Social Science_Project.pptx

❖ In response to these concerns, the UK government has made efforts to provide certain populations with food parcels and free meals to collect and take home. ❖ These populations include high-risk vulnerable individuals such as the elderly who have no support network, and school children of low-income families. ❖ The UK government has also reduced restrictions on delivery hours for retailers in order to allow stores to restock with basic food products. ❖ Furthermore, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reassured the public that despite low inventory of certain food products in local stores, there are no such shortages of food. ❖ Similar statements have been made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition to, and despite reassurance by the government, stores have nonetheless made drastic changes by restricting the amount of each product that people can buy, providing more than 30,000 new jobs to meet the high pressure of restocking shelves, and setting special shopping hours for the elderly, vulnerable populations and NHS stuff. ❖ A further change being implemented includes a decrease in the range of products being made by manufacturers, with the aim of focusing on products that are in greater need. ❖ Independent supermarkets have also been affected by the high demand on food products. ❖ Measures implemented by these local stores include free delivery of food products to customers to avoid panic-buying, putting restrictions on the number of customers allowed in at any given time to avoid overcrowding, and expanding on the number of suppliers whom they buy their products from to avoid food shortage.

❖ Although supermarkets have seen a huge demand on food products, other stores such as restaurants and cafes have been forced to close. ❖ As a result, many of these food stores have been put at risk of permanent closure and many of their employees have lost their jobs. ❖ This impact of COVID-19 on the food industry has forced Leon, a UK fast-food chain, to change its business model. ❖ 65 of its restaurants were said to turn into shops that sell refrigerated ready meal-type plastic pouches. ❖ People are dying out of hunger.

Unemployment ❖ Due to lockdown unemployment rose from 6.7% on 15th March to 26% on 19th April. ❖ During the lockdown an estimated 14 crore (140 million) people lost employment. ❖ More than 45% of households across the nation have reported an income drop as compared to the previous year. ❖ This has lead to a huge drop in the GDP of the nation.



Consumer ❖ An individual who buys products or services for personal use and not for manufacture or resale. ❖ A consumer is someone who can make the decision whether or not to purchase an item at the store, and someone who can be influenced by marketing and advertisements. ❖ Any time someone goes to a store and purchases a toy, shirt, beverage, or anything else, they are making that decision as a consumer.

Duties of consumer ❖ Duty of consumer to pay for the services or goods purchased or used. However, if a client decides not to pay for the services, here is what u can do. ❖ Duty of consumer to check weights, balances, prices etc. and read the labels carefully. ❖ To update oneself about the various schemes of consumer protection. ❖ Duty not to fall in the trap of misleading information and advertisements.

❖ Not to buy goods from black markets. ❖ To be an ethical consumer and procure the bills, receipts etc. for the good and services purchased. ❖ If a consumer fails to take them then he/she might find it difficult to file a complaint and prove the defect in the good. ❖ Duty to gain knowledge about consumer rights and duties and to spread awareness about the same. ❖ Duty to file a complaint in case there is a defect in the good or service so purchased.

EXPLOITATION OF CONSUMERS 1) Under weight and under measurement- Sometimes the goods produced in the market are not properly measured or weighed. So sellers give these goods to the consumers less than weight or measurement to get more profit. This lead to financial loss to the consumers 2)Duplicate articles- In the names of branded product fake or duplicate articles of low quality are sold in the market. Duplicate items will not last long in the market because these are not manufactured according to the government specifications.

3) False information - Sometimes sellers mislead the consumers by giving the wrong information about the product such as its price, quality, expiry date, side effects on health and date of manufacture etc. 4) Artificial scarcity - Sometimes sellers create the artificial scarcity by hoarding the goods so that they can sell it later at high prices. 5) Whenever the complaint regarding the good or service is made then sellers try to shift all the responsibility on to the buyers

Consumer movements ❖ The consumer movement is an effort to promote consumer protection through an organized social movement which is in many places led by consumer organization. ❖ It advocates for the rights of consumers, especially when those rights are actively breached by the actions of corporations, governments, and other organizations which provide products and services to consumers. ❖ Dissatisfaction of the consumers as many unfair practices were being indulged in the sellers.

