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Youths Face The Brunt Of Coronavirus Disruption
As the world struggles to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lifestyle changes, the ones suffering the most are the youths even if the virus poses a bigger threat to senior citizens.
The worst affected by the disruptive socio-economic impacts of the lockdown are youths. Staying at home, working tirelessly and adhering to social distancing norms have become the new normal for the restless youths. "I have been working from home since the lockdown and it's been very hectic. I have to work for 9-12 hours daily and there's a very little time I am able to spare for myself. But given the rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases, it's indeed a blessing to work from the comfort of your home," said Sumaiya Khan who's working in a multinational company in Cuttack.
However, not everyone finds staying indoors a blessing. Cafés and restaurants, which are mostly filled with youths, have incurred heavy losses due to the pandemic as people are confined to their homes. Even though the situation is gradually improving and eateries are being allowed to open, the demand is not there and the craze is still amiss.
"I don't think life will be normal after this pandemic. The COVID-19 shadow is here to stay for a long time and our paranoia is unlikely to end soon. All our fears will probably go away with the virus," said Pratyusha Pangari, a home baker and blogger.
Apart from cafés and restaurants, almost all public places wear a deserted look. The parks and stadiums have been empty since the coronavirus outbreak. "I used to go to Satyabrata Stadium every evening to practice football and volleyball. But since March, my game has been affected as I am not able to practice regularly. It will take me a lot of time to get back in form," said Priyankar Pattnaik, an athlete.
But for some youths, the lockdown has been beneficial as they now have a lot of free time on their hands. They are now able to pursue their interests which were not possible earlier due to the busy schedule. "The lockdown gave me an opportunity to read books and watch movies that were on my wish list. I was unable to spare time for these activities because of my hectic college schedule. Besides, I am also trying my hand at different dishes and helping my mother in the kitchen. I have started exercising at home as well," said Sourav Bhuyan, a 5th-year student of the National Law University of Odisha, Cuttack.
Similarly, civil services aspirant Soumya Das said, "I took a year off to prepare for the UPSC examinations. But due to the coronavirus crisis, the exams have been postponed. Now, I have extra time on my hands to cover the entire syllabus and prepare for the tests," Soumya added.
The lockdown has also impacted those in the music industry. Ollywood Singer Jagruti Mishra said since there is a ban on concerts and stage performance due to the coronavirus outbreak, she is trying to connect with the audience on social media. “I am regularly doing live sessions on social media platforms to keep my fans entertained with my music videos."
The lockdown has brought misery and suffering for people dealing with stress and those unfamiliar with the work-from-home culture. Riteek Devdas, a student and a photographer, said, "I have stopped watching news channels since they have a negative impact on my mind. I am trying to keep myself busy with video games. Besides, my pet Casper is helping me keep sane during these gloomy and depressing periods. I am not forcing myself to be productive during the lockdown."