VACCINATION SLOWER IN RURAL AREAS The spread of coronavirus to the countryside exposed the paucity of the medical infrastructure, and the impact of the epidemic is still being assessed, with little trust in official figures on infections and deaths as testing for the disease has been woefully inadequate.
India's vaccination drive is also far behind the curve, and the fears of a potential third wave are damaging people's confidence in the economic outlook. "There are serious concerns over rural demand and businesses," said Rupa Rege Nitsure, chief economist with L&T Financial Management, adding that a lot depended on how fast India vaccinates its rural towns and villages.