2021 Will Be Much Better
By our team of in-house writers.
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First publised on 2021-01-01 03:35:28
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By our team of in-house writers.
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One of the most depressing and scary years in recent times has gone. 2020 was everything no one wants a year to be. The virus that came out of the (Chinese?) woodwork in end-2019 and started spreading like wildfire from the beginning of 2020 changed life as we knew it. Despite optimists finding ways of remaining happy in the changed situation, it was obvious that 2020 was annus horribilis.
But now that it is gone, can people hope for a much better year in 2021? Yes. Any other answer would be like being the eternal pessimist.
Let us start with the health scare that kept everyone on the tenterhooks and indoors for most part of the year that has gone by. Several vaccine candidates are set to roll out, most of them in January itself. The Indian government has set the mechanism in place and there is an army of nearly 1 lakh medical professionals ready to vaccinate the population. Covid medicines and therapies are also on the anvil and we will win the war against the virus however much it mutates.
On the economic front, the recovery is well and truly happening and the buzz is returning. The farm dispute is also likely to be resolved soon. There is immense liquidity in the financial system and interest rates are low. Once demand picks up, production will rise and so will demand for credit. Government revenues will also rise in tandem. There are reports that the government will present a reformist budget that will take care of investments. It is hoped that by the second quarter of FY2021-22, things will become normal.
On the political front, the Bengal elections are going to be bloody and the love jihad laws are likely to end up in courts. The NRC and CAA issues will once again occupy the minds of the people. The government will have to show it really means sabka saath sabka vikas by making its policies inclusive. The Prime Minister has spoken extensively last year (especially on the 100th year celebration of AMU) about how every community has contributed to India being what it is today. One hopes his government and the party will consider that when new policies are announced or new laws are made.
Sports, education and hospitality were the sectors that suffered immensely in 2020. While sports had a small beginning with limited public attendance with players in bio-bubbles, school are still conducting online classes and hotels and resorts are just about coming to terms with the changed situation. It is hoped that with the vaccine roll out, it will be safer for schools to resume regular classes as the forced period of 'detention' at home has taken a huge toll on the physical and mental health of children.
We at India Commentary strongly believe that from April onwards, 2021 is likely to turn out to be one of the better years for humankind in all spheres. Let's raise a toast to that.
