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The COVID-19 pandemic, food and socializing

Mains GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementations etc

ARTICLE SUMMARY:

• A study conducted by CMIE-CPHS (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy which conducts Consumer Pyramids Household Surveys) before and during the pandemic (16th wave for the period January-April 2019 to the 23rd wave for the period May 2021-August 2021).
  • It simultaneously shows the incidence of COVID-19 and shares of food expenditure and socializing.
• Arthur Schopenhauer(German philosopher): Life swings like a pendulum backward and forward between pain and boredom.”

Context

Difference between Pandemic & Epidemics:

Pandemic:

• According to the WHO, a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations.

Epidemic:

• An epidemic is a large outbreak, one that spreads among a population or region.
• It is less severe than pandemic due to a limited area of spread.

Covid-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

• WHO: It declared COVID-19 infections as a public health emergency of international concern and later called it a pandemic.
• RNA virus: Coronavirus consists of an RNA genome and is one of the largest in the RNA family.
• Single stranded: Coronaviruses are enveloped and contain single-stranded positive-sense RNA.

Negative impact of Covid-19:

• Lay-offs of the employed
• Deaths on a massive scale
• Mobility restrictions
• Closure of cinema halls, restaurants
• Restrictions on the scale of wedding ceremonies
• Other forms of socializing

Study based on eight waves of by CMIE-CPHS (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy which conducts Consumer Pyramids Household Surveys):

• Incidence and socializing: It simultaneously determines the incidence of COVID-19 and shares of food expenditure and socializing.
• The incidence of COVID-19: It is driven largely by the source of transmission and the length/speed of transmission.
• The COVID-19 incidence determines the share of food expenditure
• Two together: They determine the share of socializing expenditure of a household.

Impact of lay-offs and interrupted food supply chains:

• Income and food price spike: It caused substantial income losses and food price spikes,
• Low-income households: They barely maintained their subsistence household expenditure.
• Engel’s law: Share of food expenditure rises as income falls.
  • Further aggravated by food price spikes.

Impact on socialization:

• Due to budget constraint: A higher share of food expenditure is expected to lower that of socializing expenditure.

How will socializing expenditure rise?

• If the wealthy absorb these shocks and still have a large share of discretionary funds.
  • Their socializing expenditure may rise to break out of a monotonous and boring lifestyle.
• Income, food prices and preferences for socializing: simultaneously determine the share of socializing expenditure.

Urban-rural contrast:

• Rural:
  • Trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic was greater,
  • Employment and income losses
  • Food price spikes were more pervasive
  • Preferences and opportunities for socializing were far more wide-ranging
  • The share of food expenditure fell but at a diminishing rate
  • Rural areas witnessed an expansion of outdoor facilities for eating and celebration of weddings etc
  • Growing preference for socializing.
• Urban:
  • The incidence of COVID-19 rose with per capita expenditure but at a diminishing rate in urban India.
  • The share of food expenditure rose but at a diminishing rate.
  • The share of socializing expenditure exhibited the same pattern as the share of food expenditure
  • Households spend more on food
  • A higher amount is spent on socializing.
  • Despite higher food expenditure they managed more socializing.

Impact on wealthy:

• More likely to fall prey to COVID-19 infections
• Allocation of food: Their allocation of food expenditure rose
• The more affluent traveled more: they were also more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus
• Their share of food expenditure rose because their income losses weakened the cushion against food price spikes
• Essential food: They could afford their essential food intake
• Negative effect of rising per capita expenditure on socializing: It was more than offset at higher per capita expenditure, because of their stronger preference for socializing.

Impact on mental health due to COVID-19:(by The Lancet Psychiatry, November, 2022):

• Psychological stress
• Depression
• Loss of life satisfaction
• The loss of family members due to COVID-19 infections is often shattering and even results in suicidal tendencies.

Way Forward.

• Disruptions in energy and fertilizer supply due to the COVID-19 and Ukraine war and the continuing surge in food prices have entrenched inflationary expectations that call for decisive policy intervention.
• An overhaul of the Public Distribution System and, specifically, more stringent regulation of diversion of food supply by PDS shops to the market are imperative.
• The access to qualified psychologists, psychiatrists, appropriate medicines and social networks is a need.
  • As these privileges are not readily accessible in India’s rural villages.

MAINS QUESTION

1. Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the COVID-19 Pandemic.(UPSC 2020) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)