Pandemic generation

Pandemic generation

Subject: Environment/Science and technology

Context: The pandemic which continues to date has impacted all aspects of our life with the new generation potentially biggest sufferer, called as “pandemic generation”.

Concept:

• New generation that has taken birth during the pandemic, those about to be born and children under five will be the worst victims in terms of long-term impacts on growth and development
• The importance of this generation comes from the fact that by 2040, they will account for around roughly 46 per cent of the workforce in a country like India.
• 375 million children (from newborns to 14-year-olds) is likely to suffer long-lasting impacts, ranging from being underweight, stunting and increased child mortality, to losses in education and work productivity, according to the State of Environment Report, 2021, by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
• Over 500 million children have been forced out of school globally and India accounted for more than half of them.
• 115 million additional people might get pushed into extreme poverty by the pandemic – and most of them live in South Asia which will further impact this generation.