Covid-19 - Makes India's Youth Smarter!

Within days of imposition of the lockdown to contain the Corona virus, hundreds of millions of migrant workers packed up and set off for faraway home, trekking, often by foot, side by side, at unsafe social distances.

- Moin Qazi

With the government having miserably failed to provide succour to the stranded people and the resources of voluntary organisations already overstretched, the sufferers were left to their ingenuity to fend for themselves. The crisis also brought out the remarkable tenacity of people in the face of hunger and misery. Some young people showed amazing resilience and came up with contextual responses.

Crises often bring out the best in humans, and the Corona virus pandemic is no exception. The pandemic sparked off hidden springs of courage and valour, particularly among students, who used their social media skills with remarkable effect. Many of them were able to shake the system out of its stupor. Thankfully, we are witnessing the emergence of an enlightened and resilient generation which won’t meekly accept injustices which their predecessors suffered on account of illiteracy and lack of empowerment. We can expect to see a deep wave of social churning and simmering unrest is going to manifest in complex forms.

Pravina Buradkar is a 23-year-old firebrand who comes from a poor family in Wanoja village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. She was taking coaching for civil services examination at a government-run facility in Pune. Since her parents couldn’t afford her monthly expenses, she took up a part-time employment. The lockdown was a cruel surprise. Pravina and her roommates had little savings to fall back upon. They located a relief centre where free meals were being served.