Technology Use by Urban Local Bodies in India to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic

Falguni Mukherjee

doi:10.4018/ijepr.20210401.oa9

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive review of the use of information and communication technologies by urban local bodies in India in their war against the COVID-19 pandemic based on a detailed survey conducted during the pandemic period. India reported its first case of COVID-19 in late January, and government authorities have been on a war footing since then to curb the spread of the virus. Following a tradition that has been instilled within government agencies since the Modi Government came into power in 2014, local, state, and central government agencies turned to a widespread use of geospatial, surveillance and information and communication technologies as part of a strategy to monitor and track movement, manage individuals, and enforce quarantine norms. However, several important questions arise from the blind use of technology that remain unanswered. The use of technology by government agencies raise key questions on privacy, civil liberties, and suitability and viability of their use.

Highlights

In December 2019 the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, China
India reported its first case of COVID-19 in late January, and government authorities have been on a war footing since to curb the spread of the virus
I provide a thorough review of different technological measures normally utilized for urban governance that have been implemented by the Indian government at the local levels to manage the situation in the wake of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic based on a comprehensive review of technological measures employed by different government agencies in India

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In December 2019 the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Of an appropriate pharmacological intervention the most prevalent non-pharmaceutical measures implemented worldwide include shelter in place, social-distancing and lockdowns Such measures have been implemented with varying degrees of severity in different parts of the world including India. State and local government bodies have turned to technologies that are utilized for urban governance purposes to manage and monitor quarantining norms, track individuals and public health service deliveries and curb the spread of the virus. I provide a thorough review of different technological measures normally utilized for urban governance that have been implemented by the Indian government at the local levels to manage the situation in the wake of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic based on a comprehensive review of technological measures employed by different government agencies in India

USE OF TECHNOLOGIES

CONCLUSION