Redefining vulnerability and resilience from COVID-19 lens: a case study of COVID-19 management in Bihar, India

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered hidden vulnerabilities of the globalized world that were never witnessed before in modern history. Globalization once seen as the main driver for economic prosperity and poverty reduction became bane and led to the spread of coronavirus in the entire world. While coronavirus broke all the boundaries and spread to each segment of society, the scientific community thrives their best to unleash possible solutions for the effective management of COVID-19. To contain the spread of the virus and effective management of the pandemic, concerted efforts are applied from each section of the society. This chapter presents some of the key strategic approaches through digital means adopted by the Indian state of Bihar in containing the spread of coronavirus. Despite high population density, the mortality rate and rate of infection remained low in Bihar as compared to several Indian states. The concerted efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 through the use of technology-driven solutions, efficient management of migrant laborer, tracking of patients, and treatment minimized overall patient load and reduced suffering of people of Bihar. The pandemic has also brought a new dimension to the vulnerability and resilience discourse. This chapter also provides insights into the elements of vulnerabilities and resilience related to COVID-19 and how these elements are reshaped from the lens of COVID-19 management. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.