New Delhi: Every three out of five Indians are confident that the country is well-equipped to handle a potential third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic this year, a new survey revealed.
Conducted by community platform LocalCircles, the survey marked India entering the 75th year of its independence, and questioned respondents on their thoughts about the direction the country will take in the next 12 months.
“Feedback from citizens has been sought on various national issues,” LocalCircles said in a press statement Thursday on the findings of the survey of over 75,000 people.
Major findings
Majority of the respondents expressed optimism over at least two of the several key questions LocalCircles posed.
On the impact of Covid on the economy, the findings showed that 75 per cent Indians believe the economy will recover significantly by the time India completes its 75th year of independence on 15 August 2022.
“Breaking down the poll, 31% of citizens said the economy “will recover significantly but not completely”, and 15% said it “will have limited recovery”. 3% of citizens said the economy “will not recover at all”, and 5% said it “will deteriorate further”, while 2% did not have an opinion,” LocalCircles said.
The other key question concerned the upcoming potential third wave of Covid and whether it is expected to overwhelm the country’s healthcare system in August-December this year, as the second wave had done in April-May.
As such, 58 per cent respondents believe that India has learnt from the debilitating second wave and is far more prepared for the third wave, if it were to happen in the coming months.
“26% of citizens said they are “highly confident”. 32% of citizens said they are “somewhat confident”, and 25% said they “have very little confidence”. 13% of citizens said they have “no confidence at all”, while 4% did not have an opinion,” LocalCircles added.
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Other findings
Respondents expressed more pessimism in response to most of the other questions in the LocalCircles survey.
For instance, only 20 per cent respondents are anticipating “growth and prosperity for all” over the next year. Nearly the same percentage of respondents is confident in the country’s ability to drive growth and prosperity.
Similarly, just 26 per cent of Indians surveyed predict that the country will be able to generate a sufficient amount of “new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities” in the next 12 months.
Furthermore, 35 per cent believe India can successfully reduce the extent of bribery and corruption by 15 August 2022, while confidence levels in the country’s ability to progress on social stability stands at 26 per cent.
Survey demographics
In its findings, LocalCircles said it received survey responses from more than 75,000 people in 280 districts nationwide.
Elaborating on the demographics, the survey said: “68% respondents were men while 32% respondents were women. 43% respondents were from tier 1, 37% from tier 2 and 20% respondents were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.”
However, responses to the specific questions represent a small fraction of the total number of respondents.
While the questions on economic recovery and preparedness for the third wave received 11,081 and 8,880 answers, respectively, responses to the remaining questions range from 10,600 to 11,300 each.
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