The most important lesson, with socio, political and economic impact is the failure of the markets in shaping human justice. The health and life saving mechanism evolved by neoliberalism has been proven so hollow and inadequate. The transmission rate and mortality ratio in the US itself speak about it. All over the world, where health care became part of the health industry, the same is the situation. Governments withdraw themselves from matters related to human health and allow market forces to determine its fate. It is that politics of neoliberalism that has thoroughly failed.

In the world of today Cuba may be a small country with lesser importance. Its unflinching commitment to socialism was pooh-poohed by many, mainly by its mighty neighbour, USA. But corona days showed the world the vibrance of Cuban health system. When USA was trembling before COVID-19, Cuba was able to withstand the severity of the virus attack. International brigade of doctors and health workers from Cuba reached many countries of the world extending their humanitarian medical assistance. The brigade to Italy, the developed capitalist country in Europe drew world attention due to obvious reasons.

It is known to everybody that since 1959 the year of revolution, tiny Cuba was facing economic and political pressures from the capitalist world under the leadership of US administration. Unyielding Cuba was treading its own course with its focus on health and other social responsibilities, while the US was spending a major chunk of their resources in research related to weaponry. Cuba’s spending was mainly on health and education. As a result of this, the Cuban Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Pedro Kouri National institute of Tropical Medicines became center of advanced medical research and practices. Cuban medicines like Interferon Alpha-2B were found effective in very many ailments. This Cuban success story should not be treated as casual in the present context. It explains the difference between two social systems and their different approaches to human concerns.

In the post corona discourses, rebuilding of nations and their economies, with special emphasis on health care will attain the most significant place. The world cannot go forward simply as it used to be. A new world is being unrolled with its myriad new questions and challenges. For many of these questions the answers provided by markets will be most inadequate. Of course capitalism would struggle with its immense potential to swim over the crisis which is not at all a cyclical one but systemic. It would affect the lives of millions upon millions across the world and the most affected will be the underprivileged and the poor. Everywhere they will be the most vulnerable. Basic rights of the workers, peasants and rural poor are likely to be under more severe attack. The migrant labourers, working women, minorities and transgenders will be more neglected in the rebuilding strategy of global capitalism.

It is their strategy that led to a situation where one percentage of the population plundered the wealth of 73 percent. Their income is equal to double the income of 6.9 billion at the bottom. 2153 billionaires have conquered the wealth which is equivalent to the total savings of 450 crores of people. Even before Corona half the population were living at 5.5 USD per day. Ten thousand people are dying per day due to poverty. Hence, the most important and crucial question in coming days would be whether markets would be providing the way out? A system built on the uncontrolled profit motive of private capital by its very nature will fail further to address these grave issues. The world has to find alternatives. TINA (There is no Alternative) should not be allowed to go unquestioned. Here comes the role of the left and their preparedness to take up the challenge. The failure of capital means the failure of its ideology and its politics, which is the politics of the right. The right wing advocates of the deideologization often argue that there is no distinction between left and right. That was their easiest tactic to impose the right ideology in the whole thought process of social life. It is untrue and unacceptable. The left has to ascertain its role and relevance with more clarity and vigor. Unfortunately the present day left and the socialist movements are not equipped sufficiently to take up this task. As history will wait for none they have to come out of the ideological and organisational lethargy to be more responsible to the people and their times.

In the complex Indian situation which was further complicated due to the spread of COVID-19, the experience of Kerala deserves attention. A small state in the south most tip of India, Kerala has attempted to work out a viable model in overcoming the crisis. Resource wise it was never a rich state. GDP was always lower than many Indian states. But Kerala’s prominence in India was marked by its social capital. Literacy level is almost 100 percent. Its indices in health, education and social security is at par with many advanced countries. In these remarkable achievements the left in Kerala did play a role. But the left movement was always humble and realistic enough to admit that it is not an exclusive victory of theirs.

The social reforms movement since the 19th century has had its impact over the social trajectory of Kerala. It was on that base that the left was trying to shape a new Kerala since the first Communist Government that came to power in 1957. Later, all the coalition governments led by prominent Communist leaders E M S Namboothiripad, Achutha Menon, P. K. Vasudevannair , E K Nayanar, V S Achuthananthan were following the same course of development that led to the coinage of the political phrase - Kerala model of development. Even Congress led governments in Kerala were not courageous enough to make a structural shift in the deep rooted development pattern. The present LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan has set a model before the country in its committed farsightedness in handling the crisis of the pandemic. It is the first state in India where a Corona case was reported on 30th of January, 2020. There was a stage when it stood first in the number of reported cases. But the concerted and well planned efforts of the government, Kerala could change the course. Now the number of cases have come down as the recovery rate has improved remarkably well. While the all India recovery rate is 11 percent in Kerala it is 50 percent. Transmission rate is 20. 6 at all India levels. But in Kerala it is 0.4. Mortality rate is 3.4 in India, in Kerala it is 0.5. It was not due to a magic wagon Kerala could achieve this. It is the political policy of the left that enabled the government to chart out a well meaning strategy which could mobilize the whole society in the fight against COVID-19.

Along with the government initiatives, the level of social awareness also helped. During Corona nobody in Kerala was hungry. Free ration and food kits consisting of 17 essential commodities were provided to everyone in the state.

A package of Rs. 20000 crore was initiated to support underprivileged and distressed. Kerala has the credit of running 50 percent of the total number of community kitchens opened all over India. 65 lakhs of elderly and disadvantaged are being taken care of. It was a manifold activity in which a committed government with mass participation and a well spread health system was operational. From village level primary health centers upto medical colleges it worked as a full proof machine. The government involvement in public health in which primary health centres and hospitals including centers of advanced medical studies added to the glory of Kerala health model. Even the 93 year old husband and 88 year old wife, the Italian tourists badly hit by the Corona virus were treated free of cost and sent back safely from the Government Medical College. Now foreseeing the inflow of expatriates Kerala is ready with necessary precautions and preparations. Quarantine facilities for 2 lakhs persons are intact. Apart from that, for infected persons 49, 702 beds in Government hospitals and 81,904 beds in private hospitals are arranged. Beside ICU facilities, 2400 ventilators are also equipped. When the state is going through unexplainable financial difficulties the government’s top priority was to look after the concerns of the poor during the lockdown days. It is true Kerala will have to face innumerable hurdles to bring back normalcy unless the Central Government changes its approach to the financial problems of the state. Still Kerala can proudly say that it is time to stand with its people in days of crisis. Ít is a different position and that position together with its humane content says that left is different from right. (IPA Service)