This year the basis of evaluation was the response of IPAs to the COVID-19 pandemic.

INVEST INDIA

It is a non profit venture set up in 2009, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency in India.

HOW DID IT HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC?

There was a widespread disruption due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 globally and the Indian government took extreme measures of putting the entire country under lockdown. This drastic step drew the Indian economy into battle. However, in these dreary times, Invest India has been instrumental in helping discover innovative startups across India working on solutions against COVID-19 and actively connecting them to sources of funding, technology validation and on-ground deployment opportunities. This helped various start ups to become a force multiplier for the efforts against coronavirus. Invest India has teams handling demand management and adopter connections, across government departments, corporations, foundations and NGOs working at ground level.

This award also recognizes the Indian government\’s efficacious management of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is indeed a proud moment for us and has highlighted the coming age of the Indian innovation ecosystem.    

We want to bring your attention to the issue that has been overlooked since the pandemic began. We have, for a very long time, been fighting with malnutrition which remains the predominant risk factor for child deaths in the country, and the ongoing pandemic has worsened the scenario by increasing food insecurity. According to the recent projections, India could see around additional 60,000 child deaths in the next six months. These numbers are extremely high and can\’t be ignored. Are we headed towards a Silent Pandemic? Listen to the voiceover below to find out.

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Note: Your details will be shared with the potential plasma donor. By filling the form, you agree that details be shared with such a group.

Note: Only people who weigh over 50 kilograms, have healthy hemoglobin levels and do not have pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, uncontrolled blood pressure levels can donate plasma. Individuals who have been found to be positive for HIV, hepatitis B, C, E, and HTLV-1, undergoing cancer treatment have also been asked to refrain from the donation.

Only women who are nulliparous (have not had children) are allowed to donate plasma.

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I want to thank each and every member for their valuable contribution.

Related 5 min reads:

The Hand Sanitizer

Sanitizers with more than 60% alcohol can instantly disinfect the skin provided it is rubbed until dried. A highly concentrated solution of sanitizer when poured onto Coronavirus disables the hydrophobic effect, which enables the lipids to hold together, and gives the molecules room to move around. This is more like a crushing effect and happens in a matter of 2-5 seconds.

The Soap

A single drop of any kind of soap contains quadrillions of molecules called amphiphiles. These amphiphiles resemble lipids that form the shell of the virus. When soap comes in contact with the virus, the tails of amphiphiles compete with lipids for space, and, as a result, the outermost layer of the virus breaks. The amphiphiles then form a layer around particles of the virus, and these layered particles can be simply washed away with water.

Hand Sanitizer vs Soap

Scientists recommend washing hands with soap and water whenever possible as it also removes the dirt particles that could otherwise hide the virus. Also, it is highly convenient to cover your hands in soap and water. Of course, sanitizers are more convenient to use on the go, and, therefore, should be used when one doesn\’t have access to the sink. Sanitizers, however, are ineffective if too little is used or wiped off before drying up. Either of the two is effective in killing the novel Coronavirus, but I would recommend that you wash your hands if you have access to the sink.

The Silver Lining

Of course, the coronavirus is deadly, the effects are scary, the economic conditions are disturbing, but amidst all, smog has given way to clear blue sky, the ozone hole has suddenly disappeared, and interestingly, Ganga has purified itself to an extent where millions of rupees and hundreds of cleaning missions could not reach. Reports say that pollution decreases human lives by 3 years.

The positive changes are not only confined to the envIronment alone but the fact that people are forgetting all their religious, monetary, and territorial differences and coming forward to help each other selflessly, showcasing fraternity and moving ahead to the path of becoming better humans and constructing a better society. This shall not only make the earth a better place to live in but also set an example for the coming generations.

The bright side for us

The limited options available due to lockdown have made the situation difficult. Has it not brought an opportunity to innovate, to find a way ahead with what we have. Being scared to eat outside food, people have learned the health benefits of eating freshly cooked homemade meals, the pleasure of cooking together, eating together, and above all no wastage of food at all. People are learning to stay fit without heading to the fitness centers. Also, there has been a new trend of using locally manufactured products. These local products are no less than the expensive imported stuff and if consumed regularly would help to boost the economy. This is the time for us to go #Vocal4Local.

Stay positive

The pandemic is disastrous and capable of destroying the world. But if tackled properly, the destruction can be minimized. People should take the situation seriously, follow safety instructions, and stay aware. COVID -19 is teaching us lessons for life. By sighting real-time examples of “less is more” and “together we can”, Coronavirus is a blessing in disguise!!!

\”We socialize, therefore, we are. \” This phrase is apt for humans. We have always been a social being. Since the time we were hunter-gatherers, having trusted relationships increased our chances of survival. But now, since, we have been behind closed doors for months, not only do we face economic recession but also a social one as well. The decline in our social interaction might have brought a change in our mental and physical health. This change, and the collapse in our social contacts, can be termed as Social Recession.

The Cause

Social contact is a key component of our growth and humans cannot survive on their own. The condition in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, are the social determinants of health. Social connection is the fuel that helps us address the challenges in our lives and helps us to come out of our cocoons.

But when these connections are threatened, a cascade of stress hormones is triggered that produce well-orchestrated physiological changes such as increased heart rate, increased muscle tension, and thickening of the blood, and together they are called the fight-or-flight response, which has evolved as a survival mechanism enabling us to cope with physical and psychological threats. A recent study published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews revealed that people who are more socially isolated have higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen (a soluble protein that helps blood to clot), both of which are associated with chronic inflammation and poor physical and mental health.

Be advised

If the prevalence rates of social isolation and loneliness remain elevated, such changes are more likely to lead to a greater public health burden in the longer term. Economic slowdowns are easily measured, but it\’s difficult to quantify social recession. As people around the world retreat behind closed doors and sever connections with others, the damage it causes could be no less profound and long-lasting. It\’s high time that we acknowledge this problem. It\’s quite normal to feel anxious and lonely, but remember, we are all in this together. This too shall pass and till then, put the focus back on your self-care, eat well, exercise regularly, find ways to calm yourself, follow your hobbies, meditate and most importantly Relax.