Documenting 21st Century - India and the World

India is going through disasters, one after another, without any recovery under the leadership of Modi's BJP regime. The disasters are of many kinds - Economic depression that began even before the pandemic induced slowdown. The pandemic public health crisis itself which has created tremendous humanitarian tragedy in the country. The defense & foreign policy crisis with China & other countries. And underlying everything is the collapse of middle class, massive rise in poverty and sharp decline in living standards of people. The Modi Govt exercised power disregarding constitution, norms, legality and political traditions. It was 'my way or the highway' style of governance. It crushed political opposition, overthrew State Governments of opposition political parties, fired critical civil servants, jailed opposition politicians, independent journalists, activists, students etc. Modi Govt was practically an elected dictatorship. Underlying Modi's dictatorship, there ...

In my last article , i wrote about the situation with India's Covid-19 vaccine policy and national vaccination program and how Modi Govt has thrown it into chaos & paralysis. The "Liberalized" vaccine policy announced by the Govt in April was unconstitutional but most importantly it was a highly destructive to our vaccination program.   Yesterday, the sun rose from the west, the Earth started spinning in opposite direction and Modi walked back from his policy mistake. On 5 PM, Modi came on national TV and announced critical changes to Govt vaccine policy. The central Govt had earlier put major responsibilities of vaccine procurement on States and made them to bear financial burden. Now Modi is repealing this policy and Central Govt will procure 75% of all national vaccine production on its own finances, and distribute vaccine to states. Earlier, Govt policy was giving free vaccination to 45 years and above age population at central Govt vaccination centers while vacci...

Last month, Indian Govt announced major changes to its Covid-19 vaccine policy and national vaccination program.  The new policy is unique in entire world. Until last month, India's vaccination program was just like any other country. The vaccines were given based on preference scale. Healthcare & frontline workers were on top priority and this was followed by age groups, senior citizens and people with preexisting conditions etc. The younger people were at the lowest scale of priority to be vaccinated last. Earlier, only central government purchased vaccines from companies at negotiated prices, channel the vaccines into central Govt healthcare system for dispensation as well as distribute it to state governments to do the same at local levels. Private hospitals were also deputed in vaccination drive under a strictly regulated price regime.  The prices of vaccines were strictly regulated by Central Govt which was negotiated with companies and procured at Rs 150-200 ...

US Govt recently said that its in favor of TRIPS waiver, that is temporary suspension of IPs on vaccine technology during this pandemic. The opponents of TRIPS waiver includes big Pharma companies and several nations, most prominently the European Union Bloc. I won't comment on all the objections raised by these opponents but lets look into some of the critics of TRIPS waiver proposal. They say that vaccines produced by Big Pharma companies are highly sophisticated technology & cannot be implemented by developing nations. This argument is flawed. Basic thing about technology is that its hard to develop but its easier to replicate. The developed nations like US & UK are ahead of developing states like India in research & development of vaccines. But once the technology is developed, it doesn't take a great effort in replicating the technology provided that the original developers assist in transfer of technology & all the know how of their manufacturing process. ...

    We have habit of projecting our failures as achievements. Recently our political Govt has ordered our Military & DRDO to supplement our health system because existing civilian health system is losing the battle against the pandemic. While its a national duty of military to follow orders from political government & do everything necessary to help save people's lives, but i see there is a big problem. Our Defense minister full of nationalism hails our military for running hospitals, building oxygen plants, delivering medical supplies across the country.  But i have very straight & simple question - Why civilian institutions & departments are not working?  Every country in the world knows that Covid-19 pandemic has come in several waves with come countries seeing as much as 3 waves, with latter more deadlier than preceding ones. I know that virus came from China & India had little time to prepare for pandemic last year. But what has our Govt done...

India has been requesting US for lifting Export restrictions on certain raw materials needed for vaccine production. Yesterday US State Deptt gave a scathing response regarding export restrictions - "US has special responsibility towards American people". These words are more than sufficient to gauge America's take on the situation. Recall that US has banned exports of raw materials after invoking defense production act in February. The goal was to mobilize all resources for American national vaccination program which now is going quite well. But this has created problems for India and globally. SII, Indian company which is the largest vaccine maker in the world is facing difficulty in ramping its vaccine production due to shortage of raw materials. SII is responsible for manufacturing vaccines for use in India as well as dozens of other countries. The vaccines are provided to foreign countries on commercial basis, humanitarian grants as well as Covax initiative.  Americ...

I have some questions about new vaccine policy. I read press release by the Govt and i could not understand some things. If i have misunderstood any details, please clarify & correct me on them. The press release is available here . 1. What is "open market" pricing? Will states have any power of negotiations and/or regulation with the vaccine makers on vaccine prices? Will open market pricing be same across all states or vary from state to state? Does order of 250 Rs per dose centrally regulated vaccine prices in private hospitals stands repealed? Can states regulate vaccine prices in private hospitals? 2. Why State Governments are forced by central Govt to procure vaccines at open market prices? India is a cooperative federalism nation model with center and state government both sharing power structure. Can center direct states to buy vaccines on market pricing while center itself buy vaccines at regulated & negotiated pricing?  Central Govt and State Govt spending ...

India's surge in Covid cases is just like Brazil. There was interesting case study of Brazil's city of Manaus with 2 Million population (read 1 & 2 ). The region was hit hard in first wave and had high Seroprevalence last year. Then the cases went down as herd immunity got into effect. But few months later, there was another surge of Covid cases. Same thing is happening in India's resurgence of virus after we had high seroprevalence from first wave of virus. The virus had overwhelmingly spread in cities like Mumbai & Delhi in the first wave as was indicated by various Sero surveys. In Mumbai as much as 60%-75% of slum population was seropositive while in Delhi 56% of population was seropositive.  In rural villages, 69% of population was found seropositive in first ICMR survey conducted last year. I have explained in my previous articles that much of the Indian population lives in poverty and Covid control measures like social distancing, hand hygiene, sanitation...