IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON DIFFERENT SECTORS & SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE STATE OF ODISHA: ULTIMATE USE OF DESIGN THINKING

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the socio-economic aspects of the state of Odisha. The agriculture sector had received a jolt, with substantial crop loss and decline in demand for agricultural products. The industry sector has also been considerably affected, with many businessforced to close or operate at reduced capacity. There has been a decline in tourism and other service industries.

The pandemic had adversely impacted on the state economy. The state GDP was contracted by 5.3% in 2020-21 which is lower than contraction experienced at all India Level@6.6%. Odisha economy made remarkable upsurge post-pandemic growing @ 11.5%. During Covid, unemployment continued to adversely impact the socio-economic condition of the poor and vulnerable. The state government has taken laudable initiative to mitigate the impact of the pandemic providing financial assistance to business and individualstogether withincreasing expenditure on health care.

Impact of COVID-19 on different sectors and socio-economic aspects of the state of Odisha:

• Agriculture: The agriculture sector has been particularly ravaged by the pandemic, with crop loss and decline in demand for agricultural products. The state's agriculture sector is heavily dependent on migrant labor. The lockdown and travel restrictions made it difficult for migrant workers to return to the state thus resulted in shortage of labor in the agricultural sector leading to severe crop loss. The decline in demand for agricultural products has also seriously affected the sector. The Agriculture & allied sector exhibited contraction of 3.37 percent in 2021-22due to the impact of Covid & multiple natural calamities like heavy rain, unseasonal cyclone, cyclonic storm’ ‘Yaas’ followed by flood water inundation, cyclone’Gulab’,’Jawaad’ in December 2021& January 2022 brought colossal damage to paddy & other vegetable crops in the state.
• Industry: The industry sector has also been affected by the pandemic, with many business enterprises being forced to close or operate at reduced capacity. The manufacturing sector was considerably affected, as many business enterprises were unable to operate due to the frequent lockdowns and travel restrictions. The mining sector was gravely affected since the demand for minerals declined due to the slowdown in economic activity.
• Services: The services sector was less affected by the pandemic than the agriculture and industry sectors. However, there was a decline in tourism and other service industries. The tourism sector was grossly affected by the pandemic since people were reluctant to travel at the risk of infection. Other service industries i.e hospitality and transportation sectors, have also been affected by the pandemic.The Industry & Services sector contracted by8.83percent&3.18percent during 2021 respectively.
• Economy: The state economy has grown at 7.1percentper annum during 2012-13 to 2019-20.  The decline in growth rate for2020-21 is attributed to the catastrophic impact of Covid-19 on state economy. The pandemic has also exacerbated existing inequalities in the state, with the poor and vulnerable being disproportionately affected.

• The state government has taken a number of measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic i.e: Providing financial assistance to business enterprises and individuals, Increasing spending on health care, Relaxing lockdown restrictions & Promoting e-commerce and other digital platforms. However, the pandemic caused incalculable loss of human lives & had a lasting impact on every possible province of human life in the society.
• A global pandemic puts enormous stress on governments and healthcare services. s. These challenges bring together a blend of product design, experience design, and service design problems that are desperate for a solution, and design thinking can help.

Keywords: Covid 19 Pandemic, Gross Domestic Product, Socio-Economic impact, Design Thinking