CoWIN

 

India’s largest vaccination drive and World’s largest vaccination drive, to be achieved in the least amount of time or as quickly as possible has been named as CoWin by our hard working PM. The politician in our PM, Narendra Damodardas Modi is the best, much higher above the best. The man born with only the marketing (building narratives) bones in his body. Always thinking about marketing in elections, the name of his schemes are always catchy, short for people to remember with a solid punchline; to show he is working.

 

The world was gasping for breath to know when the vaccine will be launched, so that the world can heal and perhaps start getting back to normal life. India kickstarted its vaccination program on January 16, 2021. On April 18, 2021, PM was addressing the election rally with much thunder and boasting about the number of people who had come in attendance to hear their PM. On the same day, India recorded 2.75 lakh new cases with 1620 deaths. On April 19, 2021, our Govt. opened vaccine for all (eligible group), which means everybody who is eligible to vote is also eligible for vaccine and the mass vaccine drive would begin from May 1, 2021.

 

The speed for taking decisions from our Govt. is commendable. Modi is a man possessed to do so much in as little time as possible. He is always racing against time. They have not developed a think tank to make properly reformed, researched decisions but they just sense in which direction, the wind is blowing and the shoot their arrow in that direction, mostly with blind folded eyes.

On April 6, 2021, IMA (Indian Medical Association) had requested vaccine for all and as the virus spread was again going up and vaccination was the only way to save the citizens from the impending disaster, we are staring at. However, the Centre (on the same day) refused to open up coronavirus vaccinations for all age groups, saying the aim was to cover the people who are the most vulnerable at the earliest. “The approach is that those vulnerable to mortality need to be covered soonest,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said at a press conference. “The aim is to protect the most vulnerable. The aim is never to vaccinate whoever wants, but always on whoever needs.”

 

On April 7, 2021, Rahul Gandhi aka Pappu demanded vaccine to be opened for all age groups. “It’s ridiculous to debate needs and wants,” tweeted Gandhi. “Every Indian deserves the chance to a safe life.”

 

For the past two months, Rahul Gandhi tweets are actually dictating the decisions of the Govt. Whatever the Pappu says/tweets, the Govt. after refuting and mocking his tweets/words makes the exact decision. Decision taking is fast, but there is no planning or thinking whatsoever regarding the execution. I am totally confused, who is Pappu here, our Govt. or Rahul Gandhi or us, the citizens, who are left to die under the able guidance and leadership of Narendra Damodardas Modi. Nonetheless we have to applaud our Govt for making some efforts, even if it's too little too late. May be it is only a charade again to project, they are working and taking care the needs of the citizens for which they were elected with thumping majority.

 

There is vaccine hesitancy, the reason for vaccine wastage in India, wherein States and Centre are playing hockey on data. Distribution is purely and purely States responsibility, it is State Health Department’s responsibility to ensure minimal wastage. 25.35% of 136 Crores citizens were eligible in 45+ category and the number comes out to 34.5 Crs. Total of 12.39 Crs of vaccine doses were administered till April 19, 2021.

 

India remains at number 3 in terms of total doses administered. Well in any case, India cannot go beyond the 10^th place, even if Mexico had covered their entire population. On per capita basis, India is ranked somewhere at the bottom along with some third world country of Africa.

 

When we have barely covered one third in 45+ years category, what was the urgency to open 18 – 45 year age category for vaccination. Was it compulsion for optics or Govt. of India is taking instructions from Pappu? Less than two weeks in May and almost all the States have stated vaccination shortage and closed vaccination for 18 – 45 age until further notice.

 

The decision was fast but no working/study/analysis was undertaken regarding availability of vaccine or it was ensured after checking with States if they can speed up vaccination distribution strategy or not. 45% of citizens in 18 – 45 age group constitute 60 Crs on top of existing 25.35% of population and we have no vaccine. Right now, we are only looking at crashing of CoWIN App.

 

The digital push to Govt. work is another great vision of our PM. The way the Govt. has launched Apps for citizens to avail or take updates on different schemes, programs of the Govt. CoWIN is also part of the Digital India framework. Digital India has more or less failed, except for Jio’s success and the cheaper access of data, they have made for every Indian. But yes GoI has launched hundreds of apps for assistance of citizens.

 

Zero strategy, zero planning, zero execution. When the Govt. knows, they are opening up registration for 18 – 45 age category, the category of people who are most user friendly with smartphone, the same set of people carry the maximum number of smartphones in India or for that matter anywhere in the world. The largest subset of population with 60 Crs (no other country has as much population) number and the Health Ministry didn’t even check with IT Ministry to give them 10x or may be 100x bandwidth for CoWIN App to keep working smoothly.

 

Consultation and planning amongst different departments of the Govt. is null and void, if there is any. This was one of the most brilliant aspect of Modi’s style of working (as CM of Gujarat), he made all Secretaries sit together to sort out the problem instead of files being pushed for consultation and objections from one department to another. Health Ministry cannot complain because they didn’t ask. There are citizens who had predicted the crashing of the App as soon as registration is opened for 18 – 45 age category. And our IT Ministry is busy in blocking tweets, which are critical of our Govt. IT Ministry has its hands full in censorship of information.