Consumer Movement in India: ❖ India has long tradition of food adulteration, black marketing, hoarding, under weighing, etc. It was from the 1960s that the consumer movement began in India. ❖ Till the 1970s, consumer movement was mainly restricted to writing articles and holding exhibitions. ❖ But there has been an upsurge in the number of consumer groups in recent times. ❖ The level of dissatisfaction with the sellers and service providers was such an extent that the consumers had no choice but to raise their voice. ❖ After many years of organized struggle, the government was forced to take notice and finally the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) was enacted in 1986.



Consumer rights

❖ The right to be heard - to have consumer interests represented in the making and execution of government policy, and in the development of products and services.

❖ The right to be informed - to be given the facts needed to make an informed choice, and to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising and labeling.

❖ The right to choose - to be able to select from a range of products and services, offered at competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality

❖ The right to safety - to be protected against products, production processes and services that are hazardous to health or life.

❖ The right to redress - to receive a fair settlement of just claims, including compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.

❖ The right to consumer education - to acquire knowledge and skills needed to make informed, confident choices about goods and services, while being aware of basic consumer rights and responsibilities and how to act on them.

Consumer Forum: ❖ The consumer movement in India has led to the formation of various organizations locally known as consumer forums or consumer protection councils. ❖ They guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer court. ❖ On many occasions, they also represent individual consumers in the consumer courts.

❖ These voluntary organizations also receive financial support from the government for creating awareness among the people. ❖ If you are living in a residential colony, you might have noticed name boards of Resident Welfare Associations. ❖ If there is any unfair trade practice meted out to their members they take up the case on their behalf.

•Consumer Courts: This is a three-tier quasi-judicial system. The district level court deals with cases involving claims upto Rs. 20 lakh. The state level court deals with cases between Rs. 20 lakh and Rs. 1 crore. The national level court dealt with cases which involve claims exceeding Rs. 1 crore.

If a case is dismissed in district level court, the consumer can also appeal in state and then in National level courts.

National Consumers’ Day ❖ 24th December is celebrated as the National Consumers’ Day. ❖ It was on this day that the Indian Parliament enacted the Consumer Protection Act in 1986. ❖ India is one of the few countries that have exclusive courts for consumer redressal. ❖ The consumer movement in India has made significant progress in recent times.

❖ At present, there are more than 700 consumer groups. Out of them, about 20-25 are well organized and are recognized for their work. ❖ The consumer redressal process is becoming cumbersome, expensive and time consuming. ❖ The lawyer’s charges in some cases work as deterrent. ❖ Sometimes, the long delay de-motivates a person and he may even stop pursuing the case.

Impact of coronavirus on consumers ❖ There has been a shortage of supplies to the market and shops which has led to difficulties for the consumers to avail their needs. ❖ Panic buying of staple and hygiene products has become common in many areas of the country. ❖ Many people have chosen online shopping in response to the lockdown.

❖ There has been a decline in luxury products. ❖ There has been a rise in conscious consumption-consumers have become more mindful of what they are buying. They are striving to limit food waste, shop more cost consciously and buy more sustainable products.

Responses by various countries regarding the handling of economic crisis

India’s Response Thermal Scanning ❖ India took early precautions against coronavirus by thermal scanning the international travellers coming to India even before one case was recorded in India. Janata Curfew ❖ Janata curfew – a curfew by the people, through the people, for the people. ❖ Imposed on 22nd March from 7am to 9pm in view of coronavirus spread.

Lockdown ❖ Janata curfew was followed by 21 days Lockdown 1.0 from 24th March to 14th April. ❖ It was extended as Lockdown 2.0 from 15th April till May 3rd. ❖ It too was extended from May 4th to May 17th called Lockdown 3.0. ❖ At present we are in Lockdown 4.0 which is from May 18th to May 31st.

