The whole world is fighting with a pandemic that has taken over thousands of lives around the world. It should be noted that we are not only fighting with a global pandemic, we are also fighting with hatred, harshness, and inhumanity.
Understanding Covid-19
The coronavirus has acutely impacted the world, the economies are turning negative, for the first time in history, the price of oil has fallen below zero. The coronavirus is novel, so the treatment of the pandemic is unknown. Researchers are working to find a vaccine while the only option which is helping curb the spread is lockdown and social distancing. Thus, the entire world is undergoing the phase of lockdown. Global cases are nearly 82 lakh and deaths around 4.5[1] lakh and still counting. Global harmony has been the key to fighting and preventing outspread of the virus. All countries are fighting in oneness firstly to tackle coronavirus and secondly for overcoming economic slowdown. Covid-19 has made us realize that we can survive with basal and we should be grateful to whatever we have.
India is amongst the top 10[2] worst affected countries by coronavirus. Still considering India’s dense population the outspread is well within control. As of now, the cases are around 3,54,000 and the death toll is 11,000. Covid-19 has impacted all ways of life, leading to a national lockdown with millions advised to stay isolated and home. Covid-19 lockdown has some unintended gains and falls.
Depressed Economy
The major effect has been on the Indian economy due to the national lockdown. India is the world’s largest democracy and home to around 1.38 billion people. People in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi are crammed into extremely dense bunch, where poverty and unemployment is out of control. Needless to say, the population hit the worst by the strict steps to lock the country down were the poor, the daily wagers, and the homeless[3]. With all nonessential businesses and workplaces shut, millions of laborers and workers are unknown what the future holds. This shock to our economy will lead to a recession where unemployment and poverty will further rise. The economy is being affected badly, having harsher repercussions when compared to coronavirus.
Analyzing the Crime Rate
Crime incidents have become rarer. Life under lockdown is not only changing how people live, but also the occurrence of crime. The good news is that this fundamental change is seeing certain crimes decrease; some areas have already seen recorded crime drop by as much as 20%[4]. But there are worrying signs because offenses like domestic violence and online fraud are surging and that new offenses (like malicious coughing and breaking lockdown rules ), are emerging too.
Several cities across India have reported a considerable decline in crime rates, thanks to the ongoing nationwide lockdown that was imposed to curb the COVID-19spread. Most of the tier1 and tier 2 cities reported a 60-90 percent drop in crimes in comparison with last year.
There has been a sharp decline in crimes like murders, robbery, theft, dacoity, and kidnapping. While heinous crimes like rape has decreased during this lockdown. Further, there are lesser violators of traffic rules and thus, minimizing the rate of fatal road accidents. A total of 181 people had died in 1,460 road accidents from March 25 to April 6 last year. Only 15 people died of 97 accidents in the same period this year[5]. Although, these crimes have reduced but crimes like domestic violence, and cyber crimes have increased in huge numbers.
Increased Domestic Violence
Irrespective of the crime rates going down but there is something more heinous happening in the homes of people. The whole country is fighting against the coronavirus pandemic whereas women at homes are enduring violence by their intimate partner. Lockdown all over the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic has desecrated not just lives but livelihood also, due to which there is a gradual spike in Domestic Violence cases by the partner during the lockdown. A lot of tensions and frustration is intensifying amongst the people, leading to domestic violence as well as child and elderly abuse. People out of angst and irritation are in a search to vent their frustration. family members are forced to bear the brunt.
The lockdown has made everyone to stay in their house due to which there has been a surge in the cases of domestic violence. The reason behind this is the loss of jobs, as they don’t have such resources to sustain themselves for long without money and food. Additionally, selling of liquors is also one of the reasons for aggravating domestic violence. The National Commission of Women (NCW) filed almost double the number of complaints during the lockdown as compared to the pre-lockdown days. The complaints received from March 23 to April 16 were 239 whereas in the previous 25 days survey it was just 123 complaints as recorded by NCW. Domestic labor, the wrongful exercise of patriarchal power, lack of education, limited technological resources to reach out to the authorities. Domestic violence came in disguise during the times of lockdown and has been rising since.
Recently the J&K HC bench headed by Justice Gita Mittal took suo-moto cognizance of domestic violence cases amid the lockdown and issued detailed guidelines for prevention and protection. They lack the adequate capacity and support to come out of their houses seeking help from friends, relatives, or acquaintances. The pandemic challenges create logistic problems for them to reach out to police or state commissions due to social distancing and isolation norms. The lack of adequate financial resources exacerbates gender inequality” and soaring domestic abuse cases are typical epitomes of it is not left untouched with a steep rise in crime against women every day amid the imposed lockdown restrictions. India along with the continuous fear of health security makes them vulnerable to sufficient medical aid.
