COVID-19’s Impact on Delhi

Delhi, located in the north-central region of India, is the capital of India. Named after Raja Dhilu, a king reigning in the 1st century BCE is a beautiful city bordering Uttar Pradesh, home of the Taj Mahal. It is of historical significance to its people, and now, it has been devastated by the coronavirus.

The people of Delhi had their entire lives altered, with 1.4 million cases of COVID-19 and 24 thousand deaths. The government hospitals where many Indians are treated have turned away patients due to being at max capacity. Indians have died due to the lack of oxygen at these hospitals due to the lack of funding received.

One key thing to look at during the pandemic is how Delhi is dealing with education. Over 120 teachers died of the coronavirus. Teachers who are capable of working are forced to work several kinds of jobs to help fight COVID-19. This leaves their students unable to learn without a teacher to teach them the material that they need to know. Now, the pandemic situation in Delhi has improved as the effects of the second wave are beginning to die down. Due to this, restrictions on the lockdown are gradually being lifted. While restrictions are being lifted, citizens are advised to remain cautious as Delhi attempts to return to a more “normal life.”

Some factories and some construction projects have been resumed. Most companies remain closed, but the reopening of these factories and projects allows for some Indians to return to work. While this will help repair the COVID-struck economy, it is very dangerous as only 3% of the Indian population is fully vaccinated, allowing for COVID-19 to have an easier time spreading. During the lockdown, many citizens of Delhi were unable to work and are currently at risk of poverty.

One of the biggest issues that Delhi and India face is their low vaccination rates due to a shortage of vaccines. To counter this, the Serum Institute of India is increasing the production of the AstraZeneca vaccine by 40% this month, which will help deal with their shortage and allow Delhi to return to a more normal lifestyle faster. With the need for more vaccines, India is also looking towards different types of vaccines. Bharat Biotech, a small firm is beginning to increase production of the Covaxin vaccine. Soon, the Sputnik V vaccine will also be in Indian markets. These vaccines should help in India’s attempts to contain the virus and prevent any further deaths.

As lockdown restrictions are lifted, schools remain closed, negatively affecting the education of students. According to the 2011 census, 86.21% of people in Delhi are literate with 90.84% of males being literate and 80.76% of females being literate. Compared to other regions in India, Delhi is doing better than most in regards to literacy. The government is providing free education and other necessary expenditures to children who have lost their parents to COVID-19.

Delhi's situation is currently improving and they may be able to return to their original lifestyles once they have managed to contain COVID-19 and treat people more effectively. Until then, the devastation of the coronavirus will continue and more lives will be lost.

Women's Education in Rural India

Inadequate or outright lack of education in rural parts of India makes socio-economic changes nearly impossible, especially providing challenges for women.

Literacy, among many other basic skills that are taught throughout education at the elementary level, are pivotal in the lowering of poverty rates, child mortality, and raising of fertility rates, among others. Generally, rural areas, defined as having low population, density, and buildings, understandably also have less funding for education.

Lack of teachers, especially well trained ones, poor infrastructure of schools, and poor quality of education anywhere can keep citizens cemented in the same social class, unable to move up in society. Furthermore, if education is unfairly distributed to men rather than women, gender roles in places such as in the workforce, in politics, and in the home can be discriminatory.

Specifically in India, according to the National Sample Survey at Observer Research Foundation’s India Data Labs, in 2017-18, around 64.9% of women are literate, as 81.5% of men are literate. While this is better than the 31.7% literacy rate women had in 1987-88, it is still a gap of around 17%, and marginally increased when delving into more rural areas of the nation.

Not only receiving education, but quality education could tremendously help in educating women to help promote more equality throughout the country.

Generally, if a mother has to work, then the eldest daughter would assume the responsibilities of the mother to take care of the younger children and housework, but this often neglects the fact of going to school during that period. Currently, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is working toward relieving daughters of the responsibilities of the mother in this situation to allow for them to attend school, which further promotes a higher education of learning for these young women.

Especially in rural areas in India, many live without internet. The current COVID-19 pandemic did not aid in the positive trend that education was going for in India, and has been crippled due to the massive outbreak and deaths occurring. With employment and education halted, as well as parents and educators being put into different situations, children and students have suffered tremendously. Not only this, but closure of schools means that nutrition through mid-day meals provided by the Government will no longer be available, which could negatively impact any student’s performance in their studies.

While many impacts have been negative, some point towards the other end. In general, those who have access to any type of online learning are becoming proficient at it, learning digital literacy, online communication, and more at a young age. While not all rural students may be able to, online learning is effective in connecting students in a pandemic to many others around the world.

Looking forward, to fix the issue of women’s education in villages or other rural areas, governmental action may be needed. Quality education at all levels, promotion of women in schooling, and better access to education in an online environment due to the restrictions of COVID-19 can all help to increase literacy rates. As mentioned previously, lowering the educational gap of around 17% between genders can greatly improve women’s roles in employment and government, offering more opportunities and better educated women in society.

The Success of Education in India - Kerala

As the Western World continues to develop, forming education systems far better than many other nations, a rival system continues to excel within India, exceeding even the U.S.A’s literacy rates.

Kerala, known internationally for its paradise-like environment and plentiful agriculture is also home to one of the world’s most successful education systems, allowing the state to have a 96.2% literacy rate. In comparison, Kerala outperforms states such as Rajasthan by over 29% and the United States by 10%.

The state’s endless ventures in educational reforms has achieved unparalleled success, with the state being the 1st in India to obtain a 100% primary education level for all of its citizens.

Continuous investment within education in Kerala has allowed many families, regardless of income level, to enable their children to learn from government public schools and gain a proper opportunity to learn. Within every district, prestigious and excellent educational institutions exist, with many districts containing the best universities in the nation.

While other states struggle with students dropping out of government education systems to pursue child labor as a result of the inadequacy of the schools, Kerala continues to achieve the lowest dropout rates of the country. The state’s focus on education has enabled schools to begin to modernize and extend past their current systems, signaling a fruitful era of innovation and excellence in students.

Laptops, electronics, and more are currently being installed in classrooms across the state, allowing many to access resources previously never available and widening the gap between Kerala and other states who continue to have schools that contain nothing but a floor and chalk.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kerala government has adapted tremendously and ensured those who do not have access to electronics are able to receive a sufficient online education. Several local government institutions and organizations have provided TVs, smartphones, and laptops to families that are unable to afford such luxuries. Classes are broadcasted and pre-recorded on a variety of platforms, enabling access from any type of media.

Though the economy has suffered and unemployment has increased, the emphasis placed on education has unwavered, allowing the state to continue to thrive in its educational institutions.

Additionally, extending past the domain of the classroom and government, families in Kerala themselves are extremely focused upon education and value the quality of it far more than other states.

Throughout Kerala's ancient history, education has received endless emphasis, with Christian missionaries in the beginning providing education to the Kerala population regardless of socio-economic status. This catalyst of educational reform has blossomed into a beautiful education system now witnessed within Kerala - an education system that continues to grow and develop past the barriers of inequality.