Normal And Abnormal

Covid 19 has already created stress in international relations. The prominent players in this Economic Game are US and China. US have made strong allegation against China about the origin of coronavirus. All their allies have supported the allegation and some are going to lodge claims for compensation for their losses due to the spread of this pandemic virus. Whatever it may be, Covid19 have created tremendous impacts on the world economy. Despite the economic shatter in many countries some countries in Asia may be gifted with some fortune too. India is one that can grab this opportunity to reconstruct the economy. Considerable amount of foreign investment can be had in a short span of time. Leaving politics the Government of India may act with absolute shrewdness to bag the business. It would be more beneficial if the states are equipped to handle the inflow of investments. The states according to their resources and preferences may compete among themselves. We have no tim

Total  Covid 19 cases in the world as on the midday of 31.05.2020 is 61,61,485  and the death is 3,71,016. This makes 790 cases and 48 deaths per million population. Let us now have a look at some countries at random. Total countries infected are 215 as of now. (The figures shown below are in the following order and are as on 30.05.2020. 1. Total reported cases. 2. Total deaths. 3. Cases per million population. 4. Deaths per million population.) USA      17,93,530 - 1,04,542  5421 -316 UK           2,71,222 -    38,161  3997 -562 China         82,999 -      4,634       58 -    3 Iran        1,46,868 -      7,677  1748  - 92 Italy        2,32,248 -    33,229  3841 -550 France    1,86,335 -    28,714  2863 -440 Spain      2,85,644 -    27,121  6110 -580 Canada      89,418 -      6,979  2371 -185 Russia    3,87,623 -      4,374  2656 -  30 Brazil      4,68,338 -    27,944  2205 -132 Sing'pore. 33,860 -           23  5792 -    4 India        1,82,490 -      5,186    132 - 

After a slow start we Indians are gaining momentum in Covid19 cases. India stands at the 9th spot in the list  of Covid19 affected countries in the world with total number of cases being 1,73,763 nos and the mortality remain 4,980 nos. People who are returning from other countries and the interstate movement of people can be one of the reasons for this. Some states may not be taking adequate preventive measures like personal distancing, face masks, observing quarantine arrangements etc can also be a significant cause. Lack of PPE for health and police personnel might have caused some spread. Take it easy attitude by some section of the people could be the major cause. Comparing between states with percentage of tests among every million population wide variation can be found. While treatment of patients is wholly rest with the government the prevention is wholly rest with the people. However the government should ensure that the people are well equipped to prevent the dead

Consequent upon the allegation by the US and few other nations about some mystical hands of China in the spread of coronavirus the Chinese have finally taken defensive stance. There are also wide spread reports that this allegation has forced some new investors to retrace their steps. It is also told that some existing units also have moved out. Such community is likely to enter into India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand or Vietnam. This whole thing may make large dent in Chinese economy. In order to distract the attention of the countries on the opposite side and also to try to drag India towards their camp China has come out to irritate us at our boarder. This has to be proved by the future developments. Other than the new threats China has many internal issues that are boiling for some time. Independence sought by the people of Hong Kong is one. According to Hong Kong Basic Law as ratified under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, Hong Kong is an inalienable

How  the state of Kerala has so far resisted Covid19 could make every Indian proud of and had acclamation from the world over. As a culture and tradition the people of Kerala, welcome and serve every guest coming to this state. But, this unbidden guest,the coronavirus, was forcefully checked at the gate. There are many people with their dedication, sincerity and hard work, significantly contributed for the prevention of this deadly virus. The Health Minister and Chief Minister of the state, the health and police personnel are some names from the long list. However, no political ideology can claim the success. Whether the government is led by LDF, UDF, BJP or even DMK or JMM the Covid result would not have been different. There are tradition, history and education behind this. Whatever it may be, this is not the time to boast the success as the race is still on. Until the last Covid 19 patient leaves the hospital we cannot evaluate the success and failure of any country, soc

