WE HAVE to live with the virus. These words have somewhat become like an anthem in this time of despair. There has not been a day since March 8, when the world, barring a few countries, has not reported record spike in COVID-19 cases. Yet, it has become ingrained in our collective consciousness that we have to live with this novel coronavirus, like over a thousand other pathogens, including hiv, Ebola, cholera and rabies, that are now part of our ecosystem and keep cropping up from time to time (see ‘Bats spread viruses, so do humans’, p38). This mood of resigned acceptance also reflects in the strategies of political leadership across countries, including India.
On May 8, while holding a press briefing, Lav Agarwal, India’s official spokesperson on the COVID-19 crisis, said: “It is important that today when we are talking about relaxation, when we are talking about return of migrant workers, we have a great challenge and we need to understand that we have to learn to live with the virus.” Earlier on May 4, as the Union government extended the nationwide lockdown, dubbed the biggest in world history, to 54 days, Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal also used “living with the virus” as a truism while urging the Union government for dilution of the lockdown rules. With 7,998 cases and 106 deaths as on May 11, Delhi is the third worst affected state in the country.
Esta historia es de la edición May 16, 2020 de Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
