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Vol. 10 No. 3 (2022)
Journal Space and Culture, India

Perspective

Managing the Pandemic in the South Asian (SAARC) Countries

https://doi.org/10.20896/saci.v10i3.1262

Published 2022-11-28

  • Venkat Rao Pulla
    • ,
  • Aisha Shoukat
    • ,
  • Muhammad Jafar
    • ,
  • Md. Fakhrul Alam
    • ,
  • M.T.R. Shamini Attanayak
    • ,
  • Jabeen Mussarat
    • ,
  • Gyanendra Gautam
    • ,
  • Rachel Lafain
    • ,
  • Sanjay Prasad

Venkat Rao Pulla
Foundation Professor of Strengths-Based-Social Work Practice, Brisbane Institute of Strengths-Based Practice; Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the College of Arts, Society & Education, James Cook University, Inaugural Fellow, Australian College of Researchers & Life Member, Australian Institute of International Affairs

Aisha Shoukat
Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Muhammad Jafar
Lecturer, Department of Social Work, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Md. Fakhrul Alam
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh

M.T.R. Shamini Attanayak
Director General (Acting) and Additional Director General (Academic), National Institute of Social Development, Ministry of Primary Industries and Social Empowerment, Sri Lanka

Jabeen Mussarat
Head of the Department of International Relations and Political Science, University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Pakistan

Gyanendra Gautam
Gyanendra Gautam Acting Service Delivery Manager, Centacare, Sunshine Coast, Australia

Rachel Lafain
Social Worker, Adelaide, Australia & Research Associate, Brisbane Institute of Strengths-based Practice &Field Education, University of South Australia

Sanjay Prasad
GIS Consultant, Director, SAMNE Associates Pvt. Limited, Delhi, & JICA Expert Team Member of “The Project for the Comprehensive Improvement of Environmental Sanitation in Varanasi

Abstract

This paper explores the coronavirus pandemic response from a South Asian perspective. When their case numbers were still relatively low, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries adopted lockdowns at the same time or before India did. On 24 March 2020, when there were just two confirmed cases, Nepal went into lockdown, and Sri Lanka locked down on 22 March, when there were 78 cases. India locked down the day after Nepal, with all countries imposing some form of restrictions on people’s movement. This paper draws its data from the first year of the pandemic that loomed in the SAARC nations. The regional cooperation provided by SAARC has allowed the sharing of resources and a strengthening of the region’s self-reliance. Notably, the commitment made by India to ensure its neighbours are supplied with vaccines, many of these donated. The eight-member SAARC states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

This paper draws on the knowledge and perceptions of academics and social workers in the SAARC countries. It provides insight into the responses, impacts, vulnerabilities, and challenges faced by the region and in each specific country since the beginning of COVID-19. This paper also offers a discussion on vaccines, PPE, as well as the role of cooperation across the region. The relationship between India and the SAARC countries and its ‘neighbourhood first’ policy are also discussed.

Keywords

SAARC Countries, India COVID-19, Pakistan COVID-19, Bhutan COVID-19, Afghanistan COVID-19, Maldives COVID-19, Nepal COVID-19, Bangladesh COVID-19, Sri Lanka COVID-19

pdf

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