61% Indians angry and depressed as Covid-19 wreaks havoc, healthcare crumbles: Survey

NEW DELHI: As Covid-19 continues to spread like a forest fire in India, a majority of Indians are anxious, depressed, and angry over the state of affairs in the country, a survey has found. With the healthcare system reeking of exhaustion amid a shortage of oxygen and emergency medicines, India faces an unprecedented medical crisis.

The survey was conducted by the citizen engagement platform LocalCircles to explore what people are going through mentally as they battle the pandemic and where they stand on the government's approach to tackling the situation.

61% INDIANS ANGRY, UPSET, DEPRESSED OR WORRIED

The second wave of Covid-19 in India triggered nationwide panic as daily cases surged beyond 4 lakh. Reports of shortage of beds in hospitals, medicines and oxygen supply caused severe psychological impact on people, the survey said.

When asked to describe their state of mind two months into the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, about 23 per cent of the respondents said they were feeling "anxious or worried". Another eight per cent said they were "depressed, gloomy or sad".

About 20 per cent said they were "upset and angry" while 10 per cent were "extremely angry", and only seven per cent were "calm or peaceful". About 28 per cent said they felt "optimistic and hopeful".

The findings of the poll indicated that 61 per cent of Indians are feeling angry, upset, depressed or worried as Covid-19 rages across the country. The question in the survey conducted by Local Circles received 8,141 responses.

CITIZENS SPLIT OVER INDIA'S HANDLING OF COVID-19 SECOND WAVE

The second question in the survey sought the citizens' response to whether they think India was on the right track when it came to handling the situation.

Around 41 per cent said, "Yes" while 45 per cent of citizens said "No", and 14 per cent did not have a view. This question in the survey received 8,367 responses.

If one breaks down the comments received from citizens, the 45 per cent who do not believe that India is on the right track have raised a series of concerns. Some have raised the key issue of central and state governments not enhancing capacities learning from experiences around the globe.

51% CITIZENS UNSURE IF EXPERTS HAVE GRIP OVER SECOND COVID-19 WAVE

A higher rate of transmission of Covid-19 in the second wave has been linked to other mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2 including the UK and Maharashtra variants.

In response to a question on how confident they were about experts having a grip over the situation, only 18 per cent of the respondents said they were "highly confident". Another 25 per cent were "somewhat confident" while 28 per cent had "very little confidence" and 23 per cent said they were "not confident at all".

The findings of the poll indicated that 51 per cent are unsure if experts in experts have control over what is causing the massive second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. This question in the survey received 8,541 responses.

To conclude, the findings of the survey indicate that 61 per cent of Indians are angry, upset, depressed, or worried over the Covid-19 crisis in the country. It also shows that citizens surveyed are split over whether India is on the right track in handling the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. About 51 per cent of citizens are not sure if the experts have a grip over what is causing the massive second surge in Covid-19 cases.