Failure of Governance in India- Reason Behind the Pandemic Crisis

Synopsis: The article highlights at least 5 instances of Failure of Governance in India, in the past 15 months. This is the reason behind the failure of the center and states in handling the Pandemic crisis.

5 instances of Failure of Governance in India

1. First, the sudden imposition of lockdown during the first Covid-19 wave was inhuman. The decision gratified the wellbeing of aspirational middle-class society. Whereas, the decision-makers were indifferent towards the problems of daily wageworkers especially the migrant community.
2. Second, further, the lockdown was supported by weak legal instruments such as the epidemic diseases act and disaster management act. It led to the harassment of citizens. For instance, Custodial death of P Jayaraj and Bennicks in Tamil Nadu.
3. Third, inadequate budgetary support for the economic safety, relief, and protection of vulnerable citizens.
4. Fourth, delayed rollout of the vaccine policy compounded by a complex and multi-layered pricing policy.
5. Fifth, there was a lack of preparedness in terms of health infrastructure. Even after the first Covid wave, neither long-term plans nor new budget provisions were available to strengthen the health infrastructure.
   • Only makeshift shelters were planned during the first covid wave, however, they were either closed or not usable during the second covid wave.
6. Apart from these issues, the problems in governance were complicated by the following issues,
   • One, lack of transparency in the PM cares fund.
   • Two, lack of public communication over the pandemic during post lockdown periods.
   • Three, shifting the responsibility towards the States at a time when a large-scale human tragedy required statesmanship, partnership, and collaboration. This has resulted in a dirty blame game politics between the Centre and States.

The authoritarian rule will be the outcome of such mishandling by the Centre where citizens and political opponents will eventually be penalized. We have now entered that stage with threats of seizure of property for criticism of the mistakes, stating the facts, and for demanding accountability of the government.

Source: Indian Express