❖ In response to the pandemic there has been an increase of manufacture of PPE Kits and the production of N-95 masks in India. ❖ There has been establishment of fever clinics all over the country. ❖ There has also been establishment of free CoVID-19 testing centers in the country. The CoVID-19 test center in Mysore is at K.R.Hospital.

Arogya Setu app ❖ This is a mobile application introduced by the Government of India . ❖ The app helps in intimating a person when he/she comes in contact with a person detected positive for coronavirus.

Economic package ❖ Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, laid emphasis on Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Modi has promoted ‘Vocal about Local’ campaign to make India ‘Aatma Nirbhar’ self-reliant. There are also several measures that Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has announced specifically for MSMEs considering the priority to local brands. ❖ This would make India self -reliant and less dependent on other countries for its needs. It is for the development of Indian industries and Indian market within other countries’ market. This is a call for being “Aatma-Nirbhar”. ❖ On May 12th PM Modi announced a financial package of Rs 20 lakh crores to support businesses, he urged citizens across the country to support local products and businesses by campaigning for them.

Details of the economic package







European Response ❖ Europe has pledged a €1.7tn rescue package in an attempt to dampen the economic effects of COVID-19 on the euro zone with contributions from all member states, the UK, as well as countries in the area which do not for part of the European Union (e.g. Switzerland). ❖ The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced a €750bn asset-purchase programme in hope of stabilising and strengthening the Euro through the pandemic. ❖ Moreover, the European Commission has collated a €25bn investment fund for the cause and has agreed to a more relaxed policy on budget rules to encourage public spending and the support of affected businesses by their corresponding government. ❖ In Germany, the state development bank (KfW) is to provide €500bn in loans to aid companies affected by the pandemic, dubbed the ‘biggest post-war aid package’. ❖ The Kurzarbeitergeld, a subsidized scheme by the German Federal parliament (the Bundenstag), will look to compensate employees who fall ill or are unable to work due to the virus. ❖ France, Spain and Italy have promised €345bn, €200bn and €25billionrespectively, to help support businesses

UK’s Response ❖ In the UK, Chancellor Rishi Sumak announced a £330bn package of emergency loan guarantees to help those in financial difficulty ❖ . A further £20bn of fiscal support on top of the £7bn financial support package already issued in the preceding weeks in attempts to save UK businesses. ❖ The package of measures includes: • • a Corona virus Job Retention Scheme • • deferring VAT and Income Tax payments • • a Statutory Sick Pay relief package for SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprises)

❖ A 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England ❖ Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief ❖ Grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a ratable value between £15,000 and £51,000 ❖ The Corona virus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank ❖ A new lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger firms, helping them bridge corona virus disruption to their cash flows through loans ❖ The HMRC Time To Pay Scheme

❖ The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 0.1 pc. ❖ In an attempt to dampen the effects of COVID-19 as well as an attempt to maintain the confidence of unnerved investors. ❖ On the 20th March 2020, The Chancellor announced that the government will pay up to 80% of the salary of staff (up to £2,500 per month) who are kept on by their employer. ❖ There are no calls to deal with those who are self-employed and wouldn’t be covered by this policy with no statutory sick pay available to them.

US’s Response ❖ The US Federal Reserve (the Fed) has recently decreased interest rates by 0.5% in an attempt to soften the blow of the deadly virus on the US Economy. ❖ On March 23rd, the Fed also announced that it would further aid the market by purchasing $125 billion in bonds. ❖ It will also offer a $300 billion lending programmer for Main Street businesses as well as ensure that Asset Backed Loan facility which was used in 2008-2009 would be restarted. ❖ The Trump administration has managed to secure on the 27th March a $2 trillion ‘virus-aid package’- the CARES Act. ❖ It is done to support the economy through these times.