Despite all said and done Covid19 is climbing up the ladder in India at fairly good pace. If we do not take appropriate corrective measures immediately things may be beyond our control. As on date India has reached the 10th spot among the Covid19 affected countries in the world with the number of patients at  1,51,767 and  mortality at  4,337 .The very first thing we have to do is to disconnect politics from Covid19. Then let the people know what is the real Covid19 status in our country and what is happening around them. Let everyone in this country know that if people do not follow the directives of the central and state governments things are going to be extremely precarious for them.  If the government give proper guidance to the people and ensure that those are being strictly followed this dangerous pandemic can be prevented effectively. Another thing is about Lock Down. Wherever a specific number of suspicious cases are found, such area should be brought under strict

Every occurance in this universe is governed by a law. Whether the velocity of light, revolution of earth, earthquake, flood, war, epidemic and any such occurance is certainly governed by laws. We may call it universal law, natural law or divine law. Whatever it may be, if we make an in-depth study it can be related to scientific laws. So is the case of Covid 19. This cannot be kept aloof from standard laws. I would, therefore, invite all of you read this to find out the exact law behind this pandemic. How to find out the law? You may have to collect as many data as possible that can be related to this pandemic. You may fix a time barrier of past 100 years or so. Almost all information pertaining to this period can be gathered today. Gather as many data as possible about all pandemics happened during this period like when and where each one originated. How long they lasted. How many people were infected. The mortality in each case, countries and numbers infected and the dur

Nouriel Roubini is a well known American economist. He teaches at Stern School of Business  of New York University. He is nicknamed Dr Doom for his gloomy predictions. He gave a warning well in time about the 'unprecedented' recession of 2008. Professor Roubini sees a 'Greater Depression' alongwith the Covid 19 invasion. The economy will have sharp fall and last longer may be about a decade. Millions of jobs will be lost both in rich and poor countries. "These jobs that are gone are going to come back only in part, with lower wages, no benefits, part time and there will be insecurity of jobs and income and wages for the average working person." Says the Professor. He adds further; "You can open the stores but the question is whether they're going to come back. Most of the shopping centres in China are still empty. Half of the flights aren't there. German shops are open but who wants to go and shop". Prof. Roubini also says that th

        (GDP growth rate of India) Covid 19  is an eye opener for many states of India. Let us first have look at our population growth during the past two decades.  (In millions) 2010 - 1186, 2012 - 1213, 2014 - 1239 2016 - 1269, 2018 - 1298, 2020 - 1320 Percentage of growth during the decade - 10.15 Yearly growth percentage: 2015 - 1.12, 2016 - 1.10, 2017 - 1.07 2018 - 1.04, 2019 - 1.02 The GDP per capita in USD: 2010 - 1357.6,  2012 - 1469.2 2014 - 1640.2,  2026 - 1874.2 2018 - 2104.2 The GDP per capita in India is equivalent to 17 percent of the world average. As per the IMF's World Economic Outlook for 2020, the per capita PPP-adjusted GDP for India was was estimated to be USD 9,027. 24.3% of the population earned less than USD 1(PPP around USD 0.25 in normal terms) a day in 2005, down from 42.1% in 1981. According to 2011 census about 22% of the population was poor and has become 17% in 2019. However as per an unconfirmed reports the division is: Lower Middle Clas

Good number of people are to be brought from abroad as well as from other states. Some considerations are to be made while arranging their preferences. Some are without visa, some without job, some aged, some in the advanced stages of pregnancy and so on. All are to be brought to their homes. However, at the same time, the government have to ensure that not even a single one does pass the deadly virus to anyone here. All necessary precautions are to be taken. The most important factor is that each of them is tested and placed under quarantine for the required period. We must have adequate number of testing equipments and rooms for quarantine. Under no circumstances, even a single person should be allowed to skip these two. This should not be vested on the government alone. Each one of us should co-operate with the concerned officials to successfully complete this. Never try to escape these. It may have dangerous consequences. KV George kvgeorgein@gmail.com

