Superhero Network

A network of volunteer assets who can deliver/mobilize essential resources like medicine, food, ambulances, etc., during a crisis like the COVID-19 lockdown.

Deployed and operational in Ernakulam district, Kerala.

1. Cleared to operate by Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) & Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA)

2. Medicine delivery coordinated by doctors of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kochi chapter

3. Ambulance network operated from the Control Room setup at District Collectorate, Ernakulam

4. Food delivery to temporary corona care centres coordinated by nearest community kitchens

5. Mock drills conducted successfully

6. Recommended for deployment in all districts of Kerala

Superhero Network gives the government the ability to assess demand, create fulfilment plans by visualisation and fulfil demand through the network of volunteers.

The Superhero network gives the authorities the ability to:

1. Assess demand for essential resources like food, medicine, treatment, emergency services like ambulances, etc.

2. Create fulfilment plans based on the demand (clustered at the panchayat, district and state levels).

3. Fulfill demand by deploying the closest volunteer assets from the Superhero Network.

Key components of the Superhero Network

1. Demand assessment

   1. Call center model to mobilize essential services

   2. Super App for consumers

2. Create plans based on demand

   1. Visualisation console

   2. Panchayat-level risk assessment dashboard

3. Fulfil demand

   1. Superhero App

   2. Automatic curfew passes

   3. Contactless payment system

Phase 1 - Call centre model to access the Superhero Network

Phase 1 - Superhero Network implemented in Ernakulam district, Kerala

1. Run by the Ernakulam District Administration

2. Providing food, ambulance and medicine delivery to the poor

3. Moving the first patient using the Ambulance Network

4. Enabling priority review for Superhero App on Google Play

Phase 2 - Super App model to access the Superhero Network

Phase 2 - Scaling and creating the Super App

1. Scale-up plans

   1. Statewide

   2. Nationwide

2. Phase 2 - Summary

3. Super App - One app, many use cases

   1. Grocery delivery

   2. Medicine delivery

   3. Transportation facility

   4. Food delivery

Why should we create a Superhero Network?

COVID-19 has put tremendous pressure on the logistics system of countries around the world. As mobility is restricted due to the nation-wide lockdown, we need to ensure that critical resources (food, medicine, health care) are available to people.

Based on the spread prediction models of COVID-19, effective flattening of the curve could take 3-4 months at the minimum.

Extended lockdown - Scenarios

Lower and Middle income groups

1. Majority of India's lower and middle class runs out of essential resources. A large portion of these people are daily wage workers who need to work to feed their families.

2. As per the action plan from Kerala's expert committee on COVID-19 lockdown, the lockdown is to be lifted in a three-phased manner to ensure no subsequent outbreaks occur. Small and medium scale enterprises are only allowed to work with a maximum office-going capacity of 10 people during the first two phases. When inter-district travel restrictions are added to the mix, a majority of people will still have no jobs.

3. Lack of employment leads to an acute financial crisis in most Indian homes.

4. The combined effect of factors 1 and 2 may force people to break home-isolation.

5. This could cause an uncontrollable spread of the virus which could overload the healthcare system of the country.

NRIs and Indians on international trips - Return home

1. Surviving abroad without work during the lockdown period is extremely hard due to the higher cost of living as compared to India.

2. 2-3 months of lockdown could push them into a financial crisis.

3. Being immigrants, the access to essential resources may not be taken care of. Most countries are struggling to provide essentials for their own citizens.

4. In this scenario, the government would have to plan and execute missions to bring these Indian citizens back to the country.

5. As NRIs return from COVID-19 hotspots, an efficient and strict quarantine needs to be enforced.

6. The government needs to arrange shelter for these NRIs, and ensure all essential resources are provided to them.

7. If people opt for home quarantine, then their entire family poses the risk of spreading COVID-19. All members should stay at home for at least 14 days.

8. The lack of availability of essential resources could force the other family members to break home isolation.

9. This could cause an uncontrollable spread of the virus which could overload the healthcare system of the country.

There are no systems currently in place to assess demand, plan fulfilment and deliver essential resources to overcome this unprecedented situation.