❖ This bill is to cover: • $1,200 to be given to every adult American with an income less than $75,000 or couples less than $150,000. • $500 for every child under the age of 17 • Increase unemployment compensation by $600 per week, increase unemployment benefit support by 13 months and extend eligibility to the self-employed and independent contractors • $500bn in loans and loan guarantees to be issued by the US Treasury Department to small and large businesses. Businesses who receive such aid are obligated to keep 90% of their employees until September 30, must pay their loans back within five years and are prohibited to issue dividends for up to a year after the full amount of their loan is repaid. • $377bn to provide small businesses with loans and grants, $10bn for emergency grants and $17bn will also be made available to enable deferral of existing payments. • Student loan payments to be deferred until 30th September without penalty charges

• Ban on foreclosures of federally backed mortgages until mid-May • Ban on evictions of tenants in federal housing programmers for four months • $25bn in food assistance • $100bn for healthcare • $45bn to be directed to the Disaster Relief Fund (which includes the supply of protective equipment) •$29bn in grants and $29bn in loans, loan guarantees, excise and fuel tax relief • $17bn towards national security • $14bn to farmers

❖ Hotel industry revenue per available room in the United States fell 11.6% for the week ending 7th March 2020, whilst in China occupancy rates fell 89% by the end of January 2020. ❖ Other United States hotel companies are seeking approximately $150 billion in direct aid for employees due to an unprecedented fall in demand, along with an estimated $1.5 billion loss since mid-February. ❖ MGM Resorts International has also announced a temporary suspension in operation at its Las Vegas properties, with casino operations closing on 16th March, followed by hotel operations. ❖ Since 1st March 2020, hotel occupancy in Germany decreased by over 36%. ❖ Italian cities including Rome have been inadvertently affected with a current occupancy rate of 6%, whilst London remains the most stable with an occupancy rate of approximately 47%. ❖ Overall, the COVID-19 crisis has led to international distortions for the hospitality industry, and significant slumps for the European hotel market

China’s and Japan’s Response ❖ China and Japan took similar action with the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) providing the equivalent of $240bn and $43bn to maintain bank liquidity, respectively. ❖ Leaders from the G20 (Group of 20) richest nations expect recovery from the economic crisis to take the form of a ‘V’ shaped curve, with a sharp and short-lived dip, followed by a rapid recovery and economic growth. ❖ Mr Angel Gurría, secretary general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), disagrees with these claims, stating that the road to economic recovery is more likely to resemble a ‘U’ shaped curve, with a prolonged period of economic inactivity for years to come.

Social impact of coronavirus

Depression and Anxiety ❖ The CoVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdown are taking a toll on almost every aspect of contemporary life including mental health and well being. ❖ This public health crisis may have a particularly significant effect on people living with depression. ❖ The stresses of the health risk that the pandemic presents and the tragic loss of life it has caused, combined with social isolation, a lack of access to favorite activities, and an uncertain future are taxing for everyone. ❖ These issues may be especially challenging for those experiencing mental health conditions.

❖ Vulnerable people who did not have clinical depression before the pandemic may also be experiencing symptoms of the conditions. ❖ People working in health care, grocery stores and elsewhere on the “frontline” of this pandemic face additional burdens of high pressure work environments and a higher likelihood of exposure to coronavirus for themselves and their families.

Fear and Stigma around Coronavirus ❖ While the country battles CoVID-19, another silent enemy is sneaking upon us. ❖ Reports from across states suggest that stigma and fear of CoVID-19 is inflicting additional damage on society. ❖ In a recent incident from Delhi, a 65-year-old man who had in fact suffered a cardiac arrest was denied admission to city hospitals because of fears he was CoVID positive. ❖ Such a fear psychosis severely undermines efforts to fight CoVID-19 and creates many other problems. ❖ AIIMS director Randeep Guleria recently stated that stigma around CoVID patients was actually discouraging people from coming forward for testing at an early stage. ❖ Phobia makes the disease bigger, forcing us into counterproductive overreactions.