(A quite and empty Time Square, New York City) While  Covid19 is a fast spreading pandemic, the pace of the spread can be well managed by the Managers of the respective countries. US is the best example for this. US must be the most mis handled country in the world. When the number of patients as on 22nd May in US is 16,20,902 the second highest Russia has 3,17,554. The topper's figure is more than five times. Similarly the death toll in us is 96,354 on 22nd May whereas the second highest UK account for 36,042 which is 37.41% of the first. The virus cannot be made responsible for this wide variation. In simple words US has set the virus free among their people. Being one of the most resourceful countries in the world they could have prevented the spread quite effectively had they taken the appropriate decision at the appropriate time. It was the matter of preference that caused the downfall. The responsibility for this cannot be fixed on any individual, it is the failur

None of us can say now quoting any doctor, laboratory or country, when a preventive vaccine or medicine to cure this dangerous disease will appear in the market. However, atleast with superficial observation, it can be found that in some countries where the virus climbed the ladder at a fast pace remained static for some time and now shows a trend to come down the ladder. When it continues further, a day will come sooner or later that there is no Covid patient left in that country and this would be the case with every country. And we all shall find through the media about that long awaited wonderful day's news, ... and the last Covid19 patient of the world left the hospital. KV George kvgeorgein@gmail.com

We  all have have taken enough precautionary measures to prevent the pandemic. We also advise our fellow men to use mask, wash hands frequently with soap, maintain a distance of over a meter from others, suspicious cases to be kept in quarantine for a specific period and umpteen other directives to get over from the deadly disease. Unfortunately we do not look at those people whom mask is beyond their access. Leave alone soap to wash hands,  a very large number of people  do not get enough water for their basic needs. Sometimes someone give them some eatables at one place and after that they are to settle in small hutments, they cannot maintain any safe distance. The system of quarantine is not in their wildest imagination. The impartial coronavirus do not spare them too. Who is there to protect them? KV George kvgeorgein@gmail.com

Coronavirus is like a bullet in a fellow passenger's revolver. It is not at all harmful until we go and fight with him and take it on our body. A bullet is dangerous and can take our lives but so long as it does not hit our body it is totally harmless. It will not hit us by its own. Let it remain in others guns and we shall keep us away from them. This is something with coronavirus too. It is too dangerous. It can take our lives. It has shown it's strength the world over. Even the mighty nations kneeled down in front of it. It has proved that it can trespass the strongest forts of any country. In spite of all these mighty power of this virus it is too restrained that it will not come to us by its own. Either we must go and bring it to us or someone forcefully send it to us. Let us, therefore, remain calm and composed and ensure that we don't bring it to our house and do not allow others to send it to us. KV George kvgeorgein@gmail.com

Consequent  upon the wide spread of Covid19 pandemic the world over, most countries have declared lock down and advised their citizens to remain indoors. This has led to many instances which were not possible in our normal days. Despite the fear of the deadly disease the people are finding something unusually good around them. Clear blue skies and empty roads have become one of the rarest sights in our normally busy cities. The sudden drop in pollution levels across the globe has led to a positive effect on the ozone layer. With most number of carbon ejecting factories remain closed and good amount of vehicles off roads led to a positive effect on the ozone layer. The ozone layer has finally got some breathing space. A scientific paper published in Nature, heralds a rare success in the reversal of environmental damage and shows that collective global action can make difference. The study also hint that full healing of the ozone layer might be possible in the coming time. An

