Chongqing- After the first stage of a strong nationwide lockdown from 25th March, the outbreak of COVID-19 in India is slightly turning to a satisfactory picture, yet the lockdown will be continued to 3rd May. Swaran Singh, the chair and professor at the Centre for International Politics, Organisation, and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, expressed his concern and a strong sense of responsibility to his country, during a video interview with iChongqing on 17th April.

Although the active cases of COVID-19 are more than 14175 with 543 deaths on Monday, India is lucky to encounter the virus much later than China and many other countries, so "we could take advantage of learning how other countries, and especially a large country like China, to handle this pandemic." Professor Singh said. India has from the very beginning implemented a very strong nation-wide lockdown, to ask everybody to stay at home. "It's not an easy choice for India, especially for India's economy, for the poor people it's an extremely hard time. But so far, India has managed the crisis not bad."

A city road in India

One big challenge is that a large number of migrant workers leaving major Indian cities to their country-side hometown in hoards last month, in defiance against instructions on social distancing. But after more than three weeks' lockdown, 400 among 732 districts in India show zero infections.

A supermarket in India

Living in the university campus, Professor Singh said his life is convenient and safe. "I can teach online, have webinars and take interviews online too," he said." We might have to live with the virus as a new normal, which means India has to improve its hygiene facilities and health care". Professor Singh expressed that he was still very impressed by his last visit to Chongqing's waste-to-energy plant in Banan district.