The Foundation for Democratic Reforms initiated a webinar series during the pandemic, titled ‘Crisis As Opportunity’. Through engagement with renowned specialists in various fields, this three-part webinar series aimed to propose solutions for significant governance challenges in the Healthcare, Big City Governance  and Agriculture sectors.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the faults within social sectors and its impact reverberated across institutions and cities. The discussions in the webinar series are intended to shed light on the fault-lines within our institutions and find ways to make them more resilient.

Following is a summary of the discussions in the webinar series:

1. Inadequacies in Healthcare:

A Discussion Paper on Rejuvenating the Healthcare System was presented. It identified systemic shortcomings in the Indian healthcare system in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. A comprehensive Family Physician-led Primary Care Model was outlined, tailored to Indian circumstances and drawing from global best practices. Concerns regarding the limitations of insurance-based models for achieving universal coverage were emphasised.  The webinar was held on June 27, 2020, featuring Dr. Gullapalli N.Rao, Founder of L.V Prasad Eye Institute Hyderabad, and Dr. Henk Bekedam, Former WHO Representative to India. The unanimous consensus was that a robust primary care system is pivotal for universal health coverage. Panelists highlighted the importance of enhanced infrastructure and better-trained healthcare professionals. The utilisation of technological advancements to enhance healthcare delivery was advocated.

2. Disruptions in the Food Supply Chain:

  A Discussion Paper titled ‘Agriculture – From Poverty into Prosperity’ was presented. Challenges within the agriculture sector were identified, including government-imposed market constraints, distortions caused by minimum support prices (MSP), inefficient supply chains, and inadequate infrastructure and storage capacity. Policy recommendations encompassed market liberalisation, improved infrastructure, promotion of economies of scale, and streamlined supply chains. The potential benefits of organised retail chains in agriculture were underscored.

The webinar was conducted on July 4th, 2020 and featured panelists such as Dr. Yoginder K. Alagh, former Union Minister, and Shri Ramesh Deshpande, CEO of India Agriculture Group (IAG) International. The panelists stressed the significance of enhancing last-mile connectivity, optimising supply chains, and involving organised retail players. The unanimous agreement was that liberalising agriculture markets is imperative. The utilisation of technological advancements to boost agricultural productivity and incomes was recommended.

3. Challenges in Big City Governance: 

A Discussion Paper presented by FDR addressed the critical role of effective governance in large Indian cities amidst increasing urbanisation. Best practices from four global metropolises – New York, London, Seoul, and Bangkok – were identified. Recommendations were provided concerning key governance challenges in major cities. 

The webinar conducted on July 11th, 2020 highlighted the glaring lack of decentralisation in city governance.  Panelists included Yamini Aiyar, President and Chief Executive of the Center for Policy Research, and Dr. Junaid Kamal Ahmad, India Country Director for the World Bank. Challenges concerning inadequate delegation of authority, limited financial resources, neglect of urban planning processes, lack of coordination among authorities, and haphazard urban expansion were explored. The importance of political consensus in discussions about decentralisation was emphasised.