            (Selected states only) State percentage    Infection to           Infected to     fatality           total national percentage           infection AP            04.49                2.08 Delhi        17.31                1.38 Gujarat    19.32                 6.10 Kar'taka   02.05                3.41 Kerala      01.12                0.69 M'rashtra 56.61                3.67 MP           08.94                 5.20 Punjab     03.76                1.65 Rajasthan09.20                2.64 TN            19.66                0.70 Tel'gana   02.83                2.34 UP             07.89                2.34 WB            04.79                9.14 India            .........              5.15 (This is based on the figures of 16.05.20) There are four countries in Asia where Covid19 cases confirmed are 25,000 or more and deaths 800 or more reported as on April 26. These are China, Iran, Turkey and India. India is among the five Asian countries where the number of

It is shameful that political parties are settling the score at this hour of panic. It need not be spelt out one by one. Anyone going through the media reports or listening the channel discussion can easily pick out what is hidden between words. Neither the ruling party need to boast what they have done so far nor the opposition need to comment what the other have not done so far. The winner will be decided only on completion of the race. They can sit together and find ways and means to overcome the crucial situation. Both should stand behind the people at this hour. Every political party should know that people are more important than their political ideologies. The aftermath of the pandemic shall be worse than the current days. Economy have been collapsed the world over. If the ensuing situation is not properly dealt with it would be disastrous for many of our states, especially the state of Kerala. However, a bright sunrise can be seen if the expected changes in the worl

"It was the longest ride back. We did not have much to eat, but had to return to the safety of our home somehow".These are the words of a migrant worker  Mr Lakhan who returned from Rajkot, Gujarat, travelling over 450 km alongwith his wife and two teenage daughters. Trudging the long distance, switching transport four times and halting for nights at three cities, Lakhan made it home in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday morning. If this was shown in a cinema litres of tears would have fallen on the theatre floor. "Please send us some money. We don't have anything left. Even the contractor is refusing to pay us. What should we do? We will die of hunger and thirst." These were the last words Krishnawati Singh recalled from her husband's phone conversation at 9.00 pm on Thursday, as he dispiritedly trudged along railway tracks in hoping to reach his village home, some 800 km away. At 5.15 am on Friday, a freight train ran over Ms Singh&#

Government  of Kerala has raised the tax on alcoholic drinks from 212% to 247%. Some future calamities or financial scarcity may raise it to over 500%, may be sooner or later. Whether it is one front or the other the government is same in the case of generating the revenue is concerned; either increase the prices of alcoholic drinks or lottery tickets. The other two main sources are GST and repatriation by Keralites abroad. Both of these shall be terribly slashed this year and, therefore, that part too be got refilled mainly by alcoholic drinks. This year and the coming year may be worst in our economic front. According to an unofficial study, about 33-50% of alcoholic drinks are consumed by Lower Middle Income Group and Low Income Group in Kerala and, therefore, the impact of price rise may fall on them. Most of them are daily earners. The money they spend on these drinks make terrific impact on the food consumption and routine expenditure of the whole family. In fact the

After a long hue and cry the central government have started air lifting of Indian nationals held up in various countries. The travelers complain that the fare charged are much above the normal charges. It is also reported that in some of the flights seats distancing is not maintained. People were sitting in close seats one after the other.  According to a World Bank report of 2018, India to retain top position with remittence of $ 80 billion. This is the amount of money these people send to our country every year. Even if the government could not have provided free lift to all at least a concessional fare could have offered to the needy. Indian Railway is also not different in charging from the evacuated migrant workers and the lot. The train departing from New Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram is a fully air conditioned train and the fare is understood to be equivalent to Rajdhani Express. While the government is discouraging the AC in home quarantine the railway could have pro

