I live in India AMA

[IndiaAMA]

Hello. Name changed for this. I’ve seen a number of threads about the Indian variant including lots of speculation about lifestyles in India, some of which is quite incorrect! So thought I’d do an AMA.

I am a British woman who lives and works her with my spouse.

AMA!

@4PawsGood

Sending supportive thoughts to you.

How visible is the situation at the moment, to you?

Thank you very much.

Very visible. It is overwhelming. Six of my colleagues lost their parents last week. That’s in an organisation of a few hundred. Just awful. It affects every level of society. It is visible. I am writing a lot of condolence messages/

We have lots of friends and family in India, so no questions, but stay safe OP.

@Averyyounggrandmaofsix

Have you been vaccinated? What vaccine are they using?

Yes. I have a British employer and they arranged my husband and I to have Astra Zeneca.

In general, Covaccine and Sputnik V are available and approved for use. Astra Zeneca, which is I understand very similar to Covaccine, is also available. Most people are steering clear of Sputnik unless nothing else is available.

Haven’t really got anything to ask that hasn’t already been covered, but it’s an interesting AMA, thanks OP.

Just ignore @Ginuwine, some people are just desperate to have a dig at others.

@lostlife

How many oxygen cylinders do you have in your home? Yours DHs office/place of employment?

Zero.

@Lostlemuria

Maybe you should pay for your domestic staff to be vaccinated privately. Just a thought. (And yes I have lived in a country where I have employed domestic staff in the past.)

I am trying. It is proving impossible to get appointment slots, even at private clinics. I was vaccinated through work so didn’t have this issue. The app is absolutely dreadful.

What is the best thing people can say or do to support you or your colleagues? We have a big team there and it seems most people have lost someone in the past month. They've said they don't want deliveries because of the risk. Is there anything that's possible/ safe that people would appreciate?

And secondly - are you intending to stick it out? Or to get on the first available plane?

I should say, @Lostlemuria, I pay all my medical bills for my domestic staff and their families. I’ve been to the government hospitals with charities I work with. I happily pay for my staff to have good quality private care.

Hi all, we're just moving this thread over to our AMA topic.

@Motherof3dogs

How does it make you feel when the BBC have a zoom call with an Indian Dr who says "people here are overreacting by immediately going to a hospital with mild covid symptoms that could easily be managed at home"?

Ugh. Personally I haven’t seen that. But doctors are under a lot of pressure from the government to show India in the best light internationally. There was an interview recently with a government spokesman who said there were absolutely no oxygen shortages. At the exact same time, three hospitals within thirty miles of where he was speaking were putting out oxygen SOS calls.

A number of colleagues have been hospitalised recently. None were exaggerating. They were all having serious trouble breathing.

@Onlinedilema

What is the government doing to combat the spread of the virus?

Lockdown is the biggy. There are lockdowns or curfews across all major cities at the moment. Suspension of many non essential deliveries. Police out in force to enforce mask wearing and question why people are out walking or driving and whether it’s essential. Hand sanitising public information adverts everywhere.

What they haven’t done is provide a social security net for those who are now not getting paid.

@GoddessKali

I’ve seen at least x4 videos of people living in India who day the press coverage is complete BS. They’re using pictures of homeless people sleeping in the streets (like they normally do) and then saying that’s then dying in the street.

What’s your thoughts?

My driver’s wife passed away a few days ago. He hasn’t been able to get a cremation slot. An private vehicle with her body has been queuing for two days. In some crematoriums, the metal cremation grills have been reported to be melting from over use.

In Bihar, 100 bodies have been found dumped in the Ganges.

The press reporting is not exaggerated.

Sending my best wishes to you and your family, friends and colleagues. And all of you over there. It looks like a dreadful situation, and my heart goes out to you all

How much political backlash do you think there will be about this, realistically? It seems that political decisions are behind a lot of the problems you’re seeing, which you mentioned in an earlier post - the rallies and religious events. Do you think there’s much chance of Indians holding their government to account on this?

What they haven’t done is provide a social security net for those who are now not getting paid.

This is the major concern for me. There are so many people who just get by from day to day, they just won't have the resources to get through lockdown.

The Indian government is failing shamefully. I hope at some point there will be some real accountability.

