The document discusses how the concepts of toggling and switching have impacted higher education and the hospitality sector in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. In higher education, classes frequently toggled between online and offline formats, causing disruption for students and faculty. Universities implemented various toggle arrangements for examinations and promotions. The hospitality sector toggled to takeaway and delivery models to continue operations while restaurants were closed, adopting strategies like reduced pricing and special offers to drive business through toggling. Toggling has helped both sectors adapt to the pandemic circumstances.

1. Toggle - Is this the new disrupter globally due to the covid
pandemic. How is India managing this currently.
RameshKumarNanjundaiya
Global Ambassador- INDIA,SVFat SiliconValleyForum(SVF),SanJose,CA
Accordingto technopediaA toggle,ingeneral computing,isaswitchbetweenone settingand
another.The termimpliesthatitisa switchthathas onlytwooutcomes:A or B, or onor off.Itis
foundinalmosteveryaspectof computingwhenthere isanoptionsorpreferenceslist.All option
itemsthatcan be markedonor off are consideredatoggle.The userisable to turn onor off specific
menuitemsthrougha toggle switch.
I happenedtostudyjust2 sectors fromthe Toggle angle (notthe healthsector) andsee how Indiais
copingwiththe pandemicotherwise,whatwithvaccinationsdriveacrossthe countryinitiallywith
the seniors,middleage andnowwiththe studentcommunitytowardoff all variantsof the covid
pandemicincludingthe newDeltavariant.The twosectorsthatI lookedintowasthe higher
educationsectorcomprisingof all universities,collegesandotherinstitutionsincludingprivate
coachingclassesandin manystatesthe 11 and12 thstandard (alsocalledaspre university
education) isprovidedbyjuniorcollegesanduniversitiescomprisingof about750 universitiesand
around40000 collegesacrossIndiawithagrossenrolmentratioof about27 % and witha market
size anywhere aroundUS$20 billion.Withitsresponsibilityforskillingthe currentstudentforce for
preparingfuture generationsforworkandlife,the higherEducationsectorissubjecttointense
publicandpolitical scrutinyandtofrequentwavesof policychange andreviewmore soevidenced
duringthe last2 years of the pandemichittingourshores.
Nextthe hospitalitysector(excludingTourism) inIndiaissimplyahuge industrybroadlycomprising
of Foodand beverages(allthe wayfrom5* hotelstothe pani puri (small spicywaterfilledpancakes)
vendorstand on the roadside,lodgingandrecreationandtravel andtourism.inthe last2 yearsdue
to the COVID-19pandemic,India’shotel sectorisone of the worst-hitsegmentsof the economy,
contractingby 50% last year.While occupancydeclinedby80%,the supplyof cookedfoodispicking
up in2021, howeverthe local hospitalityindustrywill continue itsdecline whichwasworth
equivalenttoaboutUS$ 40 billionbefore the covidpandemicstandsreducedby50% now and
decreasing. Howdoesone explainthe Toggle phenomenainthese twosectors.
In highereducationthisisthe switchwhichisexperiencedfrequentlybetweenoffline classesand
online classesbothbythe studentandteachingcommunitybothforshortandlongperiodsorwhat
theycalledthe hybridmethodof impartingeducationandthe instructionsthatfollow all theseand
creatingnothingbutchaos.How much timelyqualityeducationwasimpartedandhow much
educationwasabsorbedbystudentstogglingisanybody'sguess.Whenthe time forexaminations
were announcedacrossvariousUniversitiesacrossIndia,againthe Toggle came inhandy.Some
studentswere promotedtotheirnextsemesterviaToggle arrangementwithoutanyfinal
examination.All sortsof permutationsandcombinationswere atplay.

2. Some Universitiescame withnovel ideas,theysaid,classeswill be online butstudentshave tocome
to campusto write the exam.Some saidwhile classesare online forstudents,Professorsand
lecturershave tobe presentinthe campus to impartonline educationfromtheirofficesorstaff
rooms.Classschedule andtimingswere Toggledweeklytosuitstudentsandsometimesprofessors.
At regularintervals,the local State Ministerwouldannounce"orders"inthe local pressasfollows:
classroom instructionwill startonAug.23. However,coursesthatwere plannedforface-to-face or
hybridinstructionwillbegininvirtualformatsandwill transitiontoin-personon-campusinstruction
at a suitable date whichwill be intimatedlateronce vaccinationsare administeredtothe younger
generation.
The studentwentcrazy.Theydidn'tknow who ismanagingthe classschedule,the vaccination
schedule,virusexposure problems,infectionrates,hospitalization,backandforthtoggle of online
classestooffline classes.Decisiontochange the examinationdates,cancellationof annual
examination.Postponementof entrance examinationindifferentplaces.
A recentcircularina Universityhadthistosay, while vaccination(2doses) ismandatoryfor
studentswishingattendcampusclasses,ithasbeendecidedthatremote studyoptionsisbetterto
keepstudentsawayfromclassroomsfull of uncertainvaccinationstatus.The professorthen
appreciatedthe studentsandthe staff fortheirsincere understandingof the (toggle)prevailing
situation(sic) andsaidina classroomof 60 students,he wasgladto see 14 studentsattendinghis
classoffline.
Toggle isworkingwell forRestaurantsacrossIndiaaswell.The packagingindustryhasseenthe best
of businessinthe last2 yearsthanksto Toggle.All restaurantsare closeddue topandemicbutthey
can keeptheirkitchensopenforparcels,online ordersandtake away includingprovidingthirdparty
transportation.Evenif some restaurantswere permittedtoopenforbusiness,only50% seating
capacitywas allowed.Alsofooditemschoicesmenuitemswerereducedto50% to keepcovid
pandemicatbay.
All typesof permutationsandcombinationsare beingadaptedtoentice the customertoorderfood
withthe bestof packaging anddeliveryof hotfoodacrossthe town.Plusthere are giftsand freebies
if many ordersare placedfor take-aways.
Anothergimmick,Foodprice reductiononweekdaysandnormal pricesforweekendpickups.Now
manyrestaurantsare convertingthemselves fromdine-intotake always.Keepstheircashbox busy.
Separate pickupcounterforvegand nonvegfooditems.Separate sectiontopickupdesserts.Fresh
licencesare doledouttostart a takeawayrestaurant.AndinIndiaacross manyhouseholds,anew
phenomenahasstarted,home foodkitchensupplyof foodintheirneighbourhoodatcompetitive
prices.Toggle hascreatedhuge business.....Whosaysfoodbusinessisdown.New takeawaysopen
dailyandsocial mediabeingextremelyactive,gettingordersisa piece of cake.It isnot a myth,
adaptabilityandswitching(Toggle) haskickedin.