OECD and IMF ECONOMIC FORECASTS Percentage change in Real GDP Growth           (Selected countries only)                        OECD               IMF                     2020  2021    2020  2021                          (%)     (%)       (%)     (%) World            2.4     3.3      - 3.0    5.8 Australia       1.8     2.6         _        _ USA               1.9     2.1      - 5.9    4.7 UK                  0.8    0.8      - 6.5    4.0 Italy                0.0    0.5      - 9.1    4.8 Germany        0.3    0.9      - 7.0    5.2 Canada          1.3    1.9      - 6.2    4.2 Japan             0.2    0.7      - 5.2    3.0 Korea             2.0    2.3          _        _ Russia            1.2   1.3        - 5.5   3.5 Brazil              1.7   1.8        - 5.3   2.9 Saudi Arabia  1.4   1.9        - 2.3   2.9 China              4.9   6.4          1.2   9.2 India                5.1  5.6          1.9    7.4 (Indebted to Global Economic Effects of Covid19 reported by Congressional

According  to available information about 15 sets of trains are being resumeded services from Tuesday to different destinations including Thiruvananthapuram from New Delhi. Subsequent to this more trains may be put into operations. This will result into huge inflow of people. All the state governments including the Government of Kerala may invariably take a decision regarding testing of cent per cent passengers on arrival at the respective destination stations. What we are facing in the boarder check posts may be avoided at the railway stations. Another important aspect in this regard is quarantine arrangements. Whether it is institutional or home quarantine it should be ensured by all that the purpose is served. While some states are standing aghast we Keralites have successfully passed the first and second stages. We all must remember that this third stage is the final one. If we can pass this stage unharmed, after this final lap we can be at the victory stand. We all, ri

Media  is continuously reporting about huge rush and the perilous condition of people at the boarder check posts of Kerala. The prime reason for this state of affairs is lack of a smooth transition of passes both at the states of origin and destination. There may be hundred reasons to quote for the delay by the concerned authorities but at the same time they must ensure that the pass is issued in time. It is also found that those who are reaching the check posts without pass shall be disallowed entry to the home state. People coming from far away places, if asked to return, is cruelty at its highest. Pass from the state of origin does not hold much of a significance. Even a pass from the home state too does not seem to be essential. The all important thing is to find whether the person is infected by coronavirus or not. This cannot be confirmed by pass but through proper medical tests only. However, the state can verify their identity through adhar card or any such document

                          Infection-   Population-                           Fatality       Infection                               (%)               (%) Countries Belgium               16.38         0.45 France                  14.87        0.26 UK                         14.78        0.31 Italy                       13.91        0.36 Spain                     10.11        0.55 Brazil                     06.79        0.07 USA                        05.97        0.40 UAE                        01.04        0.12 Soudi                     00.65        0.10 Kuwait                   00.65        0.17 India                      03.32        0.004 States Gujarat                   06.06          0.01 MP                          05.93          0.003 Bengal                    05.10          0.002 Karnataka              03.98          0.001 Maharashtra          03.83          0.02 Rajasthan               02.86          0.005 UP                           02.00          0.001 Delhi   

All said and done one has to learn to travel with the coronavirus, may be, for an year or more. Untill a vaccine or an effective medicine reach us prevention is the only way. Fortunately, this virus possess a super ego. Unless one personally go and invite and provide vehicle it will not visit anyone. If we too can hold the same ego we should not go and invite it to our place. However once it is brought to our home it will immediately make friendship with all others in our house. Isolation, sanitizer and mask are the three mantras to be chanted day in and day out. Those who are well versed in chanting the mantras shall be the ultimate winner. KV George kvgeorgein@gmail.com

The  mysterious coronavirus have shaken the whole world. Until now no one has any answer to prevent this dangerous virus. However the pandemic had catalysed the development of novel coronavirus vaccine across the biotech industry,  both by pharmaceutical companies and research organisations in different countries. 1.China The first Covid 19 vaccine in China was expected to be ready for clinical trials by the end of April, according to Xu Nanping, China's vice-minister for science and technology. The National Medical Products Administration of China has approved the use of Favilavir, an anti-viral drug, as treatment for coronavirus. The clinical trial is being conducted in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. 2. Oxford University The University of Oxford's ChAdOx1 nCov-19 is an adenovirus vaccine vector developed by the University's Jenner Institute. The University is testing the vaccine in a clinical trial planned to be conducted in the Thames Valley Region. 3. Roivant

