Bad Policy Making during Pandemic – UPSC GS2

India prioritized insurance coverage after 2014, for example, Ayushman Bharat. Whereas, international experience showed strengthening public health care is the right way.

For instance:

High-level expert group appointed by the Planning Commission concluded that progressive strengthening of public facilities is the only way to achieve universal health care.

Discarding the principles of Science worsened the Pandemic situation. There are instances when Science was least prioritized by the government,

Government representatives supporting Patanjali’s Ayurvedic cure for COVID-19.

Ignoring the Suggestions of public health expert or Scientists in Public policymaking related to Lockdown, organizing Kumbh mela, Election rallies

Government’s apathy towards prioritising Data integrity. For example, Maximizing GDP numbers, employment statistics changing baselines, withholding periodic labour force surveys.

Under-reporting of Covid-19 infection and Deaths.

For instance, relying on Freebies rather than prioritizing sound Welfare economics like Institutionalising social security net.

According to the latest report by the Azim Premji University, 230 million Indians slipped below the poverty line during the pandemic.

Providing Social security net to the BPL population would have limited the Pandemic disaster in India.

Even the global experience from US, UK, Germany, and China proved the same. Yet, India discarded the global experience.