We must put our health first if we are to move forward. One cannot ensure financial sustainability without being in good physical health. To do this, one must impose and follow strict public health protocols to avert major crises like the resurgence in the COVID-19 pandemic. As a community, the onus is also on us to think rationally and maintain safety precautions. Building pandemic awareness should not be a one-person show; it is a social responsibility.

The federal and state governments have to work with the general public to ensure the smooth functioning of operations and security.

One cannot predict the future, and it can be hard to weigh the gravity of the pandemic in the rural areas where our customers reside and do business. But one can surely build a defence mechanism and salvage the situation.

For Anuva Chakrabarty, it was the need for a defence mechanism that catalyzed her entrepreneurial dream. Growing up, Anuva had always dreamt of financial stability. But life had some other plans. Right after her school-leaving exam, Anuva’s family got her married off. In the humdrum of “everyday chores”, her dream got lost. Her husband’s income was enough to provide her with the comfort of a humble existence.

But when Anuva became the mother of a son, the family’s rising expenses triggered the need for a Plan B: how would they manage any crisis, let alone the rising costs? Their income was fixed, but the child’s welfare needed to be protected. Financial security became a matter of utmost importance. Anuva realized that they needed a second income stream, the second line of defence.

On a visit to her maternal home, she was rummaging in her old cupboard when she came across the costume jewellery she had as a teenager. She had her business idea! After returning to her husband’s place, Anuva visited the branch office of Village Financial Services. (Her neighbour’s daughter had introduced Anuva to the idea of taking a loan from VFS.)

Within months, Anuva had a shop stocked with cosmetics, costume jewellery and soft toys. Just in time for the wedding season. The shop was well-stocked for the upcoming wedding season. Now she needed to build a loyal customer base. Luckily, Anuva had good people skills and a down-to-earth demeanour. Customers kept coming back to her.

The loving mother was now a proud entrepreneur.

The initial success gave rise to dreams of expansion. Anuva realized the potential of being a business owner. With the help of the profits and another loan from VFS, Anuva decided to expand her operations by diversifying her product range.

But dark clouds are gathering over the world. The first few cases of the COVID-19 virus were reported from all over the world. The Indian government tried out a day’s lockdown and then imposed a prolonged lockdown.

The COVID-19 pandemic began shutting down economies. People found themselves battling with a disease unknown to them even yesterday. The lockdown forced Anuva to put her expansion plan on hold.

Everywhere, people reorganized their priorities. Washing hands with soap, wearing masks when outside, and staying indoors became the rule. Anuva took care of her family as best as she could and helping neighbours from a distance when required.

When the country relaxed the lockdown in phases, Anuva was back in her shop, masked and gloved. She had tasted the first major challenge to her entrepreneurial journey: adapt and change with the situation. As economies started shaking off the gloom of the pandemic, customers returned to Anuva’s shop.

Security is subjective.

The pandemic refined Anuva’s definition of security. She realized that economic health, physical health and family welfare need to be in sync if she wanted to call herself “secure”. It is the confidence of security that gives rise to the confidence of moving forward.

If we get out of the current health crisis, we must build a new world of health security.