Covid 19  has well exposed the Kerala economy. For decades, the government's one after the other have practicality done very little for the economic build up of the state. Despite the state possess all the necessary ingredients to raise the per capita income of the people to the level of developed countries we prefer to contain with the foreign remittance from our near and dear, supply of alcoholic drinks to the people, selling dreams to the people to the tune of lakhs and cores and playing politics round the year.  Until a decade ago politics was the prime job of many people, part time job for some others and hoby for remaining. Now it is changed and the people look for a fairly good income. There are many ways to raise the income of a fair amount of population without much of an investment by the government. As per a report published by The New Indian Express dated 6th March 2020 the total number of domestic and foreign tourists visited the state during 2019 was 1.96

   1. Singapore University India is likely to see the last of the Covid 19 cases by 26 July, according to a team of researchers from Singapore. The team from the Singapore University of Technology and Design used  an artificial intelligence algorithm to make data-driven predictions of when the Covid 19 pandemic will end in 131 countries. (The predictions were uploaded on the university's website on 26 April.) 2. Protiviti and Times Network, Mumbai The coronavirus pandemic in India may peak in early to mid-May, accordingly to projections in a study conducted by global consulting firm Protiviti and Times Network. The study predicts the number of cases will range from 30,000 to a worst case scenario of about 2,86,000. About 30% of the affected people may require intensive care facilities. 3. ICMR As many as 348 million Indians may be infected by the novel coronavirus. The pandemic (Covid19) may eventually leave more than 0.7 million dead in a worst-case scenario, according

Indian  Railway has started sending trains for the migrant workers from one state to their home states. The state of Kerala alone has over 1.5 lakhs people held up in other states. They include students, unemployed ones, casual workers, people gone for medical needs, visit holy places, visit near and dear etc. They are to be brought back on a prearranged priority basis. Most of these people are to be brought from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. If properly planned, the trains now going from Kerala to other states can be used for the return of Malayalees from other states. Since public transport is banned all over, the government has to arrange transport means for them to return. The special trains now deployed for the migrant workers would be the ideal mode. KV George kvgeorgein@gmail.com

We can find an enviable unity and concern among men the world over beyond the boundaries of nation, language, religion, politics and such human creations when humanity itself has come under threat by the invisible noval coronavirus. As on this day coronavirus have taken away 1323  lives in India. Life is life whether lost by Covid 19 or by other causes. We are looking at some such deaths here. The readers may see whether some of these death could have avoided had we taken some preventive measures. It may also be thought whether we can bring down the figures during the coming time. 1. Death of children under 5 years of age due to air pollution according to the State of India's Environment (SoE) (Ref PTI, New Delhi June 6,2019) = 1 lakh 2. Road accident deaths in 2018 (Ref Times of India) = 1,51,417 3. Murders in 2018  - 29,017 (As per the report of NCRB) 4. Cancer i) Mortality due to tobacco use estimated = 3500 persons per day ii) Tobacco use accounted for 3,17,928 deat

              While  going through the Covid 19 cases and deaths reported from selected countries it can be found that both the number of infections as well as deaths are moving upwards  in comparison of cases on 1st April and on 1st May. As the only way to prevent the spread is keep distancing from infected person and infected surface and objects, it can be safely assumed that no country is taking effective measures to prevent the pandemic.               1st April            1st May     (No. of cases & No. of deaths) China    82631 3321  83956  4637 France  51477 3514 129581 24376 Germ'y  67366   732 159119 6288 Italy    105792 12430  205463 27967 Japan    2178        57   14281  432     S. Kor.  9887        165  10774  248 Spain  94417       818  213435 24543    UK       25154    1789  171253  26771 USA   163199   2850 1069826 63006 UAE        664            6   12481   105     Saudi.   1563         10   22753   162 India     1636.         38  35043  1147 (These f