What Happens To The Vulnerable During India’s Coronavirus Lockdown?

Vridhi Sharma

5 years ago

A lockdown without the provision of basic monetary funds, housing facilities, and allowances to the poor could have a catastrophic implication. Representational image. Source: The Statesman

On Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a countrywide 21-day lockdown to prevent any further transmission of the Coronavirus. However, he has since clarified that the provision of essential goods and services will continue to remain accessible to all.

This method is vital to control the problem of community transmission. Most people have managed to confine themselves to their homes.

But, what happens to the poor, the homeless, and the daily wagers in the wake of a pandemic? Currently, about 80 crore people in India dwell in extreme poverty. Several people, who belong to low-income groups, currently reside in clusters on the streets. Hence, they are likely to face the brunt of the virus since they are vulnerable and more susceptible to acquiring it. As a result, they require special care.

Furthermore, a lockdown without the provision of basic monetary funds, housing facilities, and allowances to the poor could have a catastrophic implication, as it is bound to adversely affect their lives. Consequently, the government has to raise its public spending, while also procuring a robust public distribution system to curb this particular issue.

What happens to the poor, the homeless, and the daily wagers in the wake of a pandemic? Representational image.

The PM has stated that the healthcare industry, government departments, financial institutions, media, as well as the transport and communication facilities will remain active for 21 days. In addition to this, he said, “Centre and various state governments will work in close coordination to ensure this.” Moreover, D.V. Prasad, the Chairman and Managing Director of the Food Corporation of India (FDI), has claimed that there will be no food shortage in the nation since India will have 100 million tons of food grains in warehouses by the end of April.

The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitaraman has also said that the state governments can draw food grains for a duration of 3 months from the Food Corporation on credit. This will secure the state from facing any cash constraint in the distribution of food to the poor.

The Centre has launched fiscal measures to tackle the issue of unemployment that has ensued. This is done to guarantee a minimum income to those who have lost their jobs and are currently in a state of destitution.

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Nirmala Sitaraman also announced the disbursement of an economic relief package worth ₹1.7 lakh crore under the PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojna. Moreover, there will be a wage hike for MGNREGA workers, and the government will expend cash worth ₹ 2,000 per worker, which is expected to satisfy the well-being of around 5 lakh families since many daily wagers are to incur a loss in their means of livelihood. All MGNREGA workers will be paid their income in advance, not as unemployment allowance but as “wages” for the period in which they are unable to work.

Hence, the provision of adequate food grains and the efficient disbursement of funds to the vulnerable will help restrain the negative impact of the lockdown.