ALREADY facing issues of credibility for the handling of coronavirus pandemic when it gripped the world early in 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) seems to be in a mood to put itself under further harsher scrutiny over its investigation into the origin of the virus from the dreaded laboratory in Wuhan, China. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is in the eye of storm for its alleged role in outbreak of the coronavirus. Various probes had suggested role of an intern messing up with the virus handling, and later passing it on to her boyfriend. He is supposed to have infected scores during a visit to the now under-scrutiny ‘Wet Market’. However, a WHO expert in the team of scientists has suggested that it is unlikely to have headed from the laboratory. Whether the claim has come under duress and pressure from the rigid Chinese authorities is the big question here. The WHO has been criticised in the past for being under big influence of China. If the investigation by the agency also toes the line of the CPC, then the authenticity of the final report and place of the WHO in the global healthcare system itself will be in doubt. The world is waiting. SAFE

 

Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari’s statement that road accident scenario in India is more serious than COVID-19 is an apt assessment of the situation prevailing on the country’s roads. On an average, Indian roads witness 415 deaths per day in accidents which is the highest in the world. The situation is getting worse each passing year despite vast improvement in highways and infrastructure network. That leaves a disturbing question for the authorities and people alike to answer. Do Indians care nothing about their own lives? Part of the answer is a big yes but another part lays the blame squarely on faulty planning of the infrastructure. Road safety audits during various stages of development is supposed to be the most suitable way to correct all deficiencies causing accidents. However, it can be achieved only if the exercise is undertaken with honesty. Many road projects being executed in metros and tier-2 cities provide glaring examples of mindless planning where technical glitches are left to be addressed after a project is completed. Unless there is cohesiveness in planning and execution of a project, the scourge of accidents will continue to haunt the country.