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A message of hope during hard times
Corona! Corona! Corona! This is the only topic that has been grasping the headline of every newspaper, news channels, social media platform, whatsapp status etc. The people might not be ready to follow the norms and guidelines set by Corona but everyone is terror stuck by it. Due to Corona, the world has come to a standstill, deadlines have been shifted, and priorities have changed. The world’s overview towards life has changed. Nature has proved that nothing is stronger than it and human beings have been waging a war against nature and thus the befitting respond to humans have been given.
Apart from disrupting our lives, COVID-19 has broken open the facade of ‘social structures’. In one fell sweep, we learnt what social anthropology meant by ‘de-familiarization’- the rendering of that familiar into the unfamiliar. Our daily taken for granted routines, are no longer routine nor can we take it for granted. Lockdown has disrupted the seamless flow of goods to our neighborhood shops.Due to Corona, the approach had been changed, work from home had been initiated, the staes having highest cases had been declared as Red, Orange and least had been tagged as Green.
In order to keep oneself safe people were asked to stay at home and step out only when necessary. Washing hands with soaps frequently and use of Sanitizers and masks have become an integral part of life but amidst all this there has also been increase in the number of thefts, marital discords and psychological issues. It is no secret that due to the economic blow there will be loss in many sectors, the rate of unemployment will increase. The tragic stories of our migrant laborers walking back homes, some dying before they could reach home have painted a dark picture and it will be remembered for decades and ages.
The Indian Psychiatry Society (IPS) has noticed a steep rise in the number of patients suffering from mental illness after the outbreak of COVID-19, in India. A recent survey conducted by them revealed that there has been a 20 percent rise in mental illness cases, with at least one in five Indians suffering from it. Due to Lockdown women facing sexual harassment cannot go to the police, the fear of being further tortured by their husbands and partners keeps them away from taking any step. Men who had to be indoors and could not go for work vented their anger and frustration by physically assaulting and sexually harassing the women. People having anxiety attacks, depressions and feeling of loneliness and hopelessness had made its way and thus the already handicapped society was further crippled.
The Govt might have come up with online portals, doctors with whom one can speak online but the impact of recovery might not be the same as that when one visits a clinic or psychologist’s or the mere company of being amidst the near and dear one. The chain of dependency is so strongly rooted in our system that when social distancing, isolation was implemented for the benefit of larger mass for many it became confusing, unacceptable.
Things cannot be taken for granted and to revive the whole eco system everyone has to be given equal importance.
This too shall pass but for each one of us to survive we have to help one another and walk together. Selfishness has already caused us much it’s time to show some love, affection and care and try and understand that mental health is a major issue, people with psychological care needs attention and care. Migrant workers can be helped with free food, water and basic needs that might help them make their journey better. People who can afford should come forward. Time may be tough but we can be tougher if we try. Together we can and we will survive. Human’s just need to be a little more humane!
I am a Humanitarian/Social Worker by profession. Working closely with the people from the community in North-East India. I am passionate about my work. Travelling, photography, writing are some of the common hobbies read more...
This post has published with none or minimal editorial intervention. Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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