Rising Differences

Pandemic led widening inequalities 

by Jajwalya Ambani

India experienced one of the most stringent and earliest lockdown, but now India and other nation are recovering from devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery is uneven within and among other countries. Rich were able to escape pandemic by being isolated and doing “Work from home”, fulfilling their hobbies, making Dalgona coffee ,completing task given by our Prime Minister whereas lockdown brought hunger, unemployment, migration for the Economic weak section of the country. Informal sector worst hit due to lockdown as it made up 75% of the 122 million jobs lost because they have less opportunities for work for home and suffered more job losses compared to formal sector. Woman unemployment is now rose from 15% to 18% during covid 19 lockdowns and can result loss of 8% GDP. Education is worst hit, only 3% of poor have access to computer and only 9% have access to internet due to this India is facing worst digital divide and also disruption in schooling risk doubling the rate of out of school especially poor. 

The wealth of Indian billionaires increased by 35% during the lockdown and by 90% since 2009 to USD 422.9 billion, ranking India sixth in the world after the USA, China, Germany, Russia and France. According to Oxfam report 1000 richest people worldwide recovered their losses within nine months while poorest will take a decade to come pre covid standing. . Inequality in India has risen to levels last seen when it was colonised. 20 crores people is now fall in Below Poverty Line category (BPL).Nearly 120 million people asked for MGNREGA, the total demand is 53% high this year were India’s top 50 companies increased their market nearly ₨3,00,000crores during this year.

An unskilled worker in India would take three years to earn what the country’s richest person earned in one second last year, the report calculates. The worsening inequality in income and opportunities impacts some sections disproportionately due to discrimination based on gender, caste and other factors.

While the Indian government barely taxes its wealthiest citizens, its spending on public healthcare ranks among the lowest in the world. In the place of a well-funded health service, it has promoted an increasingly powerful commercial health sector.

A decent healthcare is a luxury only available to those who have the money to pay for it. While the country is a top destination for medical tourism, the poorest Indian states have infant mortality rates higher than those in sub-Saharan Africa. India accounts for 17% of global maternal deaths, and 21% of deaths among children below five years

There is urgent need for taxation on corporates and on rich individuals and use that funds to invest on public Health care and education. Governments public investment will take time to translate into jobs and income for large number for labour workforce .
India needs to grow first before it can distribute. Otherwise, it can get stuck in a low-income equilibrium. 

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PASSENGER AIRCRAFT CRASHES in INDIA: 2000-2020

 The plane crash happened in Kozhikode once more awaken the government regarding our aviation and Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. Recently, Air India Express Flight IX1344 crashed in Kozhikode carrying 190 passengers leads to death of 18 people including both pilots. Obviously, this is not the first time in 21st century in India.

AI Express

1. PATNA , JULY 2000

Alliance Air Flight 7412, crashed landed in Patna, Bihar. On July 17, Flight departed from Kolkata for Delhi with its two stop over i.e Patna and Lucknow respectively. While approaching to first stop over plane crash landed in residential area of Patna killing over 60 people including 5 people on ground. The final report of investigations concluded that crash was due to pilot error. But there are many controversies over the report as the fault was of ATC not pilot and some reports says engine caught fire before landing. As both black boxes were found by search and rescue teams, investigators tore into both black boxes and analyzed their contents. The results showed that the engines were at idle thrust throughout the descent profile and the speed was continuously reducing. It was not clear why the engines were kept at idle thrust even after selecting Flaps 40. It was perhaps because the aircraft was higher than normal on approach. If the intention was to regain the correct glide path then classic flying technique would have required the Pilot to maintain speed by reducing the angle of attack by pushing the control column forward while allowing the aircraft to regain the correct glide path with an increased rate of descent.

Crashed Alliance Air 7412

2. Manglore, May 2010

          Air India Express Flight 812, operating from Dubai to Manglore crashed on landing . Of 160 passenger and 6 crew members on board 158 were died and only 8 survived. This incident recorded as third deadliest accident in Indian aviation history.

The enquiry report submitted by the Civil Aviation Ministry said that Glušica slept for over 90 minutes during the flight. According to the NTSB, it was the first instance of snoring recorded on a cockpit voice recorder. Analysis of the accident revealed that had the pilot “deployed detent reverse thrust and applied maximum manual braking at touchdown”, the aircraft could have stopped within the paved overrun area of the runway. However, the captain had exacerbated the long landing by attempting a go-around following deployment of the thrust reversers.PM Manmohan Singh announced Rs 2 Lakh for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 for injured to be allocated. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa also announced Rs 2 Lakh compensation for families of dead also Civil Aviation Ministry advised to provide Rs 72 Lakh to family members of each victim as per provision by Indian Carriage Act.

AI Express Flight 812