Surge in cases of Cyber Crimes
Increasing cybercrimes during lockdown. In the course of lockdown, people are using social media websites, more often watching content by subscribing to web channels like Netflix, Amazon, HotStar, and also playing online games so installing various apps. Users have a propensity to give permissions to access their personal information available to use the services provided by the apps. Many times, we buy apps or access online services, financial details are too shared by the users. All these acts have opened the gates for spyware and ransomware attacks. A spyware steals vital personal information of the user while ransomware takes over the login and other important credentials of a user. These attacks may result in major losses to people not only in terms of finance but sociologically too.
Banks are operating with limited sources so people are using Internet banking or phone banking to avail banking services. Cyber attackers are making phishing calls or sending phishing emails to bank customers pretending to be bank officials and asking them for sensitive vital information. Recently, the COVID 19 regulatory package of the Reserve Bank of India, Banks are allowing a moratorium by deferring payment of EMI/ Term Loan Installments & Interest/ Interest on Working Capital, for 3 months[6]. Cybercriminals are now aiming at the loan holders and connecting with them regarding their EMI payments and through the procedure requesting them to share an OTP, CVV, password, or PIN related to their accounts to avail the facility as directed by the RBI.
Another virus parallel to the pandemic is hoax news or fake news. The news about corona came in India long before corona showed signs in India and there were rumors about the treatment, vaccines, and its origin. In March, the false information on social media traveling about ‘chicken is a carrier of Coronavirus’, cost the poultry industry a loss of around Rs. 1.6 billion per day. In another event, an audio clip went viral on social media wherein it was claimed that vegetable sellers were licking/spitting on the vegetables to spread the Coronavirus. Tablighi Jamaat incident was hyped because of fake news, most of the videos were doctored and news were hoax about them spitting on corona warriors. This led to communal disharmony because of the rumors spread on social media. It was very evident that various hoax news concerning coronavirus was rumored and was meant to create tension or fear amongst the people.
Conclusion
It can be observed that if one door closed for the criminal’s others opened domestic violence and cybercrime. To sum it up, it is right to say that crime has come down but the fact is it is transitory and it will last till the lockdown lasts. It is definite that once the lockdown is removed crime rate will increase like wildfire spreads in the forest.
Such an economic breakdown will lead to an increase in crime rate, typically leading to an increase in youth unemployment rates, because more and more businesses are striving for survival resulting in huge layoffs and minimal hiring. The batch that graduates during the recession period is more likely/forced to be involved in unlawful activities because of a lack of financial backing. Also, people belonging to the poor class may find it difficult to find work again due to a recession period and may be forced into unlawful activities to make the ends meet. Once such individuals get involved in some kind of criminal activity, it is likely they will remain involved in such activities for longer durations. Thus, recessions not only lead to short-term negative outcomes on the labor market but can indeed produce career criminals.
Thus, post COVID-19 lockdown the police and the officials will not have to deal with the COVID-19 cases but they will have to increase their patrolling and maybe introduce certain new laws to curb the increase in crimes. Giving time to the economy will help in restoring all the damages caused. Hence, the lockdown has certain gains and falls.
References:
[1] ‘Coronavirus Update (Live): 8,298,470 Cases And 446,905 Deaths From COVID-19 Virus Pandemic – Worldometer’ (Worldometers.info, 2020) <https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?utm_campaign=homeAdvegas1?> accessed 17 June 2020
[2]‘Countries Where Coronavirus Has Spread – Worldometer’ (Worldometers.info, 2020) <https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/countries-where-coronavirus-has-spread/> accessed 17 June 2020
[3]‘India’s Lockdown Is Proving Disastrous For Millions Of Daily Wagers’ (India’s lockdown is proving disastrous for millions of daily wagers, 2020) <https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/india-s-lockdown-is-proving-disastrous-for-millions-of-daily-wagers-34879> accessed 17 June 2020
[4]‘Coronavirus: How Crime Changes During A Lockdown’ (The Conversation, 2020) <https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-how-crime-changes-during-a-lockdown-134948> accessed 17 June 2020
[5]Staff O, ‘Accidents, Crime Rate Drop During COVID-19 Lockdown’ (OnManorama, 2020) <https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/04/23/kerala-coronavirus-impact-accidents-crime-rate-drop-during-lockdown.html> accessed 17 June 2020
[6](2020) <https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/rbi-extends-loan-moratorium-by-three-months-till-aug-3> accessed 17 June 2020
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