THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 25 August 2020 Dignity Amid Covid(Indian Express)

Dignity Amid Covid(Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level: Tele-health 
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context:

  • According to data of the Centre for Disease Control in the US, nearly 25 per cent of all those who have died of COVID-19 are more than 55 years old.
  • However, it is not just the direct effects of the virus thatincreases mortalityand morbidityamong the elderly.
  • Measures like social distancing, self-isolation and travel restrictions have a disproportionate effect on their lives, especially in matters relating to healthcare access.

Prevention:

  • Asking the elderly to self-isolate is one of the most effective COVID-19 prevention strategies.
  • But strong intergenerational ties and issues related to living arrangements can make physical distancing difficult for older persons.
  • About 88 per cent of elderly people in India live with their children. So, their risk of contracting the infection from family members remains high.
  • Living with the extended family may allow the elderly to access healthcare services, but a growing body of scholarship shows that it leaves them vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment.
  • On the other hand, for the 17 million who don’t live with their extended family, or have made arrangements to live separately due to COVID-19, life is lonely. They have difficulty in accessing food, water and basic services.
  • Technology and internet connectivity play an important role in navigating social distancing restrictions and maintaining access to essential care, services, and important information.
  • In India, only 7 per cent of older people have smartphones.
  • The literacy rate among this segment is also low, further limiting access to technology and important information.

Lack of access:

  • Reports have indicated that the lack of access to healthcare services could aggravatephysical disabilities, hinder the effective management of communicable diseases and lead to mental ill-health problems amongst the elderly.
  • Outpatient treatment of nearly all major non-communicable diseases has been severely affected due to COVID-related restrictions.
  • Older people seem to be missing out on treatment for illnesses. Medical check-ups have become infrequent.
  • All this is likely to show up in the mortality and morbidity rates among the elderly.
  • The precarious nature of economic work of older persons and inadequate salaries means that more than 80 per cent of such people in the workforce are either partially or fully dependent on others, who are anyway facing difficult circumstances.
  • In its first relief package, the government announced a one-off payment of Rs 1,000 and an increase in the pension for 30 million widows and senior citizens.
  • But this will reach only to about 20 per cent of the older people. There was no support for senior citizens in the second relief package.

Conclusion:

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the framework for pan-India Umbrella Entity for Retail Payments, consider the following statements:

1. The companies with a net worth of over 500 crore rupees will be eligible to set up an umbrella entity.
2. It will be permitted to set up, manage and operate new payment systems in the retail space comprising ATMs, White Label PoS, Aadhaar-based payments and remittance services.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:

Q.1)Why are the elderly more vulnerable to coronavirus? Comment 

UPSC 2020
Civil Services EXAM
Civil Services Preliminary
Civil Services Mains
UPSC
IAS PRE GS
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