Survive, revive, thrive – 35 quotes from India’s COVID-19 battle
In this compilation, we present inspiring quotes from the week of June 15-21 that frame India’s phased emergence from the coronavirus lockdown.
Launched in 2014, StoryBites is a weekly feature from YourStory, featuring notable quotable quotes in our articles of this past week. This special series of compilations focuses on India’s COVID-19 struggle (see last week’s post here). Share these quotes and excerpts with your networks, and check back to the original articles for more insights.
COVID-19 is still a threat, and until a cure or vaccine is developed, it is important to flatten the curve. - Prasanta Dash, UNICEF
Currently, there are very less ambulances for non-COVID patients, but it’s important not to forget those who are in pain because of deadly diseases like cancer. - Pooja Kumari, UberMedic
There has been a slew of successful endeavours wherein diseases and infections were diagnosed by examining the condition of a person’s lung using AI. - Rahul Panicker, WIAI
Mental health has come to the forefront with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, and the space has seen a huge surge in demand. - Pankaj Chaddah, Mindhouse
With social distancing norms in place, many women are unable to contact their regular support systems. - Rekha Sharma, NCW
Regular physical activity has always had a profound positive impact on relieving stress and boosting our overall mood. - Akash Raghavan, COVID Fit Club
Yoga is giving us not only the physical strength, but also mental balance and emotional stability to confidently negotiate the challenges before us. - PM Narendra Modi
During this quarantine period, the relationship between your interiors and its influence on your body or mind can be worked upon to create an energetic and healthy environment. - Parul Mittal, Greenlam Industries
To prevent any sort of communication fatigue from view yourself, simply turn off the camera feature whenever you’re not presenting or not expected to talk. - Bhavin Turakhia, Flock- #1 Team Messenger
Technology’s biggest irony is that it has isolated, connected, and unified mankind simultaneously. - Sharad Mehra, Global University Systems
India is also ruminating about the potential of cleaning robots in combating the pandemic. - Apoorv Ranjan Sharma, Venture Catalysts
Cybersecurity has become a ‘must have’. It’s a minimum hygienic must-have. If you don’t have that, your survival is in question. - Saket Modi, Lucideus
With people preferring digital transactions over venturing out of their homes, there has been a spike in demand for online bill payments and recharges, especially in Tier-II and III cities. - Aloke Bajpai, ixigo
During the COVID-19 crisis, there is a lot of liquidity required in the MSME sector. - George Alexander Muthoot, Muthoot Finance
In addition to MSMEs, sectors like aviation, hospitality, automobile, and real estate are suffering a lot. Except for MSMEs, the government has not provided any industry specific stimulus to revive these industries. - Vikas Wadhawan, Housing.com
The startup ecosystem is always doing interesting things and collaboration is the key because agility and innovation is their forte. - Ramnath Venkataraman, Accenture
Ultimately, it's a combination, short spurts of war and long spurts of peace in startup world. - Avnish Bajaj, Matrix Partners
Edtech and healthtech startups have been recording positive growth since the coronavirus pandemic. - Saji Gopinath, KSUM
As the industry starts tightening its expenses and investments in a world post-COVID, fintechs will be a catalyst to faster digitisation and hence financial inclusion. - Shailesh Paul, Visa
Angel investors will see an exit when large companies come in and invest in a startup. - Rohit M A
All entrepreneurs have a strong vision and a weak sense of purpose. Staying rooted to that is going to be important. - Roopa Kudva, Omidyar Network India
Relook at the model, and if need be, look at pivoting it at a fast pace to cater to current restrictions and working format. - Anurag Jhanwar, Fintrust Advisors
Challenges or ideathons can be organised for employees to come up with innovative suggestions and tools to cut expenses and increase revenue from new segments of the operating market. - Rama Iyer, T-Hub
With the market situation slowly heading towards normalcy, PR strategies will give the companies the much-needed boost. - Tanusree Gupta, Brancon Communication
A crisis is the perfect time to let the business grow, and explore avenues that company leaders have been apprehensive about. - Ar. Himani Ahuja, One Digital
The only way to overcome the impact of lockdown is to focus on leading by example. - Yukti Nagpal, Gulshan Homz
It is vital to remember some important things might always be cast in stone. And it is in respecting their resolute nature the pathway to success is laid. - Vinay Kanchan, ‘Sportivity'
Co-working spaces are all poised to be re-programmed in a post-COVID scenario with a prudent utilisation of space, resources, and technology. - Chulamas Jitpatima, MQDC India
While protecting employees and the public is on everyone’s priority, it is also crucial for the fleet managers to handle their assets remotely, take business risks, and monitor budgets. - Vikram Kumar, Letstrack
The demand for private jets has been flourishing at a time when the overall industry has been engulfed by the maelstrom of the COVID-19 pandemic. - Abhishek Kulkarni, Urbane Luxury Ventures
Now more than ever, online education is a critical need for millions of young children who do not have access to regular classrooms. - Adarsh Nair, Bharti Airtel
The ongoing global crisis calls for evolution on a recurring basis, especially amid the online education space which seems to be the only way forward, owing to its robustness and accessibility. - Ronnie Screwvala, upGrad
It is important to introduce skill development opportunities and training to potential individuals in areas where existing players don’t go beyond the curriculum. - Amit B Wadhwani, SEMSI
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, most of the institutes are currently facing a lot of difficulties from conducting online classes to getting students for their new session. - Ravi Nishant, Edvizo
No one should be forced to go to sleep on an empty stomach. - Prakash Bhardwaj, WeCare
It is very hectic, but also gratifying and satisfying to feel that you are able to make a difference in the lives of people rather than watching from the sidelines. - Kanika Goyal, IIM Women for Social Action
YourStory has also published the pocketbook ‘Proverbs and Quotes for Entrepreneurs: A World of Inspiration for Startups’ as a creative and motivational guide for innovators (downloadable as apps here: Apple, Android).
Edited by Megha Reddy