 

To get back to Mr Gupta’s tweet, App crashing is a good sign for vaccine hesitancy. But it also implied it was hurried decision from the Govt. without proper thought, knowledge and information or lack of all stated here.

 

The stories amongst the citizens remains the same. Majority of the population is under lockdown, not by Govt. of India; GoI is shit scared about the image of its bearded babaji. Almost all States have imposed lockdown and hence crores of citizens are spending morning to evening on App to get a slot booked.

 

Almost all 18 – 45 age category couldn’t land on the booking page. CoWIN was overwhelmed with issuing captcha(s) or sending OTP(s), which in some cases took a day or two. But as usual Govt claims victory before the race has started by throwing numbers, which possess zero significance to vaccination drive. 80 Lakh registrations in first three hours of opening the booking.

 

If the Govt. couldn’t plan, anticipate the App’s workload, I sincerely and earnestly doubt if the ground situation has any hope of improving. Citizens can look at the slot available and press their choice and App starts processing and all slots gets filled. It is the story across the India. Now Citizens are betting, 70 slots available, booked in a minute, another says 120, third 200.

 

A large subset of marginal population who cannot afford smartphone is left out by CoWIN considering only 55% of Indians possess a smartphone. Is it Govt.’s feeble attempt to generate employment that the computer centre/operators around the country, get the work for getting the poor citizens registered at nominal charge of Rs. 50 – 100.

 

It has always been the essence of Modi Govt. make decisions at lightning speed without any thought process or planning and make crores of crores of citizens of this great Nation suffer. It all started from Demonetisation. A humble reminder to citizens to not fall for fake platitudes of PM but make him accountable for his actions and his lop sided policies and not only the boldness or the intention of the scheme.

 

Right now only WIN remains secluded in the CoWIN. Citizens who have been lucky to get a slot can actually claim victory over the App if not the virus by posing for a selfie with a V sign. We shudder to think of what will happen to CoWIN, when Govt. aims to clock One Crore doses/day in July/August. Will CoWIN go the Aarogya Setu App way? Redundant when its needed the most.

 

 

 

Aapda mein Afsar

There are many qualities of great leaders with which normal people cannot relate and a large number of their personality traits are debatable. The one thing, that makes a leader great is his power within himself to deliver speeches, to deliver speeches which moves people, which inspires people. For some, it is the words they use, for others, it is their sheer voice, which delivers. Modi, as a great leader, chooses his words for his speeches wisely and mostly his power to connect with his audience. I am in awe of those speeches, when he is so controlled even with his tears, how much heaviness, should be laced in his voice.

 

Just when he realized there is not much for Govt. to do, there is not much Govt. can do, in a lockdown. People were getting tired and restless of sitting at home, PM Modi addresses the nation to inspire the people, that what lies for the country on the other side of lockdown, looking at the positive, with what we can build for our future. Let past be in the past.

 

To all the media people or some citizens like me, who feel PM does not address the Press Conference, this is the reason why PM chooses teleprompter instead of Press Conference. Media would have barraged him with the range of questions and would have killed all the excitement and energy from his uplifting message.

 

As PM, he is aware of the circumstances, he understands the problems, but as a politician, he knows his limitations to deliver on ground, yet he provides the words, which can offer comfort to his voters. PM Modi knew the economy will definitely go for a toss with lockdown, but he was determined to extract the health dividend from this investment, yet the economics tells us, there can never be dividend from the loss in investments. Initially the battle was projected to be won in 21 days but the war took 68 days to be fought with everything and everybody emerging out as a loser or everything was ravaged in the process.

 

When the pandemic gathers momentum and how, will be taken up when the time comes. But in the meantime, let’s try to seek direction for the economy. Everybody was demanding from Govt. to deliver package for the industry and the economy. The Govt. of India was already jostling with GDP growth contraction for last 7 quarters, the Govt. is totally unaware for how to make up (because it has been dwindling because of Govt.) the increase in GDP or its own income. All the opportunity that was hoped and hyped to be encashed with GST was the loss of the Govt., industry, economy and the nation. The complexity of paperwork of GST meant GST is also a tribute to its previous legacy, which it wore in the garb of 16 different tax laws.

 

Modiji, like the greatest leaders, had to deliver an impeccable speech to bolster the morale of the people. Gave the thunderous and eye popping figure of Rs. 20 Lakh Crores for the economic package for India. Most of the Indian population was displaced even to know, the number of zeros, which make this figure. For the large poor population, who have never even seen Rs. 20 Lakhs, couldn’t even comprehend this figure. Naturally the expectation of every Indian is fulfilled with such large figure, which they have never ever heard before and nor will in the future.

 

Aapda ko avsar, crisis as an opportunity, was what PM quoted, especially in terms of building on inclusive economy in terms of production for domestic consumption. The reality is not lost on PM; PM knows all the big bang reforms in their previous budget or first budget of Modi 2.0, were rolled back within 90 days of announcement. Second Budget of his tenure was also lackluster. Before the onset of the Budget, the ground realities have shifted like tectonic movements, so Govt. has to re-allocate all the resources, meant for development to be reallocated in the pandemic world.