@sunshinepunch

I hope you & spouse stay well and safe. Do you have access to Western TV? Do you see the scenes many Western channels are showing and is the issue as widespread as reported? I have a fear it could be worse. How do you and your spouse feel on a daily basis?

My heart absolutely goes out to people in India (and all other covid ravaged countries).

I really hope medical supplies will be received en mass and vaccinations administered in a fast steady pace.

No, but we access the news online.

I feel weary most of the time. It is so awful. I am fortunate to have the resources to stay indoors, exercise on my treadmill, order in deliveries, occasionally venture out in the quiet area I live in for supplies that can’t be delivered, WFH. But I’m seeing my friends and colleagues with ill family and deaths, in so much distress. It’s very hard.

@NightCzar

What is the best thing people can say or do to support you or your colleagues? We have a big team there and it seems most people have lost someone in the past month. They've said they don't want deliveries because of the risk. Is there anything that's possible/ safe that people would appreciate?

And secondly - are you intending to stick it out? Or to get on the first available plane?

I’m so sorry for your colleagues. Yes, most people now have been bereaved, are expecting to be shortly, or have family members who are or have been very ill. The variant is vicious in its speed and severity.

I would have said food deliveries. But If they don’t want packages, I would suggest showing you care by showing support and solidarity for the people of India via donations to front line charities. The Khalsa Trust are a very good one as are the Hemkunt Trust - both are supplying oxygen and other medical supplies including a ‘drive in’ oxygen facilities. The British Asian Trust would also be a good choice - they are a huge charity so have the infrastructure to have a bigger reach, and are providing medical supplies nationwide. Donations will show you care even if you can’t bring back the dead.

@Spudlet

Sending my best wishes to you and your family, friends and colleagues. And all of you over there. It looks like a dreadful situation, and my heart goes out to you all

How much political backlash do you think there will be about this, realistically? It seems that political decisions are behind a lot of the problems you’re seeing, which you mentioned in an earlier post - the rallies and religious events. Do you think there’s much chance of Indians holding their government to account on this?

There isn’t really a national opposition party, this is the problem. Modi won by a landslide in 2019.

I think there was a holding to account in the southern states this month, where the communist parties did very well, and independent Mamta Banerjee swept to victory in West Bengal despite massive BJP rallies.

But Modi is personally incredibly popular for his brand of proud Indian and Hindu nationalism and the fact he’s seen to stand up in to the West. And the government owns most media outlets. So...

Thank for your answer, it was about a week ago and I was horrified. I've never been to India but don't imagine you have the same 111 access or gp telephone call backs we have in the UK in a pandemic. Wishing you all the best op

Thanks so much for those suggestions. I really appreciate it.

My second question about would you try to escape - was not meant to sound snide. I'd be very tempted, myself.

Take care.

Thanks for your answer op. I hope this galvanises some sort of opposition, once the dust has settled a bit - I’m sure everyone has more pressing concerns at the moment. But a strong opposition is an important part of a healthy democracy (we could do with a bit more of one over here too).

Stay safe

Poor sanitation + poor nutrition = reason a lot of people are more susceptible to infection, do you agree?

Are you providing your staff with nutrient dense food and supplements to reduce their risk of severe symptoms if the vaccine is unavailable to most?

@Motherof3dogs

Thank for your answer, it was about a week ago and I was horrified. I've never been to India but don't imagine you have the same 111 access or gp telephone call backs we have in the UK in a pandemic. Wishing you all the best op

It’s all done on WhatsApp! You get your doctor’s number and then everything is done that way! Ordinarily, I absolutely love this.

Problem of course being that you don’t have an ICU doctor on your phone. And ambulances are mostly private. So in a real emergency you literally call a taxi and turn up at a hospital and hope they have beds.

@B1rthis

Poor sanitation + poor nutrition = reason a lot of people are more susceptible to infection, do you agree?

Are you providing your staff with nutrient dense food and supplements to reduce their risk of severe symptoms if the vaccine is unavailable to most?

I pay them well and they buy their own food etc. I wouldn’t want to dictate to them how to eat.

@Spudlet

Thanks for your answer op. I hope this galvanises some sort of opposition, once the dust has settled a bit - I’m sure everyone has more pressing concerns at the moment. But a strong opposition is an important part of a healthy democracy (we could do with a bit more of one over here too).

Stay safe

Hear hear, couldn’t agree more (including in the U.K.)!