2019 - An Overview

A single party retained it’s majority position, at the Centre, consecutively for the second time, in the general election held in May, 2019. People gave their full support for a second term, to rule and prove their credentials, in their governance.

It is found that in this year, there is a strong desire among people, for the environment protection, basically for maintaining the ecological balance, by way of not cutting down trees, by planting new saplings, not allowing further flattening of hills, not burning firewoods as fuel etc. Everybody has accepted now that the climate change is really happening, all over the world, with unseasonal rains, flash floods, severe drought conditions, rise in the normal temperature, heavy winters and summers, which are all new phenomenon, seen in the recent years.

The sparking speech of the Swedish teenage activist, Greta Thunberg, on climate change was very inspiring and had gone viral in the media. The authorities now just cannot sit on the papers but are responsible to take serious actions, to prevent the world from any more destruction.

Awareness programme against plastic use has gone well with all public and considerable reduction of its use is seen, by switching over to cloth bags from plastic bags of low microns. Hotels and Restaurants too refused to give their parcel foods, in plastic bags; instead, the consumers have to bring their own vessels for collecting the food in certain pockets. Proper waste management techniques are being adopted by housing societies as per the instructions of the local bodies, by keeping wet and dry wastes separately, so that plastic item can be recycled, while manures can be made from wet vegetable waste. Several Startup groups have come up to procure the unused excess food, leftover after any social functions, to distribute among the needy, resulting in zero wastage of foods. Their volunteers will come and pick up the food items, just on receiving a phone call. 

People have become more health-conscious by many awareness programmes, aired through TV and other social media platforms. Usage of organic foods, with more fiber content, less of fats and oils, is gaining popularity. The need of exercise and diet control has also become the favourites of many, to remain in good health. The number of people, taking Health Insurance Policies has increased dramatically comparing to the previous year.

The number of people going on tours, both domestic and international, for leisure and rejuvenation has gone up in the year 2019, compared to earlier years. The slogan of “Give time to you” has got a momentum. Now everybody enjoys, “me time” for self growth, to rewind and for happiness.

Various skill development programmes, are being organized by Corporate firms in their CSR activities, to improve the working of their staff or for the benefit of others working somewhere else.

 

 Both male and female of the married class started to think of seriously about parenting and sharing responsibilities, each other, as per their choice and convenience, leaving aside any gender bias. Concept of single parent, surrogating, gay marriage, co-habitation, Senior Citizen homes, offering employment to talented transgender communities etc. are now looked upon as routine, rather than an exception or taboo.

Atrocities on women are being increased day by day, especially those numbers have reached to a maximum level in recent years. Accordingly, the movement of “Nari-shakti” or “Sthree-shakti” has also increased proportionately. The famous protest song “Called a rapist in your path” initially started in Chile by a feminist group, is gaining momentum in USA and Europe and very soon, it will spread in India too. 2019 can be termed as a year of protests, whether it is in Chile, Lebanon, Hong Kong or any other place in the world.

The poor economic conditions prevailed in our country, led to the tepid growth of the economy. Not only economic growth in the year 2019 was below the expectation, but it deteriorated further, touching the minimum level in recent years, as per economists.

Despite various measures taken by both Government and the Reserve Bank of India, the situation has not improved yet to the desired level. The demand for consumer goods and other manufactured goods have not picked up. The manufacturing activity is also at its lowest level. Auto sectors, infrastructure and banking sectors were the most affected. The increasing trend of prices of essential commodities combined with the widening fiscal deficit gap, economy has slipped almost to a recessionary level. The recent inflationary trend of the economy has aggravated the situation further, but economists feel, it is cyclic in nature and in relation to the world economy. We can all hope for a better economic growth in the coming years.

The collapse of PMC bank and pathetic conditions of a few NBFCs were major issues still not resolved fully. Necessary actions are being taken by the concerned authorities to come out of the financial crisis, so that we can hope for a better tomorrow.

The creation of a new state and conversion of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory by a separate act in the Parliament in 2019, was a major milestone for the unity and integrity of India, though some have disagreed with it. The prolonged and disputed case of Babri Masjid issue was finally put to rest, in the year 2019, with the Supreme Court order, to allot five acres of land for construction of a Masjid.

Technology in all fields is improved. But, the role of technology has reduced employment opportunities to a certain extent and retrenchment of staff is very common, now a days. The anxiety of losing a job has created many problems in the minds of people and the end result is frustration. Those retrenched should be given an opportunity to develop their other skills, so that they can be utilized for some other work in the same firm, to enable them to earn for a living.

Anyway, let us hope for the best in the coming years, so that more and more people are upgraded from “below the poverty line” to have a better standard of living.