 

Aapda ko avsar for our Govt. was reallocation of the Budget. Rs. 20 Lakh Crores was not optimistic or great or thunderous, but it was realistic, the Govt. knew, the economy will shrink, the Govt.’s income will shrink. This figure is simply the Govt.’s figure available from earnings for expenditure. The Govt. just negated the whole Budget, its such a gargantuan exercise on its own. Modiji, as a great leader, just announced the total earnings of Govt. as economic package and also re-adjusted the whole Budget of the Govt. of India. Which global leader can deliver with such poise and elan, and the public does not even realize, they have been fooled at en masse in broad day light.

 

In Budget 2020, the Govt. was planning to spend Rs. 30.42 Lakh Crores ($ 430 Billion) after taking debt of Rs. 8 Lakh Crores ($110 billion). Barely 2^nd month into the financial year, the Govt. knows its compulsions and its weaknesses and the loss of revenue, which hampers the glaring development of India. The Income Tax from Corporates, the biggest source of revenue will take maximum hit, not to mention the flat GST collection of 2 months. PM is far sighted, he can visualize the problems after announcement of decision, hence Aapda mein Avsar is called Atmanirbhar Bharat.

 

The reality of all the schemes is never lost on the politician Modi is. He knows, he has to blow his own trumpet at elections, so he needs one word to market his schemes. Always the inspiring slogan with the catchy rustic name, which especially communicates with the poor and the illiterate. Aapda ko Avsar was the caption, of the great scheme that PM announced as Atamnirbhar Bharat (Self Reliant India).

 

From the nationalistic point of view, without using the words, PM was inspiring Indians to produce as much as possible at least for India and look at covering the areas, product and components, which we were importing. May be it is his way of laal aankh (red eye) to Chinese.

 

Atmanirbhar Bharat, is in itself an Aapda mein avsar; wherein the Govt. is trying to relaunch the Make in India scheme, which again PM had launched with much fanfare, addressing business Conferences across the country, with the lion as logo built from mechanized components of machines to indicate the lion is ready to unleash under the new PM with new policies.

 

The Govt. of India knows they have unleased the lion but it went back to the jungles where he is comfortable in his surroundings, which recognizes which belong to him.. I mean there were stray incidents of investment here and there, which is more or less in line with his predecessor, or may be always better but certainly the results were not worth the hype. Atamnnirbhar Bharat, just spread the earlier version, from Make in India to Make in India, Make for the World.

 

Make in India can be launched in India every quarter with a different name, but when the whole world has been questioned for how it shaped itself under WTO for last 3 decades is put to test. We know for the fact, PM himself is aware, we cannot take away the piece of pie, which is seen as advantage, due to negative sentiment against China, globally.

 

The Govt. of India has demonstrated to the world, that we change any law arbitrarily without any thought, without consultation, without warning, the thinking and changing of rules every day is how the Govt. of India functions. There is no predictability in our words or our actions. Demonetisation can be the example, when businesses didn’t know, how to run their business for more than a month. A month’s disruption in business without planning, without notice can be the recipe for disaster.

 

GST, the lopsided quandary of paperwork, which gave a fitting nightmare to the whole of business community of India. All the businesses which were dealing in cash, are still operating in cash, the difference, earlier they were part of the system, now they are totally out of the system. The black market for purchasing and selling GST bills is thriving more and is more open and transparent in its operations.

 

Now the lockdown, again pet peeve of Modi administration of announcing a decision with zero planning, zero warning, zero consultation. Modi hugging the world business leaders is good for the country’s image or perfect posse for him to be used in elections. What is the signal, the Govt. is sending to the world with the new play book, they have invented of making rules, which change every hour. The laws and the rules are subject to change, when the need arises, not when the industry wants it.

 

Atamnirbhar Bharat is inspiring, it is Aapda mein Avsar, especially for the political career of our PM, to bolster his image in a pandemic. What is different this time from the previous time? The industry wanted to know, the package or the support, the Govt. of India is willing to offer to the industry, for which everybody was returned empty handed. MSMEs with existing banking exposure were given more money in their hands, which again comes from the books of the Banks and not from Govt.

 

What is Atamnirbhar Bharat, trying to do, to ensure that the factory, industry, which are facing closure, due to lockdown (not due to pandemic) can survive? Atamnirbhar Bharat is an Govt.’s message for them to strike it out on their own from this crisis and also remember it for future. Does Atamnirbhar Bharat, ensure the consumption cycle, especially for the poor, which has been cut in the middle with the little that they had, will start or be tied together. What is Govt. doing in the process for poor to sew it together?

 

Standing ovation for our PM to deliver an aspiring message amidst the pandemic for the people, also Aapda mein Avsar to remind the citizens of their duty towards themselves and the nation. Though I was expecting a line from his side on the migrant workers walking back home or dying on the roads/railway tracks. Perhaps the reality of the Atmanirbhar Bharat is lost on people, where it is the warning of the Govt. for the people to strike our on its own to earn their livelihood by whatever means.

8PM – Showdown