![]() ![]() ![]() He praises the government’s decision to use existing welfare schemes for the poor to provide immediate relief, but says much more will need to be done when the full implications of the lockdown become apparent. “This crisis shines a torch on the fragilities of the Indian economy that must be attended to,” says Samir Saran, president of Observer Research Foundation. Auto rickshaw drivers, milkmen, vendors who sell vegetables and snacks from carts are all part of this economy, Most live on daily wages, do not receive any benefits and work jobs that do not exist on paper. That’s a population greater than the combined size of the U.S., the U.K. Most of those who come under the purview of the new scheme belong to India’s massive informal economy, which employs about 424 million Indians, some 90% of the workforce, according to data from the country’s finance ministry. Kumari worries that the money from the government will not be enough to feed her family of four if the lockdown continues. As of now, her husband is not eligible for any of the measures announced as his income doesn’t qualify him as the “poorest of the poor” covered by government assistance. That’s a fraction of the 4,000 rupees ($53) she was making before she lost her job. The government plans to use existing welfare schemes to roll out the relief measures, which include free food distribution and cash transfers to millions of low-income families across the country.Īs part of the relief measures, low-wage earners like Kumari will get 500 rupees (less than $7) per month for the next three months. On March 26, India announced a $22.5 billion relief package to help the country’s poorest people sustain and feed themselves. Many face hunger and starvation in the absence of daily wages that have been disrupted as the world’s seventh-largest economy grinds to a halt. Keep up to date on the growing threat to global health by signing up for our daily coronavirus newsletter.īut for the majority of Indians, social distancing is a luxury they can’t afford. “To understand how this will play out after the lockdown, we need to get more aggressive with testing.” “Prevention is a stronger strategy, given the acute shortage of hospital beds, ventilators and protective gear,” says Shamika Ravi, Director of Research at Brookings India, referring to the need for a lockdown. Experts say India should use the time bought by the lockdown to test more and find and contain hotspots. While the country initially faced criticism for its low testing numbers, the number of tests has been ramped up in the days following the lockdown. So far, India has administered more than 38,000 tests. Given its densely populated cities, experts worry that the country’s fragile health system will not be able to adequately respond to a spike in cases. AĪs of March 30, India has reported more than 1,200 cases of COVID-19. ![]() Most experts agree that a lockdown in India is necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19. “The exodus of migrants may have spread out the virus far and wide, adding another layer to India’s problems.” “The lack of clear risk communication from top leadership and mixed messages from across the system spooked the poorer migrants who chose to start uncertain journeys,” Kurian says. ![]()
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