virus has been varied in parts of India with some states seeing bigger jump despite the strict lockdown.
Problem with Many
Officially India, the largest democracy has confirmed 7600 positive cases and around 250 deaths, according to data tracked by John Hopkins University which is tracking the updates globally.
Most of the streets across India have been deserted and thousands of street children are being impacted due to nationwide lockdown. Due to this sudden imposition of 21 day lockdown and a possibility of lockdown extension in India, this has thrown lives of millions of children into chaos.
Tough times ahead for millions of Poor & Homeless Children
It is reported that tens of thousands call helpline daily while almost thousands go to bed hungry as the country battles to curb Coronavirus. The country has 472 million children which is the largest child population in the world, as most of the campaigners say this lockdown has impacted more than 40 million children from families who suffer under below poverty line category.
A delhi based charity organization which works with street children and child labourers, the worst affected are millions of homeless children who live in cities under flyover, in narrow lanes, in streets, and in many such areas. Now during the lockdown everyone has been told to stay home. Now what will happen to these street children, where will they go and how will they eat, who will feed them? These are some of the unanswered questions
Delhi city alone has more than 70,000 street children, a worker from the Charity organization says the number is actually huge. Imagine the magnitude of these children across all cities in the country.
Impact on Economy
India, with its second largest population faces its biggest crisis in decades. With the 21 days lockdown likely to extend, the nation with 1.3 billion people is likely to result in economic recession with millions of job loses and possible hunger issue among the poor
To a large extent, it will impact Indian Industry. India’s dependence on China is huge. Out of the top 20 products that India imports from other countries, China accounts for a majority of those products.
Its already slowing economy weakened to atleast and 8 year low this quarter and it is likely to slow down even more sharply next six months due to this pandemic outbreak