30th January 2020, is the date when First COVID Patient was identified in India. And today on this date, COVID 19 completes its One Year journey in India. However this journey has been ultimate robust, but we fortunately sailed through every tide, under the able leadership of our PM Narendra Modi. His vision, determination, strategy, plan and then the implementations, led us to the controlled and relatively better situation of this Pandemic, which could have become unimaginably explosive in the highly dense and populated nation of ours.
One year ago, no one could forecast the level of criticality this pandemic can bring in India. From Day 1, this Virus has been such unpredictable in nature; that every step has to be a pure Hit and Trial. There was no History, no Trend, no Researches, no Medical Theories and no Comparative Analysis to handle this ambiguous, unwanted and unanticipated guest stepped in our Nation. But India displayed the requisite Courage, Patience and Wisdom to deal with this Virus, and reached to a stage where other countries started looking at it.
On 30th January 2020, when India faced Corona Virus, We had not sufficient Ventilators & Isolation Centres or Treatment Beds/Hospitals to meet the future needs, seeing the Strength & Criticality of Virus. But in the short span of time, we actually became self-sufficient in all the above requirements, and soon we were at the stage that we had excess of all. In addition to this, our Health Department has identified an old practicing drug called Hydroxychloroquine, which proved to be helpful to some extent in the treatment of Corona Virus, for which many countries of the world started looking to import from India. Also, we should not forget to mention about the Successful Implementation of Nationwide Lockdown, at a right time and with a right strategy, which has made Corona crisis in India controllable to much extent. The PM and Government also kept saluting, recognizing and encouraging Healthcare Workers, Frontline Workers, Police & Security Personnel for their continued patience and outstanding contribution in this battle against COVID.
Then there came a serious concern of the Indians stranded in various parts of the World, and were unable to reach India, in absence of International Flights. Then our ‘Vande Bharat’ Mission by Ministry of Civil Aviation, successfully evacuated an enormous number of people safely to their home land within a minimal period of time. Ministry of Health, Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Home Affairs and other Government Agencies kept spreading the facts and Dos-Don’ts by all possible means, to eradicate the myths among people and make them more aware. PM Modi kept a regular contact with the people by repeatedly addressing the Nation and giving effective Mantras to them such as- Jaan Hai To Jahan Hai, Jaan Bhi Jahan Bhi, Jab Tak Dawai Nahi Tab Tak Dhilayi Nahi and Dawai Bhi Kadaai Bhi.
Another prime concern became of the Economic Slowdown arising out of Global Recession, and every country was in threat. But India again showed the Fighting Spirit, and came up with a paramount program- ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, which focused on not just reviving the nation from economic crisis but also to make it a Self-Reliant Nation. Ministry of Finance played an important role and designed a special* economic package, which taken together with earlier announcements by the government during* COVID crisis and decisions taken by RBI, was to the tune of Rs 20 lakh crore, which is equivalent to almost 10% of India’s GDP.
When battle at every front was successfully going on, our Medical Scientists started working on the research and trials of COVID Vaccination in the right course of time. Among the race of various nations launching their vaccines, India triumphantly launched its 2 ‘Made in India’ Vaccines- Covishield and Covaxin, in a requisite time period. And with this we gave one more opportunity to the world to have all eyes on us. When all other countries are still struggling to approve the safety and effectiveness of their Vaccines, India has proudly started doing successful vaccinations for its people. This achievement becomes more significant, when we have the Vaccine adequately available for our huge population, and a mass number of people has already vaccinated before COVID completes one year in India. On 30th January 2020, we had first COVID positive identified, and today on 30th January 2021, we have almost 35 Lakh people who have been vaccinated for COVID. This is what we have achieved in 1 year of COVID in India.
These achievements of Modi Government made all other countries & international bodies such as United Nation & World Health Organization to praise India & its efforts to fight with this Virus. These achievements become more significant at the times, when the Global Superpowers are kneeling down in front of the havoc of this virus, but India has been fighting hard with all its strength and its head up. From Exporting PPE Kits, Masks, Sanitizers, Hydroxychloroquine, Ventilators to sending COVID Vaccines to neighboring countries, India has been doing wonders repeatedly. Under its Mission ‘Vaccine Maitri’, by Ministry of External Affairs, India fulfills its promise to the world by supplying vaccines across the globe. More than 1 Crore doses of Vaccine have already been supplied to the countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seyshelles, Brazil, Morocco, Canada, South Africa, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and others. India is also set to supply 10 million doses to Africa and one million to UN health workers under GAVI’s (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) COVAX facility.
Specifically during one year of COVID, India has emerged as a new Global Superpower, who has the potential to serve its own immense population, along with the people of other countries. This truly justifies India’s belief statement- “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.