Editorial
| Published date | 01 September 2021 |
| Date | 01 September 2021 |
| DOI | 10.1177/00195561211055073 |
| Subject Matter | Editorial |
Editorial
Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in severe global, social and economic disrup-
tions including the largest global recession, is the focus of this year’s Special
Issue of the Indian Journal of Public Administration. The theme, Management of
Pandemics attempts to cover a number of issues related to it. It contains
14 Articles, two Notes and three Book Reviews.
Nand L. Dhameja et al. attempt to gauge the economic consequences of the
pandemic and the political system’s policy initiatives and action in India after
giving an overview of such responses globally. The most salient effects were
reflected in loss of employment for migrant workers who began a trek on foot to
their native homes in absence of adequate public transportation. Industrial pro-
duction was obviously adversely affected. The authors also formulate a model
to estimate the cost of the pandemic. In response, the political system adopted a
revenue-forgone or cost-saved approach. The authors also went into some posi-
tive results – tangible and intangible as well as the challenges, opportunities and
financial restructuring.
Vinita Yadav and Sherin Jacob examine how India sought to care for vulnera-
ble sections of the society during the pandemic. In an empirically grounded study,
they found a notable gap in the implementation of the law and policy measures
emanating from it with special reference to women domestic workers. As a reme-
dial measure, they recommend public-private partnership in this domain.
O. Grace Ngullie and Arib Ahmad Ansari explore the effects of the pan-
demic on food security in India based on an empirical study with special reference
to Public Distribution System in Delhi. They discover policy gaps qualitatively
and quantitatively and the resultant exclusions. They note that a cash transfer of
Rs. 500/- from the government to every below- poverty-line family was grossly
inadequate.
Pushpa Singh analyses the management of the pandemic in the agricultural
sector and seeks to bring out its resilience under its threat. She finds that local pro-
duction and distribution was the most viable strategy to deal with the grave nega-
tive externalities to the agricultural production system such as climate change and
extreme weather conditions. The author considers agroecological farming as the
most appropriate response.
Avilasha Ghosh offers some ways of rethinking biopolitics and governance in
the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the peak of the crisis the author con-
cludes: ‘It is safe to say that what we are witnessing now is the dark side of India’s
biopolitical governability, in which economic and political gains supersede the
welfare and lives of the citizens.’
Indian Journal of Public
Administration
67(3) 283–285, 2021
© 2021 IIPA
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DOI: 10.1177/00195561211055073
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